Until we start gathering and analyzing the information that can be obtained by conducting a psychological autopsy for EVERY firefighter suicide, many will continue search for a solution to a problem that they don’t understand. Meanwhile, firefighters will continue to take their own lives in ever increasing numbers.

In doing some research online regarding firefighter safety, I came across this "oldie but goodie" from one of the legends of the fire service in the U.S., the late Ronny Coleman. For firefighters and officers of a certain age, we grew up with Chief Coleman particularly as we read his classic monthly column in the old Fire Chief Magazine (the hard copy), The Chief's Clipboard. For me, reading that column provided my first real taste of officer development as I'd just been promoted to a company officer position in my department, the Chesterfield (Va.) Fire and EMS Department, nee the Chesterfield Fire Department. This was one such column.

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer WOW! I’m so excited to have been a guest of Jerry Lund for his podcast, Enduring the Badge. I had the opportunity to have a great conversation with Jerry regarding firefighter behavioral health and what it will take to “bridge the gap between professional psychology and the fire service.” As many of you know, ...

In the fourteen years since its initial publication, NFPA 1407 has been a big part of fire departments elevating the "status" of the RIC as a critical fireground task assignment on par with that of search, fire attack, ventilation, and laddering. While this has been a positive step in the right direction regarding firefighter safety, the RIC is a "reactive" approach to firefighter safety. The RIC is in the "background" until something goes wrong (e.g., a firefighter becomes lost, entrapped or otherwise endangered). The presence of the RIC can also provide a false sense of security, especially when the RIC consists of only two firefighters.

I've been a fire service member of the Fire Service Psychology Association (FSPA) since 2018 and it's been an informative, educational, and fulfilling experience seeing how fire service leaders and psychologist and other mental health clinicians are working to "build a bridge between professional psychology and the fire service." However, in the five-plus years I've been a member of FSPA I never really gave serious thought to "Why did I join FSPA?"

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer Firefighter/Paramedic Stephanie White One of my pleasant surprises in 2023 has been the discovery of a new “voice” in the fire and EMS world, Stephanie White, a firefighter/paramedic with the Fairfax County (Va.) Fire and Rescue Department. So, here’s one of her recent posts on LinkedIn: I recently listened to a conversation on inclusion ...

Fire departments that are looking to provide an effective behavioral health program for their members would do well to model the approach that the fire service has taken with its tiered response to hazardous materials incidents. They would further serve the best interests of their firefighters by collaborating with mental health clinicians, preferably those at the Specialist Level, just as they would if developing their own hazardous materials response team.

And that's why we need to have a field of Fire Psychology that's been developed using fire service leaders and mental health practitioners of all "shapes and sizes" if we are to develop and implement better mental health programs for fire service personnel.

Developing and communicating a department's mission, vision, and values are important organizational management tools for any fire and EMS department, especially one that's committed to getting the best performance from its members and delivering the best service to its external stakeholders.

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer This post has been simmering in my brain for quite some time and it wasn’t until I read Andrew Holter’s article, The Mission Statement, Core Values & Inclusion, that I found the catalyst I needed to “launch this rocket.” Is it just me or is the second most posted articles on fire and EMS ...