Fire Policies
Policies are the foundation for all operations in the fire service. From apparatus backing to anti-retaliation, policies set expectations, provide guidance, and protect firefighters and fire departments. This section highlights how fire department policies play out in the real world, while also connecting you with best practices for drafting, updating and ensuring accountability with policies.
The FirstNet Health and Wellness Coalition leads efforts to enhance first responder mental wellness through comprehensive strategies and policy changes
Weather
Fire departments and individual members can take several measures to make cold weather operations safer and more comfortable
We want firefighters who are willing to take risks, even if that means the occasional fail
Lawsuit
The patient had recently moved to an address that was flagged as a threat due to a previous resident, the lawsuit claims
Fire service leaders must learn to articulate clarity with rules and nuance with standards
The firefighters’ union pushed for the exemption in recent contract negotiations
It’s one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs in the fire service
The proposal was put forth in the wake of the deadly January fire that killed three city firefighters
A new lactation policy and a change in shift options were among initiatives proposed to Santa Fe’s Community Health and Safety Task Force to address the FD’s diversity issues
Gordon Graham reminds fire service leaders that policies and procedures are in place to help produce the best results for members
Technology, NFPA standards and a visionary leader drove key changes to help extinguish antiquated operations
The residency requirement for city police officers was lifted four years ago
Qualified immunity protection varies from state to state. Do you know yours?
New Mexico’s firefighters lost qualified immunity: Is your state next?
With the right training and direction, rapid intervention should never be a dull assignment
Key questions to help determine if your department has the documentation needed – and whether your members are prepared
It’s time for some tough love: They signed up to be a firefighter, and now they have to follow a ‘Behavioral Rental Agreement’
When are you within your legal right to ask a citizen to stop filming and in what context?
In this video, Gordon Graham highlights the danger of adding unauthorized accessories to personal protective equipment
The Bellevue Fire Department is accused of negligence in allowing a patient’s medical information to be shared and failing to notify the patient about the confidentiality breach
Using social media to research potential firefighter candidates could cause problems for your department
Leadership
What are the rules for discipline at the chief officer level?
A reader states: “We can’t even get our members to wear their PPE, SCBA or even seatbelts? I see pictures online of guys in jeans with coats wide open.”
“A vaccination ensures that our personnel ‘do no harm’ to those who call upon us,” reads the association’s position statement
Knowing how to intervene when a firefighter is going off the rails could save their career and protect the department’s reputation
It’s critical we maintain strong convictions that define who we are and what we do to better serve our community
A brief introduction to drug-focused workplace policies – and how to find the statutes that apply to your state
Van Buren union leaders said they oppose the policy and estimate 20% of the township’s police and fire officials might quit as a result
Fire service leaders share what works at their departments
Four ways fire departments can continue the landslide of positive and productive behaviors to protect our members
Violent Patient Management
Evansville Fire Department Division Chief Mike Larson said the community loses out when firefighters are forced to be more cautious due to threat of violence
How to ensure safe operations around aircraft, plus what to do if caught unaware in a drop zone
Leadership
You cannot make the right decision if you are addressing the wrong issue
