35 Things Every Fire Officer Must Know and Do

By: Frank Viscuso

In the fire service, knowledge is more than power; it’s the key to leading with purpose, earning respect, and making a real impact. 35 Things Every Fire Officer Must Know and Do, is your go-to playbook for building credibility, managing with confidence, and inspiring your team to reach their full potential.

Written by best-selling author and fire service leader Frank Viscuso, this title delivers practical lessons for both newly promoted officers and seasoned leaders. From mastering the basics to resolving conflict, managing performance, and building trust, Chief Viscuso distils decades of operational and leadership experience into actionable principles you can put to work immediately.

With real-world examples, teaching tools, and clear takeaways, this book simplifies the complex challenges of leadership and provides a proven framework for navigating the demands of the job. 

This playbook serves as a powerful companion to 35 Things Every Firefighter Must Know and Do, and together they provide a comprehensive guide to succeeding in the fire service, no matter where you are in your career.

*****

Table of Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. It’s Not about You
2. Set the Standard
3. Show up Prepared
4. Forge Strong Bonds
5. Master the Basics
6. Inspiration Is Better Than Intimidation
7. Be a Positive Role Model
8. The Normalization of Deviance
9. Master the Art of Communication
10. The Power of Stories as a Teaching Method
11. How to Conduct a Post incident Analysis
12. Root Cause Analysis
13. Set Expectations Up Front
14. Promote Interlocking Accountability
15. Conflict Resolution
16. Let the Best Ideas Win
17. Risk Is Part of the Job (Never Stop Learning)
18. Hard Chargers, Coasters, Complainers, and Corner Mutts
19. Give Constructive Criticism
20. Insubordination (and the 3 Us)
21. Progressive Discipline
22. The Advantages of Delegation
23. Trust but Verify
24. Ruthless Repetitions
25. The Five-Step Process (Administrative Duties)
26. The Power of Recognition
27. Trust Is Nonnegotiable
28. Freelancing Is Unacceptable
29. Why Teams Fail
30. Firefighters Inherit Emergencies
31. Change Is Necessary
32. Stay Calm
33. Practice Humility
34. The Importance of Report Writing
35. Provide Exceptional Customer Service
36. Bonus Chapter—Invest in Your Future

Conclusion

Notes

Index

About the Author

Additional Books by Frank Viscuso