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.
What happened at the recent NFPA technical meeting – and what does it mean for firefighters?
Where do you land on the hot button issue?
Regular training helps agencies ensure their personnel are not only compliant but also prepared to handle the complexities of their roles
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
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
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
You cannot make the right decision if you are addressing the wrong issue
Real-world examples highlight the simple ways supervisors can enforce fire department policies
Glean key decision-making insights from data based on budget, CAD, incident types, geolocation, weather and policies
Never take photos of patients, snap selfies during operations, or focus more on your helmet cam than the action on scene
This episode of the Smart Firefighting podcast tackles fire service risks, culture and policy impacts
How to leverage online learning technology to manage fire department policy and standards compliance
Assessing whether a fire department can legally write and enforce a “zero-tolerance” policy for audio recording conversations when state law allows “one-party recording
City leaders are reflecting on the department’s policies following two incidents of drunk driving while on duty in just over one week
Harassment is a systemic issue, meaning it’s not simply an isolated issue between two people
Some in the Orange County, California public safety community have pushed to change the policy that restricts when a sheriff’s helicopter can be dispatched
Following news of a firefighter disciplined over patient transport in an engine, Bashoor asks a series of questions if and when this is ever the right decision
Fort Worth Capt. Randy Robinson, who died on Thursday, is one of 180 department employees who contracted the virus
Tony Imbrenda filed a retaliation lawsuit, alleging he was demoted for refusing to fully cooperate with an investigation into graphic photos taken of the crash site
Spotlighting firefighters’ social media habits and adherence to department policies
Understanding the origin, meaning and controversy related to the thin red line flags
Tackling key questions about whether a department can uphold a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol workplace policy that prohibits firefighter medical marijuana use, both on- and off-duty
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