FireRescue1 Leadership Institute’s 2026 Spotlight on AI in the fire service examines how artificial intelligence is shaping decision-making across training, operations, incident response and administrative work. Coverage focuses on practical, real-world use — including predictive analytics, dispatch improvements, generative AI applications and the ethical considerations leaders must weigh. Grounded in examples from the field and informed expert insight, this series is designed to support informed, responsible adoption of AI within today’s fire service.
SPOTLIGHT ON AI
Training firefighters to use AI effectively requires more than prompt-writing skills
Dan Chuparkoff challenges fire service leaders to use AI to reduce routine work while keeping judgment, accountability and decision-making human
CPSE Center for Innovation researchers Alex Henderson and Alex Fisher break down how departments are using AI, where adoption is lagging and what concerns remain
Connectivity has never been better; the challenge now is filtering the noise, establishing priorities and making better decisions under pressure
Part 2: Research suggests AI is accelerating work, weakening reflection and creating new demands on the people it promised to help
Applying the NIST AI Risk Management Framework can help departments evaluate, deploy and govern emerging AI tools
Leading AI adoption doesn’t require you to be a technologist — it requires you to be a leader
How responsible AI guidance applies to training, decision-making and trust in the fire service
Chiefs Brad Brown and Don Lombardi discuss important considerations for agencies using AI — and how it will never replace an incident commander’s “gut feeling”
LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS
Common firehouse phrases can reveal deeper problems with trust, culture, communication and safety — if leaders know how to listen
Common questions about when firefighters in bunker gear and SCBA can make a save and when to wait for the hazmat team
Evaluating the operational period and logistics, plus the “tactical trifecta,” to gauge response level
Grapevine’s decision to replace an engine with a two-firefighter squad raises difficult questions about how departments define their mission
Turn operational experience into shared lessons, stronger accountability and continued improvement across the department
Purpose, planning, communication and reassessment can help leaders implement change without losing sight of department traditions
The Rural Health Transformation Program may be one of the biggest opportunities EMS has seen in years, but winning the money is only the first challenge
The gap between what firefighters say matters and what departments actually reinforce
Fire Chief Jonathan Killings details how El Paso’s mobile integrated health program connects community members with the right resources at the right time
About the Sponsor: First Due
Fire and EMS software is broken. As times change, keeping pace with the demands of modern firefighting and emergency response is more important than ever. From preincident planning to response and incident reporting, fire and EMS agencies nationwide struggle to manage day-to-day operations within a single platform. First Due is changing how fire and EMS software works, delivering an end-to-end, cloud-based solution designed to support an entire operation in one place. Learn more about First Due.
First Due is again the highest-ranked Fire & EMS software company on the list
First Due became the official platform for the CAL FIRE Incident Reporting System, known as CALFIRS, as the Department’s incident reporting system
First Due earned a spot on the 2026 GovTech 100 for the second consecutive year, recognizing its AI-powered, all-in-one platform supporting fire and EMS operations
The FDNY is now live and submitting fire incidents to NERIS through First Due, while sustaining the operational demands of the largest municipal fire department in the United States
The company’s growth underscores the demand for streamlined public safety operations supported by real-time data
Through AI-powered processes, built-in checklists, guided workflows, and real-time validation, First Due eliminates manual coordination
Marking back-to-back recognition, this year’s honor underscores First Due’s leadership in artificial intelligence for public safety
Ranking No. 492 overall and No. 54 in Software, 2025 marks the company’s fourth consecutive appearance on the list — and its first time in Inc. 500
First Due integrates NextNav’s advanced vertical location and 3D visualization technology into its Incident Command platform
First Due’s new Advanced Data Insights delivers real-time, configurable dashboards across incidents, ePCR, staffing, and more—built for public safety. Agencies get full visibility and meet compliance standards like NFIRS/ NERIS, NEMSQA, and NEMSIS—without technical expertise or third-party tools