State-of-the-industry insights
The What Firefighters Want project calls on all active firefighters to share their opinions and insights through FireRescue1’s comprehensive survey that goes beyond statistical exercise to serve as a platform for firefighters to voice their concerns, aspirations and ideas for evolution within the profession. The What Firefighters Want project is supported by the International Public Safety Data Institute (IPSDI) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).
2025 SURVEY FOCUS: AGGRESSIVE TACTICS + SAFETY CULTURE
The What Firefighters Want in 2025 special coverage series explores the ongoing debate over whether aggressive tactics can exist amid a heightened safety culture.
More than 1,600 firefighters weigh in on the perennial debate about whether aggressive tactics and safety culture are mutually exclusive
Aggressive tactics and operational safety aren’t mutually exclusive when policies are clear, current and consistently applied
Done right, safety briefings are a critical window to teach fire behavior, strategy and lessons from the field — not just rehearse risks
Digging into the assertion that there needs to be a new search-and-rescue-focused culture in which civilian safety comes first
Challenging the fire service to adopt language and values that reflect professionalism, preparation and dedication
FIRE SERVICE CULTURE
Every chief needs to learn when to stay at 30,000 feet and when to get into the weeds
What firefighters need to know about vehicle weight and rescue struts
Brian McCaffrey himself can remind your crew that “you go, we go”
From hazard mapping to resource deployment, AI is changing the way agencies prepare for major incidents
A solid Standard of Cover is the blueprint for effective, consistent fireground operations
What makes a fire department enthusiast — and how to be one, the right way
2024 SURVEY FOCUS: STRONG DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP
‘People don’t leave bad jobs, they leave bad bosses’ – and the fire service is no exception
The Pittsburgh fire chief offers guidance for fixing the leadership troubles highlighted in the What Firefighters Want survey
Highlighting the most eye-opening results from the annual state-of-the-industry survey
Chiefs John Oates and Dena Ali break down the latest survey findings related to fire department leadership at all levels
A good leader accepts that they may not have created the problem, but they are responsible for fixing it
Download your copy to learn about how leadership woes are impacting staffing, morale and more
Leaders underscore the importance of organizational mindsets like mission-driven culture and personal traits like humility, among several other critical factors
While safety and training serve as the linchpins of operational efficacy, problems persist around recruitment and retention, succession planning and the sense of family once so central to fire service culture
True connection demands more than words
Go beyond corporate leadership theories by disrespecting the norm, reinventing your position and putting in the work
The connection between positive leadership traits and policy enforcement
The FireRescue1 community speaks up about leadership, training, technology adoption, member advocacy and more
Not enough hours in the day? Try these tips to get you back on track
Learn how public safety agencies can overcome recruitment roadblocks with real-world strategies rooted in leadership, transparency and cultural change
50 women offered insight into how their fire departments can support their personal leadership goals
2023 SURVEY FOCUS: THE PERFECT STORM OF STRESS
More than 2,100 firefighters speak up about the perfect storm of stress and staffing challenges
The battalion chief addresses a worrying statistic about the impact of stress level on firefighters’ day-to-day work
Highlighting the most eye-opening results from the annual state-of-the-industry survey
For some, the private sector beckons while others may explore career transitions within the trades – but we can stop this exodus
Firefighters get real about one of the biggest issues facing the industry and how to fix it
Survey respondents share their experiences with staffing stressors
Firefighters pinpoint their top stressors and acknowledge the impact of stress on the quality of service provided
Firefighters feel generally positive about the job, but they report high stress, and many have considered leaving their organization
How officers mitigate these stressors for the benefit of themselves, their crew and the department as a whole
Amid stress and staffing challenges, firefighters still love the job – and encourage others to join the ranks
Firefighters speak up about how fire departments can better manage the staffing crisis to reduce stress levels
From family outreach to increased counseling access and more understanding from supervisors, firefighters are looking to leadership to step up in this area
Solutions to navigate the most common family-centric concerns voiced by firefighters
Firefighters are reporting crushing staffing challenges and increased stress
Fire service leaders can take action to increase awareness, access and applicability of these potentially lifesaving programs
It comes down to selecting the right members and training them in two key areas
Understaffed, overworked first responders need robust wellness programs to combat stress
We can all work from the same playbook
The FireRescue1 community considers what is driving high stress and staffing challenges
Volunteers want more mental health services, increased staffing to relieve stress and culture change to eliminate lingering stigma
Unpacking the survey data and identifying solutions to address the perfect storm of stress
Most agencies rely heavily on social media, career fairs and youth programs
While some firefighters are taking proactive steps to minimize the impact of stress, many others are caught in a vicious cycle of harmful behavior
While some departments are reevaluating their fitness and education requirements, among others, most have changed nothing
Fire families often bear an unacknowledged burden of stress rooted in staffing challenges
When does the expanded scope of work reach a tipping point, requiring a new staffing model?
2022 SURVEY FOCUS: FIREGROUND LEADERSHIP
Despite strong scores, there is much work to be done to build effective fireground command skills
Professional development for the incident commander starts at the firefighter rank and continues up the training ladder
ICs enjoy the confidence of firefighters during a mayday, but what is the basis for that faith?
Is your IC truly prepared, ready and able to execute on the fireground?
Several themes emerged among the thousands of comments from the What Firefighters Want survey respondents
Training, communication and safety mindsets show mixed results, but simple steps can set crews on the path to greatness
Now is the time for us to start thinking of command as a multi-person staffed function, just like we staff our other units
Departments that regularly conduct AARs are well-positioned to streamline their performance and increase their margin of safety
A functioning command post needs a paper or electronic tool to be successful
Feedback, active listening and personal connections are critical to crew cohesion
Survey respondents resoundingly recommend a career in the fire service – a vital stat amid growing recruitment challenges
SPECIAL REPORTS
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It’s in the face of disaster that we come together as a community
A recently published white paper establishes a path for public safety legislative advocacy
