On Fire: The First 10 Years

By: Michael N. Ciampo

For over 15 years, Lt. Mike Ciampo has shared real-world firefighting knowledge in his widely read On Fire column in Fire Engineering Magazine. Now, for the first time, his hard-earned lessons, tactical insights, and real-world experiences learned from decades of service in both the FDNY and Washington, DC Fire Department are collected in this essential volume.

With an engaging and insightful style, Ciampo captures fireground realities, decision-making challenges, and the adaptability required to stay safe and effective. From aggressive truck work to situational awareness, each chapter delivers street-smart, experience-driven techniques that firefighters can apply immediately.

Topics in This Book Include:

• Tactical Firefighting Tips – Time-tested skills in search, forcible entry, ventilation, laddering, overhaul, hoseline management, safety, and rescue operations.
• Fireground Lessons – Stories and analysis from real-life incidents that highlight key takeaways and lessons learned.
• Incident Management – Strategies and tactics for handling unusual fireground events and high-risk incidents.
• Firehouse Training & Culture – The importance of continuous learning through drills, building team concepts and adapting to change

 This book is packed with practical knowledge and storytelling, making it an essential read for firefighters of all levels—new recruits, seasoned veterans, and fire officers looking to refine their tactical skills.

*****

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Who Had the Nozzle?
• Two Hands, Two Tools
• An H-Type Debate
• Remove the Balusters
• Twice in a Tour
• It’s Just a Pile of Leaves
• “Smells Like Food”
• It’s More than Fires
• Any “Special Instructions”?
• Use Your Ears, Too!
• Start a Second Line
• Take a Minute to Save a Minute
• Life, Fire, and Operations
• Hey, Where Are You?
• When the Uncomplicated Becomes
• Complicated
• Struck by Lightning
• Watch Out Behind You!
• Grab the Dresser
• Giving Thanks
• What’d You Do Up There?
• Maintaining Control
• Everyone Should Have One
• Escape Overload
• It’s Easy to Get Fooled
• The Book Said
• All Six Sides
• Bull in a China Shop
• Body to the Building
• Sometimes It’s Not in the Cards
• Lights, Camera . . . ACTION!
• Learning from Experience
• Chaos from the Chute
• Putting Your Best Boot Forward
• Did You See That?
• Long-Accepted Tactics
• Monday Morning Quarterback
• Grab a Donut
• Get Upstairs and Open Up!
• Turn on the Pump
• Some Are Grilling
• Offering Some Support
• Remember One Piece of Equipment, Part 1
• Remember One Piece of Equipment, Part 2
• Greatest Gifts of All
• Protecting and Preventing 24/7, 365
• Grab the What?
• Learning Something New
• A Different Sea of Blue
• Like Clockwork
• The Circle of Danger
• Working in Unison
• The Curveball
• Holiday Hardship
• Gasping for Information
• Happy New Procedures!
• Hey, We’re Going Above
• Converted Cubicles
• Q & A
• Vacancy/No Vacancy
• Can I “Ax” You a Question?
• Summer Situations
• Sand and Shovels
• Actions Speak Louder than Words
• Storefront Saga
• Wye?
• Electricity in the Air
• Red Light, Green Light
• The Hat Trick
• Just Another Brick in the Wall
• On-the-Job Training
• March Madness Recap
• I-O-U My Life
• Opening Up
• Summer Cycling
• And I’m Climbing a Stairway to . . .
• “Can” I Help You?
• Avenue of Egress
• A Few Gifts for You
• Friday the 13th
• It’s Just a Vacant
• The Letter “I”
• Training the Troops
• Spring Fever
• Secondary Will Be Delayed
• Cattle Cars
• Blackout
• Big Drops of Water
• Recreational Challenges
• Geared Up and Ready to Go
• Surprise Packages
• Derailed
• Operational Miscue
• Assistance Accepted
• Training—Outside the Lines
• My Turn Under the Microscope
• The Gas Years
• Who Knows?
• Hallway Help
• Raise, Rotate, Extend
• Centennial
• Highs and Lows
• Operational Tactics and Tips
• PD Requests FD
• Toilet Tactics and Turmoil
• Surviving the Bomb Cyclone
• Trust
• Always and Never
• Street-Proven Research
• But They Said . . .
• It’s Out the Windows
• Expect, Going to Work
• Ductwork
• Autoexposure
• Cohesive Operations
• More “Always” and “Never” Rules
• Come and Knock on Our Door
• Expect the Unexpected
• We Hate to Lose
• Air Traffic Control