Why Your Fire Department Needs an Incident Safety Officer
Are lives unintentionally put at risk by not having an incident safety officer on scene? Bruce Lake offers his take on the issue.
Officer Development
The Latest
The Command Post: The Volunteer Company Officer
Rick Lasky and John Salka discuss the volunteer company officer, what makes a great candidate, and the selection process.
Officer Development: How Shallow Is Your Depth Chart?
Mark van der Feyst reviews some considerations fire departments must grapple with when they look to develop future fire officers.
The Company Officer: It’s All About Trust
Leading a fire company is one of the greatest privileges in the fire service, but it also carries considerable weight. Nick Papa on the challenges officers must face.
More Officer Development
Building the Ladder: Prioritizing Training
Rudy Horist examines how prioritizing training topics can help ensure your officers get the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their roles.
Guiding the Officer: The B-D-A Model
Leigh Shapiro presents the “before, during, after” (B-D-A) model for addressing personnel challenges in the fire service.
Building the Ladder: Officer Development Programs
Rudy Horist offers a four-step approach for developing an officer development program that meets the needs of your fire department.
Officer Development Program: Where to Start and Lessons Learned
Plano (TX) Fire-Rescue's Officer Development Program (ODP) can be modified by other fire departments to develop their own custom programs.
Building an ‘Aggressive’ Fire Company
Being an aggressive fire company is being able to handle the situation when it arises with safe, efficient, and effective operations, Brian Zaitz writes.
Climbing the Ladder of Success in the Volunteer Fire Service
Brian F. McQueen identifies four basic principles that can help volunteer fire department leaders hone their skills.
Unit Cohesion: The Company Officer’s Guide to the Ultimate Killer of Low Morale
Jarrod Sergi reviews how bolstering your firefighters' task cohesion can improve unit effectiveness and enhance morale.
Podcast: Hooks & Hoses: Company Officer Development
Host Eric Dreiman talks company officer development with guest Captain Marc Davidson of Fairfax County (VA) Fire and Rescue.