By FireRescue1 staff
Whether you’re seeking inspiration, looking to sharpen your leadership skills or aiming to expand your operational expertise, reading is a powerful tool for professional growth in the fire service.
We’ve gathered book recommendations from fire service leaders and FireRescue1 contributors, as well as book excerpts showcasing reads that cater to firefighters, aspiring firefighters and fire service leaders. These picks cover leadership, operational tactics, personal development, and even children’s books to inspire the next generation.
Pick up one of these highly-rated reads as a gift for a firefighter in your life and let these titles motivate you to learn, grow, and lead in the ever-evolving world of firefighting and emergency response.
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Top book picks from fire leaders
Recommended books for entertainment or professional development
Daily reading will make you a better provider, stronger leader and a more gracious colleague
Check out this list of books to help launch your station’s leadership library so all members can access great content any time
Books about the catastrophic 9/11 attacks and the long return to normalcy are crucial to the historical record of those we lost and how we moved forward
September 09, 2025 05:57 PM
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Dive into a curated collection of must-read public safety books, from thrilling accounts and leadership lessons from the front lines, to read-aloud children’s favorites
Find your inner-chef with these recipes written, compiled and taste-tested by fellow first responders
Ruby has been assigned to Minneapolis Fire Station 7 for three months when she finally responds to her first house fire
September 16, 2025 04:36 PM
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Chief Bill Killen – surviving member of the original Apollo rescue team and former IAFC president – details the history of these unique teams
Robert Ulrich’s book shares tips, tricks and stories from a life of service
December 18, 2024 11:53 AM
Retired Captain Cindie Schooner-Ball offers readers a woman’s perspective on working in this male-dominated profession
December 04, 2024 07:41 PM
A trailblazing memoir from Clare Frank, California’s first (and only) female chief of fire protection
August 22, 2024 02:14 PM
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Lt. Kiel Samsing addresses the balance that firefighters must strike between quick, intuitive thinking and slower, deliberate reasoning
Clark A. Kendall and Carol L. Petrov offer finance-focused guidance, including tips for savings and pension plans, to firefighters and other first responders
Chapter 4 of this comprehensive desk reference about EMS in the U.S. untangles the origin and history of the EMS Star of Life
FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Frank Leeb details the response to American Airlines Flight 587, which crashed in Queens just 2 months after 9/11
October 15, 2023 09:35 PM
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Quick click: Shop the firefighter book recommendations
Leadership/career development picks
Firefighter memoirs
FireRescue1 is using generative AI to create some content that is edited and fact-checked by our editors.
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Books about the catastrophic 9/11 attacks and the long return to normalcy are crucial to the historical record of those we lost and how we moved forward
September 09, 2025 05:57 PM
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From paddleboarding and kayaking to fishing in remote areas, discover the gear, training and self-defense strategies outdoor enthusiasts need to stay safe on the water
August 20, 2025 12:35 PM
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Insulated, smart, and high-capacity bottles designed to help first responders beat dehydration on shift and beyond
August 19, 2025 03:52 PM
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Insightful reads that pass on the FDNY Bravest experience to the next generation of firefighters
August 05, 2025 07:12 PM
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From smartwatches to hydration, here are four mission-ready picks to help you build strength, regulate stress and stay fit for the job — and for life
Score discounted duty gear, workout tools and everyday essentials July 8-11 with our curated list of budget-friendly buys
The series offers a window into the experiences of first responders through the use of real stories from real law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMTs
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Prime Day 2025 is a chance for first responders to replace worn gear or upgrade tech
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Get the tools you need to organize your schedule and transition seamlessly between projects — while managing your health
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Understand how the experiences you have as a first responder can shape your relationships with your family
Understand why first responders struggle to recognize their stress and how Tactical Brain Training builds emotional awareness and resilience