Thought Leadership

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer (Ret.) Leave it to my fire service colleague, Kory Pearn, to answer that question in a big way! In addition to being a Captain with the St. Thomas, Ontario Fire Department–23 years and still going–Kory is the founder and publisher of CRACKYL Magazine. In his latest article, The 30 Years Inside the 80, Kory ...

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer Networking is still the lifeblood of professional growth—but the circulatory system has evolved. It’s no longer just about collecting contacts or broadcasting updates. Today, networking is about building trust, curating relevance, and showing up consistently in the spaces where your voice matters. Here’s a refreshed action plan that goes beyond the basics. 🧭 Step ...

By: William Hux, Chief Fire Marshal, Va. State Fire Marshals Office, Va. Fire Marshal Academy Now that FDIC 2025 has ended and 37,000 fire service members have moved out of Indy, it’s time to share some thoughts (yes as always – it’s my normally long thoughts, sorry).The week was full of friends I haven’t seen in a year, classes with ...

Editor’s Note: The following from my fire service colleague, John Murphy, was originally published on LinkedIn and is presented here with his permission. By: John K. Murphy, Esq., Veteran, PA-C, Chaos Manager and Attorney The American fire service is frequently described using familial language. Firefighters call one another “brothers” and “sisters,” departments are referred to as “families,” and leaders often ...

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer You’re going to have a house built for you. What skilled professionals will you need to build your house? If the house of your dreams is a two-story Colonial-style with a full basement, the list probably looks like this: * Contractor to dig the foundation.* Mason lay the block for the foundation.*Framing carpenters to ...

By: Stephanie White, Firefighter/Paramedic and Guest Blogger Or at least that’s what my LinkedIn feed is telling me [National Employee Resource Groups Day 2024 was November 17th]. Being in the fire service I’m no stranger to ERGs and the solutions and guidance they provide, but I’m also going to use today to dovetail into a subject that I also know ...

I write because I want people to think, especially about what they don't know. My aim is to inform, educate, and challenge readers to encourage them to engage with new ideas. In return, I learn from their feedback.

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer Today’s Firefighters face unique and intense challenges that can significantly impact their mental health. The nature of their work exposes them to traumatic events, physical danger, and elevated levels of stress. Like many issues facing our society today, the effects of those stressors have been amplified by the increased influence of social media and ...

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer The “Nine Sisters” (Clockwise): International Assn. of Fire Chiefs; International Assn. of Fire Fighters; National Volunteer Fire Council; National Fallen Firefighters Foundation; International Society of Fire Service Instructors; National Fire Protection Assn.; Fire Department Safety Officers Assn.; International Assn. of Black Firefighters; and the National Assn. of Hispanic Firefighters. Firefighters face unique and intense ...

In the bustling world of firefighting and emergency services, there’s a long-lost sister—a quiet advocate working tirelessly behind the scenes. Her name? Fire Service Psychology Association (FSPA). Dr. Kristen Wheldon, Psy.D is the President and Founder of FSPA, and has been championing her cause, but why haven’t the major fire service organizations rushed to embrace FSPA? Let’s explore this intriguing question.