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Like most of you, I came to work this morning: relieved the guy from the previous shift, checked my mask, tools, riding assignment, coffee and breakfast supplies. A box goes out across town and all the radio chatter sounds like a 16 year old girl at a boy band concert. Why? If...

The job is not always peaches and cream.  Sometimes we need help to remind us that fighting fire is the most rewarding job in the world.  By nature, I am the type of person that needs reminders to stay on track and get back to the basics of the job.  Below are some of the simple...

Since 2011, the United States has seen a marked increase in the number of mass violent events (Active Shooter/Terrorism) (FBI, 2014). These increases have put a spotlight on the Public Safety communities’ response. Since the events of Columbine High School, Virginia Tech...

To be an effective listener as an officer, we must be able to mentally process multiple requests, opinions and thoughts at the same time and come up with a firm solution or answer. Sure, we are all used to this on the fireground; but the role of an officer expands to much more...

“Treat others as you would like to be treated.” Most of us have heard of the above saying. It holds very true with the leadership skills of an officer. For as long as we have been able to process social skills, we’ve been building our personalities, our consciousness and...

“Leadership is the capacity to influence others by unleashing their power and potential to impact the greater good.”-Ken Blanchard Continuing from Part 2 Goto Part 1 Click Here Here are Rules 5-7 of the 7 Rules for Exemplary Leadership Rule 5 – Goals that...

“Leadership is the capacity to influence others by unleashing their power and potential to impact the greater good.”-Ken Blanchard   Continuing from Part 1 Here are Rules 3 & 4 of the 7 Rules for Exemplary Leadership —- Rule 3 – Be Honest Who...

“Leadership is the capacity to influence others by unleashing their power and potential to impact the greater good.”-Ken Blanchard Few would argue that a good leader makes a difference in the firehouse. Firefighters have high expectations of their leaders and being a...

 “A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.” -John Maxwell In chemistry a litmus test is a tool used to determine the pH in blood. This test is important because when the blood pH is too acidic, there is a decrease in energy, a...

What do you tell your crews after you go though what the Baltimore City Fire Department went through on the shift of April 27, 2015 if you are the Battalion Chief? Well, I had the inside scoop from boots on the ground of what they were experiencing.  One of the numerous...