The Functional Fire Company

Scott Thompson, author of The Functional Fire Company, says the functional fire company concept was not created but realized: “I realized, after many attempts at trying to view success in the organization from the top down, that it wasn’t possible. Real indicators of success in the fire service come from the bottom up. A fire department’s success is best judged at the company level.” “Many leaders and senior members have been taught the how but not the why, and they don’t understand the reasons for doing what they do,” Thompson says. “Because firefighting is such a technical activity, we must ensure that we are explaining why we do things while we demonstrate the how. It is essential that we develop critical thinking for solving fire suppression, rescue, and EMS problems.” WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: “Chief Scott Thompson combines his decades of experience and years of observation with today’s leadership skills and provides a path for the successful fire department to follow. The Functional Fire Company will take you step by step from being an ordinary fire department to one which defines excellence. --Rick Lasky, Fire Chief (ret.) Texas “I found both motivation and a guide to implementation in this book. Chief Thompson has provided a deep resource for all ranks from creating culture to setting up training structure. I highly recommend this book to anyone with aspirations of making an organizational impact.” --Brian Brush “Chief Thompson has spent his entire career focusing on training and organizational effectiveness. The Functional Fire Company is his life’s work wrapped up into a playbook which offers insight into how to make your organization perform at maximum proficiency. Experience, perspective and a never quit mentality are evident as Chief Thompson provides a unique view to solving problems in the modern-day fire service.” --Terry McGrath, Assistant Chief, Lewisville (TX) Fire Department “This book offers a living, breathing example that Chief Thompson’s principles truly work. I hope you get as much value from this book as we have received from Chief Thompson’s lessons, and that you take what you learn back to your organization.” --Garrett Rice, The Colony Fire Department (TX) Battalion Chief, A Shift

As firefighters, even how we answer the phone or the door makes a first and lasting impression on the public and the community we serve. Author Jason Hoevelmann fills in the gaps that may exist in fire service teaching to better prepare you for a lifetime of the greatest job on earth. The New Company Officer tackles the not-so-obvious challenges you will face during your fire service career. Discover: Why do firefighters make bad decisions on the job and off duty? How can firefighters deal with their own problems and their challenges as firefighters? How can you enrich our own career and help your fellow firefighters improve, grow, and advance their own career? The New Company Officer strives to make a big impact on your department and your success. “We do an excellent job pulling hose and throwing ladders,” Hoevelmann writes, “but how do we deal with people every day?” Some of the goals book will help you to achieve are to: be prepared, set expectations, follow through, serve, listen, be humble, be a leader, make no excuses, do your best, and do what others won’t do. What you will learn: How to handle difficult colleagues How to create company drills that keep your firefighters proficient How to delegate and lead by example

John Norman has updated his best-selling book, a guide for the firefighter and fire officer who, having learned the basic mechanics of the trade, are looking for specific methods for handling specific situations. In this new fourth edition, readers will find a new chapter on lightweight construction, a new chapter on electrical fires and emergencies, updates to many chapters including such topics as wind-driven fires, and many new illustrations.

A nationally recognized author looks at both the similarities and differencesin the engine company operations practiced by fire departments throughout the'nited States. He discusses the equipment, staffing, and operations of enginecompany firefighters at structural fires and emergencies.

This book serves as a guide for the seasoned veteran, the new firefighter and everyone in between, bringing them together for what it all takes to have that love for the job. Each chapter addresses the next step in the leadership chain that is necessary for a fire service professional to succeed. The chapters are as follows: Our Mission; The Firefighter; The Company Officer; The Chief; Our Two Families; Sweating the Small Stuff; Changing Shirts-The Promotion; What September 11th Did For Us-The Good and the Bad; Ceremonies; Marketing Your Fire Department; Making It All Happen-Embracing Success; Have You Forgotten.

Ray Downey wrote the first edition of The Rescue Company in the early 1990s. Building on Downey's legacy, John Norman has written Fire Department Special Operations to take into consideration the earth-shattering events, funding increases, research advances, expanded capabilities, and changes in regulations and standards that have widened the knowledge gap since the publication of Chief Downey's book. Fire Department Special Operations is an excellent guide for agencies and individuals in establishing, staffing, operating, and maintaining heavy rescue units in the many forms they may take. It is also an ideal training resource for the officers and individuals assigned the duties that a rescue firefighter must accomplish.

Survival Skills for the Fire Chief examines the management mistakes fire chiefs often make that compromise their effectiveness and ability to manage and lead their fire departments. In his latest book, Dr. Fleming, a nationally recognized authority on fire and emergency services, provides the understanding necessary to enhance the fire chief's success and that of his or her fire department. The book's themes include understanding, meeting, and, where possible, exceeding the reasonable expectations of fire department stakeholders and preparing as a fire chief for professional, personal, and organizational success. Survival Skills for the Fire Chief is ideal for current and future fire chiefs; participants in related college and university courses; and participants in training programs, seminars, and courses offered by fire and emergency services training agencies.

The core principles of structural firefighting are fire behavior, building construction, strategy, tactics, safety and training. Each core principle is examined with relevant on-the-job stories to bring lessons home. Fire departments must constantly train their firefighters and officers in these core principles if they want them to be safe and effective at structure fires. Training is the foundation of all the other core principles, and must be realistic, scenario-based, and hands-on. Never stop learning during your time as a structural firefighter. If you come to a point where you mistakenly believe that you know everything there is to know about fires in and around buildings–watch out–because you have just fallen into the complacency trap. FEATURES --Gain a deeper understanding of how firefighters should approach fires in buildings, with an emphasis on safety and effectiveness --See the latest research from UL and NIST on fire behavior and flow paths, with a discussion of best-practices and up-to-date tactical advice. --An essential, easy-to-read fundamental resource on how to safely and effectively fight fires in buildings of any size or type. “Fire Under Control is a riveting new book that allows you to learn while also seeing how street experiences coincide with printed tactical and scientific fire service information. I always have said that eyes, ears, and experience will equal your education in the fire service and Capt. Steve Bernocco has managed to bring it to light.” -- Lt. Mike Ciampo, Fire Department of New York