Register to attend this webinar on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET by completing the registration form on this page.
Can safety and aggression truly coexist on the fireground — or are they mutually exclusive? FireRescue1’s 2025 “What Firefighters Want” survey set out to explore this ongoing debate, capturing insights from more than 1,600 firefighters. The results are compelling: Most firefighters identify as both aggressive and safe, and nearly all believe the two can go hand in hand. But the data tells a more nuanced story, especially when it comes to how tactics are executed and how safety culture is perceived. Join us for a deep dive into the survey findings, unpacking what they reveal about the modern firefighter mindset and the training gaps we must address.
Meet the panelists:
Chief John Oates is the CEO of the International Public Safety Data Institute. Prior to being appointed as CEO, he served as chief of the East Hartford (Connecticut) Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree from Franklin Pierce University, a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University, is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program, and holds numerous professional certifications. Chief Oates is a longtime contributor to the NFFF’s Everyone Goes Home Program, and serves as a member of the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee created by the First Responder Center for Excellence, an NFFF affiliated organization.
Assistant Chief Eric Valliere has been an active member of the fire service for the past 30 years. During his career, he has worked in and managed all areas of the fire department, and currently holds the rank of assistant fire chief over Emergency Services, managing Operations, EMS and Safety for the Scottsdale (Arizona) Fire Department. Valliere also serves as chair of the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) as well as the lead AZ State advocate for the NFFF’s EGH program, and a member of the IAFC Safety Health & Survival Section.
Battalion Chief Lance Vinson entered the fire service in 2001, serving as a member of a rural volunteer fire department for seven years. He later took his first career assignment working as a firefighter at a DOE facility. The work done at this nuclear weapons plant gave him a greater understanding of strong safety culture and yielded a firm understanding of the industrial fire service. Following the line-of-duty death of a friend in an apparatus incident, Vinson went to work for the Amarillo (Texas) Fire Department where he currently serves as battalion chief.
Register to attend this webinar on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET by completing the registration form on this page.
Thank you to our sponsor: FirstNet, Built with AT&T
FirstNet® is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community. Shaped by the vision of Congress and the first responder community following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, FirstNet stands above commercial offerings. Built with AT&T in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) – an independent agency within the federal government, FirstNet gives first responders truly dedicated coverage and capacity when they need it, unique benefits like always-on priority and preemption across 5G and LTE, and Band 14 spectrum. These capabilities help fire, EMS, law enforcement save lives and protect communities. Learn more.