Administration & Leadership

What makes a great leader? Management theorist Simon Sinek suggests, it's someone who makes their employees feel secure, who draws staffers into a circle of trust. But creating trust and safety — especially in an uneven economy — means taking on big responsibility.

I have compiled a list of "Must Read" books as told to me by my readers. I asked what the best fire service books were and got over 50 books mentioned in over 80 comments over at The Fire Critic Facebook Page. Sure, there may be some that were left out, but I think this is a pretty decent list! I have not read many of these...I didn't even know about many of them before today. I have included links to Amazon, so you can get more information and/or purchase them at decent prices. Feel free to add your favorites in the comments if they don't appear here. There are 54 books listed below. Many of the authors have more books on and off this list.

Help the Good Guys, a non-profit organization supporting injured first responders in financial need, has announced plans to assist two severely injured Texas firefighters with a month-long fundraising campaign. The campaign will begin March 1 and end March 31, 2014.

The fire, reported at 4:22 a.m., is believed to have started on the first floor of the 1½-story Cape home at 27 Furlong Road, a block-long street near Kensington Avenue and Century Road. Authorities expect that dental records will be able to confirm the identities of a couple who died Tuesday in a predawn house fire in Cheektowaga’s Cleveland Hill neighborhood. An autopsy is scheduled today.

At 19:44 Tuesday evening, Lehigh County Fire Radio dispatched Station 2 and North Catasauqua Engine 18 to the area of 12th and Bath Avenue on a house fire. Chief 2 signed on responding and was updated that an attached garage was on fire.

Fire swept through DuBois Country Club early today, heavily damaging the building that housed the Tannery Bar and Grill, banquet facility, club offices and kitchen.

February 21, 2014. Pamplin Fire 1st due, Darlington-Heights Fire 2nd due, Prospect Fire 3rd due, Hampden-Sydney Fire 4th due. Suspicious Working Structure Fire on Heights School Road.

Video info: Fully involved vacant structure. Structure Fire @36th Terrace & Oakley Ave (KCMO) on 2.23.14

A historic E. Maple Street home that had been transformed into seven separate apartment units was destroyed by fire Sunday afternoon, leaving five Holly families displaced, and causing officials to look into what may have caused the devastating blaze.

Today, I read an article from FireFighterToolbox.com about doing a horizontal cut instead of a v-cut. It makes sense. I will try it the next time I get a chance.