Having advance knowledge of the fireground can help firefighters perform some size-up before they even arrive on scene. Dan Sheridan writes about two incidents where having prior knowledge helped firefighting operations.

Dan Sheridan has some suggestions about how to keep firefighters safe when responding to natural gas leaks.

A firefighter with the Can can sometimes partly or fully extinguish a fire, but when in doubt, stretch a hoseline, Dan Sheridan writes.

With the coming of the heating season, firefighters may see an increase in odor-of-smoke calls. Dan Sheridan writes that you must take such calls seriously, as the smell of something burning can often indicate serious fire problems.

It takes time for firefighters to adjust to a new rank and learn the scope of their responsibilities on the fireground, Dan Sheridan writes.

Dan Sheridan recounts several fire incidents that demonstrate the importance of firefighters establishing a water supply.

An incident commander needs to stay in front of the fire building during firefighting operations and establish command so that he can keep his eyes on the overall incident scene, Dan Sheridan writes.

Engines and ladder trucks all should be in a position at a fire that will allow them to operate according to their respective function.

Firefighters respond to routine room-and-contents fires on a daily basis in every corner of the world, but the potential always exists for one of these fires to turn very ugly quickly without warning.

A close call involving one of his firefighters who became trapped at a third-alarm fire causes Dan Sheridan to reflect on firefighters' reluctance to call the Mayday and the causes of firefighters getting into trouble on the fireground.

It is incumbent on the incident commander at every fire to think of the worst-case scenario and how he would handle it. Dan Sheridan shares some stories about the unpredictable nature of fire incidents.

Overhaul is not the glamour side of firefighting, but it is a critical operation to prevent extension and rekindles. Daniel Sheridan shares some overhaul stories from New York fire incidents and discusses how to balance being thorough and being professional.

Good reliable information is vital to the success of any fire operation. Scaffolding and netting on building exteriors can obscure size-up., Dan Sheridan writes, creating problems for firefighters responding to incidents in these structures.

At firefighting operations inside homes with extreme clutter and filth, also know as Collyer's Mansions, firefighters must slow down, think outside the box, and closely examine their priorities and goals.

Knowing the location of the fire is integral before we commit firefighters to the attack. Daniel Sheridan recounts two incidents he responded to which underscore the importance of a good fireground size-up.

Dan Sheridan recounts two fires from early in his career which dramatically influenced his understanding of fire behavior and of the danger of flashover and other dynamic fire events.

Dan Sheridan recounts an incident at a loft building in New York City in which his instincts proved to be right and argues that battalion chiefs need to trust their gut feeling when trying to anticipate events on the fireground.

Although firefighting is a intensely physical profession, it's equally critical to keep your head in the game and be alert on the fireground. Daniel Sheridan writes about eliminating distractions so you can concentrate on the job and the dangers of complacency.