Historical Incidents

This Month in Fire History - Feb. 2025

Feb. 1, 2025

From Australia's Black Saturday to Pittsburgh's Bricelyn Street tragedy, the month of February has historical significance in the fire service.

fire department Milwaukee Wisconsin Fire Department 150th anniversary history

Operations & Training

Milwaukee Fire Department 150th Anniversary: History of the Milwaukee Fire Department

Steven Shaw

Jan. 20, 2025

Operations & Training

This Month in Fire History — January 2025

Steven Shaw

Jan. 1, 2025

A retired firefighter touches the memorial for the Worcester Cold Storage Fire after the 25th anniversary memorial service.

Careers & Education

Photos: Hundreds Gather to Remember Fallen Worcester Firefighters on 25th Anniversary

Peter Matthews

Dec. 4, 2024

25 years since deadly Cold Storage fire in Worcester

LODDS

Exhibit Honors Six Fallen Worcester Firefighters on 25th Anniversary

Dec. 3, 2024

Latest

Leadership

Firehouse Interview: Retired Worcester Chief Mike McNamee

Dec. 3, 2024

Every member of the fire service can honor the Worcester, MA, Fire Department firefighters who died on Dec. 3, 1999, by reading the findings and recommendations reports of the incident.

Leadership

As Firehouse Sees It: Worcester 6: Let Their Sacrifices Not Be in Vain

Peter Matthews

Dec. 3, 2024

A photo from the NIOSH investigation report shows the B/C corner of the Worcester Cold Storage warehouse.

Operations & Training

This Month in Fire History - December 2024

Steven Shaw

Dec. 2, 2024

Fire Protection Systems

Eyewitness to Tragedy: Our Lady of the Angels School Fire

Hal Bruno

Dec. 1, 2024

The unveiling of the German fire department flag during the ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Awards, Collectibles & Memorials

Missing Since WWII: German Fire Department’s Banner Comes Back After 80 Years

Ryan Baker

Nov. 19, 2024

If the fire service continually educates communities about fire tragedies of the past, public uproar over the needless loss of life can prompt lawmakers to take action to prevent or reduce further loss.

Community Risk Reduction

Community Risk Reduction: Knowing History

Daniel Byrne

Nov. 15, 2024

Daniel Byrne issues a clarion call to departments to evolve their CRR efforts to include information about previous fire tragedies, to energize the public to demand lawmakers ...

Memorial to the six Kansas City, MO, Fire Department firefighters killed in the explosion. It is located on State Highway 71, a few hundred feet from the site of the incident.

Operations & Training

This Month in Fire History - Nov. 2024

Steven Shaw

Nov. 1, 2024

Did you know that some of the deadliest hotel and nightclub fires in U.S. history happened in the month of November?

A memorial at the Gloucester City, NJ, Fire Department (GCFD) firehouse honors GCFD Firefighter Thomas Stewart III, Mount Ephraim, NJ, Fire Department Fire Chief James Sylvester and Deputy Chief John West, and the three children who were killed. Problems regarding GCFD culture, training, tactics, communications, personnel assignment and special operations were uncovered from the results of the investigation of the incident. Today, the department’s standards of performance are transformed.

Operations & Training

Fire Studies: Lessons Learned—The Gloucester City Tragedy

Michael Daley

Oct. 25, 2024

Michael Daley spoke to one of the members who was rescued during the July 4, 2002, structure fire to hear how that member's department continues to change based on the takeaways...