Gut Feeling or Overthinking?

Making decisions is tricky. When we’re at home, somebody may ask “What should we have for dinner?” The response is usually “I don’t care. It’s up to you.” In firefighting, we don’t have the luxury of ping ponging decisions, because we all know that every second counts. Add that to the fact that whatever decision…

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Creating Perfect Probies

Probies. The future of the fire service. Future leaders, future officers, future Chiefs. Traditionally, we tend to treat probies like dirt which has been somewhat of an issue throughout the years. There’s a reason for this though. You need to be tough to be a firefighter. By making the probies go through hell their first…

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Leader Vs. Title Holder

This one is a hot topic of conversation. The difference between being a leader and having a leadership title is something that’s been recognized since civilization was born. We have leaders and title holders in all different industries, but what separates the two in the fire service? When it comes to promotions in the firehouse,…

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From Buddy To Boss

“With great power comes great responsibility.” Whether you’re a career firefighter or volunteer, holding a leadership position can be tricky. We all know that firefighting in general holds extreme liability and potential consequence. Once you become an officer, that increases tenfold. How do you walk the line with being friendly with your colleagues vs. being…

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The Debrief

After a job or a drill, it’s important to debrief your members and make sure everyone’s feeling ok. Oddly enough a debrief is met with rolling eyes or huffs and puffs. Why is that? Why is something that is so important and necessary – and arguably the least stressful part of the fire service –…

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2nd Alarm Manhattan 9/13/22

Just after midnight September 13th, 2022, Box 0415 was transmitted for reported store fire. Upon arrival of Engine 28/Ladder 11, fire was located in the 1st floor commercial of a 6 story mixed occupancy 25×60 non-fireproof. Searches found that the fire had extended into the duct work up to the roof. At 0040hrs, the 2nd…

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Li-Ion battery fire on an ebike in Midwood, Brooklyn

A 4am blaze in the Midwood section of Brooklyn originated as a Lithium Ion battery on an e-bike. Brooklyn Dispatchers started getting calls for a fire apt 1A at 1800 Avenue L corner of East 18th St. ‘The Highway’ Engine 276 Ladder 156 & Battalion 33 arrived 1st due to discover the e-bike burning inside…

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Early morning water search in horrific tragedy

Monday Sept 12th 2022, Battalion 43 companies were alerted for a water search for 3 missing children. The NYPD 60th pct had a female reported to be drunk & barefoot, claiming to have drown her 3 children. Based on origin, the incident commander ordered all beaches to be covered from Brighton Beach to Coney Island.…

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“First in. Last out.”

A term we hear often in the fire service – But can we apply it to leadership? Can this quote that’s often seen on t-shirts or stickers actually be acted upon? Let’s take a closer look. Think back to when you were a probie. You were often told that “You are seen, not heard.” Which…

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