EJ

Every fire department needs an SOP/SOG for de‑energizing power & lockout/tagout (LOTO). This keeps everyone on the same page. If your department doesn’t have an SOP/SOG for power isolation and LOTO, make one. The hazards aren’t getting easier so our preparation needs to keep up.

Why are so many firefighters struggling with thermal imaging camera (TIC) use on the fireground? One common trend keeps coming up as we talk with firefighters across the country: many never received formal TIC training until they became a company officer. By that point, they’ve already spent years operating on the fireground without fully understanding this critical tool. And what is even more disturbing, is that fire departments who are implementing TIC training for recruits are requiring them to use the spot temperature for decision making! This is dangerous and deadly! It’s time to change the narrative. With the new recommendations in NFPA 1010, thermal imaging training is being recognized as an essential skill that should begin at the recruit level, not years later. Join us for our upcoming webinar: “NFPA 1010: The Importance of TIC Training for Recruits” 📅 April 2 🎥 Sponsored by Seek Thermal Register here: lnkd.in/gxctdvKa #firefightertraining #thermalimaging #firegroundoperations #TIC #firefighting #leadership #fireservice

📍Join us at the 2026 Mental Wellness Symposium 🎤 Session Spotlight 🔥 Tuesday, June 2 | 11:30 AM 🧠 Session Title: Firefighter’s Blind Side The most dangerous threats in the fire service aren’t always the ones we see coming. Cancer. Suicide. PTSD. Cardiovascular disease. These are the blind side risks — the long-term consequences of stigma, cumulative stress, and organizational blind spots when wellness is not treated as an operational priority. In Firefighter’s Blind Side, Chief Dena Ali and Chief Frank Leeb challenge leaders to rethink how culture, vulnerability, and proactive support systems protect firefighters before crisis strikes. Participants will learn: ✔ How failing to normalize early support increases long-term risk ✔ Why behavioral health must be treated as an operational imperative ✔ How leadership sets the tone for trust and psychological safety ✔ Practical strategies to embed sustainable wellness practices into your organization This isn’t just a wellness talk — it’s a leadership call to action. About the Presenters 👩‍🚒 Chief Dena Ali Dena Ali is a Battalion Chief with the Raleigh (NC) Fire Department and former police officer whose research on firefighter suicide earned her the 2018 MPA Student of the Year award. She received the NC Office of State Fire Marshal’s Honor, Courage, and Valor Award for advancing firefighter mental health, serves as a subject matter expert for the National Fire Academy, and is the founder of North Carolina Peer Support. She is the author of Hope out of Darkness: A Guide to First Responder Mental Wellness. 🧑‍🚒 Chief Frank Leeb Frank Leeb is the Managing Director of the First Responder Center for Excellence and a retired Deputy Assistant Chief with the Fire Department of New York, where he served more than 31 years. He previously held roles as Chief of the Fire Academy, Chief of Training, and Chief of Safety, and is the author of Cornerstones of Leadership – On and Off the Fireground and co-author of 30 Fires You Must Know. 👉 Register today and secure your spot: firstrespondercenter.org/events/2026-me…

@DanKerrigan911 @Phillies This is a curse level move 😱

The @Phillies slowly but surely losing touch with their fan base. It’s not always about money. Or it shouldn’t be. Especially to billionaires.

The foundation of Building Firefighter Development is built on a passion for educating firefighters about building systems. This journey began with a vision to bridge the gap between engineering & firefighting, ensuring safety & operational effectiveness on the fireground.

Anyone have any thoughts on the Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program? Anyone attended? Know someone who has? Know someone who teaches there? Looking for more info and background.

🍀 Happy St. Patrick's Day! At Building Firefighter Development, we believe in the luck of learning. Join us in celebrating this festive day by expanding your knowledge and skills! 🌈✨ #Education #StPatricksDay #Learning

Be generous with your time, your life, your love, and your gifts.

Did you know that all new firefighters are required to have thermal imaging training per NFPA 1010 (formerly NFPA 1001)? Fire departments across the globe often purchase and place these devices on fire apparatus with little to no training. Over 50% of firefighters who receive these devices receive no live fire training prior to using them in a fire! We offer the only credentialed, peer reviewed, and collegiate thermal imaging certification for firefighters in partnership with Western Kentucky University and Kentucky Thermal Institute. Introduction to Tactical Firefighting Thermology! This course is credentialed by Western Kentucky University, peer-reviewed by certified thermologists at Kentucky Thermal Institute, and developed by Thermography Certified Fire Service Professional Instructor Andy Starnes at Insight Training. The Kentucky State Fire Commission now approves this course for continuing education credit hours! This affordable program requires all students to complete the Introduction to the Science of Thermology as a prerequisite to provide the student with a fundamental understanding of infrared science. The fire service now has affordable thermal imaging training that has been standardized, with certified thermologists reviewing the program for its accuracy and relevance. These courses are online. Check out the link and learn how to save lives. When combined with live fire training, this exceeds the requirements for prerequisite knowledge portion of NFPA 1010. If you complete this program, we offer free lesson plans to assist your organization with this training. Thanks for your support! God bless! Insight Training LLC ow.ly/NIAL50TGgPA

Discover essential resources for firefighters that can significantly enhance your operational effectiveness. Visit our website to access valuable information that will prepare you for any incident involving building systems. buildingfirefighters.com

@DanKerrigan911 So sad. Especially tough when it hits close to home. And I know Troopers were looking at the calendar thinking about mourning another year without Trooper Sisca soon. It's gonna be a rough go for a bit. We need to look after our PSP friends.

I don’t do this often, but my heart is aching right now for Tim and his family. His mother has been one of my best friends for decades. As a father, I cannot fathom the pain she and the family are feeling right now. 💔 RIP Timmy 🫡

@DanKerrigan911 That would be awesome.

@BldgFFDev Nice! Let me know if you want it signed

Big news! We'll be rolling into Gatlinburg like Smoky Mountain Rain this May to present Understanding Buildings & Relationships for Success at the Smoky Mountain Weekend Fire & Rescue Expo. See you in May to learn, connect, & level up the craft. smokymtnweekend.org

@DanKerrigan911 Thank you brother! I'm stoked. BTW I scored an extra copy of Firefighter Functional Fitness yesterday at the MontCo Fire Academy. Will be gifted to some worthy individual in the future.

@BldgFFDev Strong work my brother!

@RayClothier56 Yumma-dum-dum

Bourbon soaked cherries with Very Old Barton. 1 ten oz jar of maraschino cherries. 2oz simple syrup Fill remainder of 16 oz mason jar with bourbon if your choice. Refrigerate. Shake daily. Ready to go in a week.

@joed911 Thanks brother. Just trying to keep up with you 🤣

@BldgFFDev Awesome stuff brother

Daylight Saving Time is your reminder that basics that save lives. When clocks change, swap smoke detector batteries. Test the alarm. Make sure every level is covered. A 10‑second check can be the difference between a close call and a tragedy. #DaylightSavings #SpringForward

Everyone has a building system they know, & one that makes them mutter “not today.” Drop your picks & the wildest thing you’ve found on a call or inspection. Bonus for photos or the “you won’t believe this”. Let’s see which is popular contest & which needs extra reps in training.

Sharing the end-user experience of building design from the fireground perspective. Firefighters interact with buildings under the most demanding conditions. By sharing operational lessons, we can help designers and engineers build safer environments for occupants and responders.

@HighRiseUnit Yes!!!! And this is my latest adventure.