The FDIC is like a giant charging station for the fire service, and it's all about learning and sharing experience and knowledge, Ray McCormack writes.

In the world of fire service authorship and tactical invention, there are originators and there are copycats, Ray McCormack writes.

Preplanning, good detective work, and flexible operations aid us in making sure building diversity does not outpace tactical safety, Ray McCormack writes.

Ray McCormack reflects on the meaning of the terms "customer" and "stakeholder" in terms of the fire service and how they can affect firefighters' thinking.

Do you have great expectations for yourself, your department, and the fire service itself this year? Ray McCormack on becoming better in 2013.

Encountering horror is not something to brag about, Ray McCormack writes. Firefighters need to know when to seek assistance so that they do not become permanently scarred.

Fire organizations need to provide leadership over fire by being tuned into the needs of the troops on the ground, Ray McCormack writes.

The toxic twins--carbon monoxide and cyanide--love firefighters, and their love in unhealthy, clingy, and ultimately destructive, Ray McCormack writes.

The fire service puts out its fires, but the destruction of Mother Nature, such as that incurred from Hurricane Sandy, calls for a continued fire department presence, Ray McCormack writes.

Ray McCormack says the fire service should be aware that not all fire research is equally relevant or illuminating.

"Working for fire" means working to enhance your efficiency and knowledge of firefighting, Ray McCormack writes.

Ray McCormack notes that in the photos and videos of the charred ruins of our embassy in Benghazi, there is no evidence of a fire suppression system--sprinklers!

On one hand, firefighters are told to care about the people we serve, while on the other hand we are told that we need to keep emotions out of what we do. Ray McCormack says using emotions in your responses does not lower your tactical safety unless you let it.

Ray McCormack affirms that firefighters must be pushing to save lives on emergency calls.

Ray McCormack says firefighters need to have a little swagger when operating on the fireground.

Firefighters must be free to think things through using experience and knowledge to communicate and fix the problems we face every day, Ray McCormack writes.

Just where is all this "cultural change" taking the fire service? Ray McCormack looks at the various sources of cultural change and says the final decision on culture change rests with current firefighters.

Ray McCormack offers some thoughts on recently released video of a firefighter training burn gone wrong and the lessons that can be learned from videos of such situations.

Iconic FDNY Chief Edward Croker's words reflect a realistic understanding of the dangers of firefighting, Ray McCormack writes, but he had nothing but disdain for firefighter deaths.