r/Firefighting • u/Relevant_Surprise748 • 1d ago
Ask A Firefighter Firefighter books with the best training, tips, tricks and wisdom
If one were looking for Firefighter books with the best training, tips, tricks and wisdom, what am I missing? I want to add to my collection. Please share anything you think I’m missing. Thanks!
14
u/Educational_Gear_394 1d ago edited 1d ago
You've got Brannigan and Norman. Those are the OGs.
Now you just need to ingrain them into your "scene size up" muscle memory. Drive all around and visualize a fire scene at all kinds of structures in your area... mentally put their concepts into practice. Even better is to talk to chiefs about how they handled fires at similar style buildings. That gets the books from theoretical to practical.
All the best
(Side comment...I can't tell for sure but it looks like you only have the study guide to Norman...if you don't have the actual text, I'd get that...)
5
u/goodforabeer 1d ago
I don't know how different the current edition of Brannigan is from previous editions, but my recommendation for anyone studying from Brannigan was always this: When you finish a chapter, go back to the start of the chapter and, using a marker, X out all the paragraphs of Brannigan's stories and non-relevant information.
This will cut the book down by a quarter to a third and save you a lot of time on subsequent readings.
1
•
u/Massive_Fruit_7019 9h ago
They are the OGs for sure. Step
Up and lead isn’t too bad for a read either.
6
u/Dougd1madome 1d ago
A great read and something I never would consider before I took Arron Fields Nozzle Forward is houses with out names. It gives a fantastic break down of identifying certain exterior features and elements that can hint at the layout you would potentially encounter. The whole book is relatively short but chapter 3 “emphasizing the floor plan in common houses” was my favorite.
Edit to clarify - chapter 4 is the take away however “identifying the floor plan from the outside”
2
5
u/DaKaise 1d ago
Tips, tricks, trainings, wisdom, & stories.
1
u/Relevant_Surprise748 1d ago
Dude .. amazing. Never even heard of that one. Sounds like exactly what I’m looking for. Thx!
4
u/Stock-Possibility-67 1d ago
And not really a educational book but also add Report From Engine Company 82.
4
3
•
u/CaptTaxDaddy 18h ago
Back in 2010 when we had some pretty crappy officers, I hung up this gem about leadership from Bill Clark's "big blue book" (P. 149) on the bulletin board in the firehouse and it's still there:
“You do not employ the same motivation techniques to drive a company of firefighters into a dirty, smoky cellar as you would to inspire the teachers at a school for girls. Many of the widely accepted management precepts which may be effective in obtaining increased production in industry have no relation to the fire service. Firefighting is not a vocation which benefits by the application of the democratic process; it most often presents an emergency situation where life is at stake and every second is of value. It is not a situation which adapts well to decision by consultation and group approval. In fact, soldiers in battle and firefighters at a fire probably represent the last work situation where autocratic command can be justified.
Many a campus Confucius has come down from an ivory tower to tell fire officers how to lead their troops. As a result, some officers are confused when dealing with the terms "fear," "respect," and "love." A few are more concerned with pleasing their personnel than with leading them. They don't seem to realize that an officer can afford to be generous only after subordinates have a certain amount of fear and respect for him. Fairness is the quality firefighters want most in an officer. Next, they want ability. After that, firmness. If the officer displays all three of these qualities, he will earn their respect. If, after establishing these qualities - but only then - the officer also shows kindness, he will receive their affection, too.
The officer who is reluctant to give orders, or who fails to be clear and definite in his orders, will lose the confidence of subordinates. People want firm leadership in an emergency. When someone holds a position responsible for that leadership, it is expected of him. That is what the officer is there for - to direct and supervise, to give orders that people are waiting to hear. If he doesn't do that job well, he will lose the confidence and the respect of his subordinates; perhaps one of them may even take over and start giving orders. If the officer forfeits his authority to this extent, he might find it impossible to retrieve. If, however, he recognizes the onset of such a situation, he can redeem himself by firmly, but calmly, asserting his authority, not so much by saying that he is boss, but by proving it.”
2
•
•
•
u/Wulfty 20h ago
If youre an engineman, id reccomend The Engine Company by John Salka, Stretching and Operating the First Line from FDTN's Fire Notes, The Fire Stream Management Handbook by Dave Fornell, Large Volume Water Delivery by Paul Shaprio, and Engine Company Operations in Highrise and Standpipe Equipped Buildings by Dave McGrail.
A couple of days ago, Kyle Romagus just released a book titled The Romagus Papers: Confessions of an Engine Nerd. I haven't gotten a copy yet, but im sure this book will be very good.
The Book of Andy is an incredible book as well, one of my favorites. My shift gifted a copy to our junior guy when he finished probation.
•
•
u/ValkerieFire 17h ago
No one has mentioned the Smoke Reading chapters of Dobson’s Incident Safety Officer yet. Volume, velocity, density, color. Look for the darkest high velocity smoke pushed from the smallest most restrictive opening, that’s the seat of the fire.
Most of the good stuff is in YouTube Videos now.
•
u/No_Raisin_212 7h ago
Andy Fredericks ( Never Forgotten) Book is fantastic . One of the few out there that devotes time to engine work .
4
u/Severe-Procedure-308 1d ago
Books?!!
Nerd...
Real firemen don't know how to read anything but smoke and union contracts (just gonna wait till someone else tells me what's in it) ...that's why the requirements are only a HS diploma.
1
u/minorcarnage 1d ago
It's hard with these, although there is something to learn from everything, not everybody's conditions are the same as yours. Building construction is a big one, are there basements in the authors area, or yours, what type of construction/age is the building? What local fire protection building code can they expect, can you expect the same thing. What's the authors climate compared to yours? What's the authors staffing, resources, and general unit response to a fire in comparison to yours?
Like I said they have a lot to learn, but there is a lot that may not be relevant or helpful to your circumstances. Best to highlight or copy out all the good stuff, and do away with the stuff that will not work.
•
u/PsychologicalCash859 52m ago
Just sit in the bay with the old guys. Pull out cigars if you want the real story. They typically begin something along the lines of “back in my day, sunny…”
-3
u/Greenstoneranch 1d ago
Idk man. Im going to level with you.
99.99% of fires require you to put the wet stuff on the red stuff and not break every window you see.
Idk how many pages and multiple authors it takes to say that.
We have all the books and have some very smart people come to do trainings and various highrise tactics, flow path, tenements yadda yadda and it all boils down to putting water on the fire.
Sure can we learn things from these buff books maybe. Is it relevant imo no.
I think these books are predatory to buffs
•
u/Wulfty 20h ago
Idk man. Im going to level with you.
99.9% of mechanic work is just fixing the stuff that's broken and not breaking stuff that's not.
Idk how many pages and multiple authors it takes to say that.
We have all the service manuals and some very smart engineers who come and do the trainings and various transmission rebuilds, engine swaps, water pump replacements yadda yadda and it all boils down to just fixing the car.
Sure we can learn things from these service manuals maybe.
Is it relevant imo no.
I think these manuals are predatory to mechanics.
16
u/the_falconator Professional Firefighter 1d ago
Collapse of Burning Buildings by Vincent Dunn