An increase compared to past Januarys   The first month of 2020 ended with nine on-duty deaths as defined by the United States Fire Administration.      This is the highest January total in six years, but only one of the fatalities involves a victim killed inside a burning structure.  Fatalities related to vehicles […]

    Atlanta’s story isn’t about duty     It was asked that this comment on Facebook be shared.   I had shared the latest from work on the Atlanta fire rescue suspension story and was asked what my thoughts are on the subject.  While it really doesn’t matter what I think, or anyone else […]

Details are key for the lessons we need to learn  

It was a good and bad year for the U.S. fire service  

Doubling down on the fire service mission   Ladder Company 175 had used their aerial ladder to ventilate this window at an all-hands fire, with reports of people trapped, at 3218 Fulton Street in Highland Park, Brooklyn. (Lloyd Mitchell photo) Shawn Donovan and Dave LeBlanc   “He who whets his steel, whets his courage” ― […]

Focusing on fear won’t create a safer fire service  

  It’s not as bad as what you might be led to believe    

  A closer look at reported firefighter fatality on the hoseline data  

  No one at all can say they operate in complete, perfect safety  

  What kind of mindset are we in when we go out the door?