An Insider's Guide to Mentoring the Fire Officer

By Leigh H. Shapiro 

An Insider’s Guide to Mentoring the Fire Officer by Leigh H. Shapiro is an essential handbook for fire officers of all ranks looking to clear the noise and get to the root of the issues to excel in their roles. Written by an experienced deputy fire chief, this book combines operational strategies, leadership insights, and real-world case studies presented in the mentoring format to address the unique challenges and situations of fire officer leadership. 

 Shapiro goes beyond protocols, focusing on human dynamics, decision-making, and fostering accountability. Each chapter offers actionable advice, relatable scenarios, and thought-provoking questions to prepare fire officers for both the fireground and the firehouse. The key takeaway from this book is problem-solving from the mentor role model to provide maximum value through teachable moments. 

Key Highlights Include: 

• Critical Thinking: Reading People and Environments. 
• Mentorship & Succession Development: Coach future leaders while advancing your own career. 
• Fireground Accountability: Streamlined and simplified tactics for effective incident management and accountability. 
• LODD Analysis: Handling the impact, aftermath, and scope of the tragedy with professionalism and resilience. 
• Leadership Growth: Understanding human behaviors to build emotional intelligence and address personnel dynamics. 

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Table of Content

• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction

1. Alarm of Fire!

• Case Study
• Question

2. Mentoring and Coaching the Fire Officer: Pearls of Wisdom

• New Duties and Responsibilities
• Critical Thinking for Fire Officer Development
• Mentoring and Coaching
• Personnel Issues
• Sexual Harassment
• Case Study
• Questions

3.  Succession Planning: Promotional Preparation and Advancement

• Case Study
• Questions

4. Decision-Making: Know Your Job!

• Indecision Is No Decision, So Make a Decision
• Which Side Are You On?
• Prepared versus Ready: Fundamental Differences
• Case Study
• Questions

5. The Incident Commander: Points to Enhance Skillsets

• The Street Boss
• The Dance Card: Fireground Accountability for the Incident Commander, Simplified!
• Simplified Format for Incident Management
• High-Rise Fires
• Technical Rescue
• Case Study
• Questions

6. Fireground Behaviors

• Factors Affecting Behavior
• Overcoming Three Common Fireground Failures
• Interior Fire Attack: Obsolete or Indispensable?
• Case Study
• Questions

7. Analysis of an After-Action Report

• Case Study
• Questions

8. The Incident: The Impact of a Fire Service

• Line-of-Duty Death
• The Ultimate Sacrifice
• The Aftermath
• Evidence Collection
• The Unexpected
• The Notification
• The Impact
• What’s Left
• Case Study
• Questions  

9. Final Thoughts

• Case Study
• Questions
• Index