With the exception of knock-off Rolexes, almost everything must meet specific standards.

If the people we are recruiting can’t even solve the simplest of daily problems, what makes us think that at 0200 with the roof falling in on us that there will be sudden improvement in judgement and reasoning?

In an uncharacteristic Firehouse Zen moment, I’m going to share some not-so-heartwarming news with you: If you fail to evolve, you will die.

I hear about all-hazards response all the time, but do we draw the line at “hazards”, or do we raise the bar a little?

I know company and chief officers who have no sense of timing. Imagine their surprise when not only do they get it wrong, but they look bad in the process. It doesn’t matter how right you are, if the time and opportunity don’t meet, you will find yourself on the losing end.

I guess the Roto-Ray is the Philadelphia Flyers of warning devices: You either love them or you hate them.

Power is like a flame. If you hold it too tight, it can smother. If you hold it too tight it will also burn.

What organization would be on someone’s “bucket list”? What fire and emergency service rock stars would you like to invite to the station’s kitchen table?

Attachment is when you believe that things can or should remain one way forever. Things are in a constant state of change.

A long time ago, a bunch of guys weren’t happy with the status quo.

While I created Firehouse Zen to educate others, my Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Firefighter Nation accounts have become essentially my “research sources”.