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U.S. Fire Administration Blog

Articles for the fire and emergency medical services (EMS) providing information on professional development, emergent issues and critical emergency services sector infrastructures.

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NEW
Feb. 20, 2025

Rethinking emergency medical services staffing and delivery

Read the recommendations based on patient outcome data from peer-reviewed studies on the impact of response times and EMS staffing levels.

Read the article

Data, EMS, Health and Safety

NEW
Feb. 6, 2025

Electric vehicle charging stations: Enhancing safety for responders and the public

Read about how DHS is helping change the code and increase safety for first responders.

Read the article

Battery Safety, Equipment and Technology, Health and Safety

Explore more articles:

  • Health and Safety

Drug Enforcement Administration Releases 2024 Edition of Drugs of Abuse

Posted: Jan. 30, 2025
Camp Fire, November 8, 2018
  • Wildfire and WUI
  • Data
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Fire Investigation

NASA satellite images identify a destructive wildfire metric

Posted: Jan. 17, 2025
  • Battery Safety
  • Hazmat
  • Health and Safety
  • Training
  • EMS

Emergency response guides for electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries

Posted: June 23, 2022
Installation of gutter screens
  • Wildfire and WUI
  • CRR

Doing the little things makes a difference in wildfire safety

Posted: Dec. 16, 2024
Paramedic reading a patient's temperature
  • EMS
  • Data
  • Leadership

EMS and Community Paramedicine: Evidence-informed policies and state-by-state legislation

Posted: Nov. 17, 2024
A wildfire in Colorado
  • Wildfire and WUI
  • Planning

How to create a community wildfire protection plan

Posted: Dec. 3, 2024
William Riley looks down to the brush fire at Sepulveda Basin on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, in Los Angeles, Calif. The fire started out earlier in the afternoon and has caused to burn 50 acres of land.(Photo by Kevin Lendio)
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Health and Safety
  • Data

Measure your fire department's safety culture with FOCUS 3.0

Posted: Oct. 31, 2024
firefighter gear
  • Health and Safety

NIOSH launches Center for Firefighter Safety, Health, and Wellbeing

Posted: Oct. 7, 2024
  • EMS
  • Events

National First Responders Day: Honoring Our Everyday Heroes

Posted: Oct. 28, 2024
FEMA Urban Search and Rescue teams work with local fire departments and National Guard amid the Hawaii Wildfires.
  • Wildfire and WUI
  • Data
  • Codes and Standards
  • Fire Investigation
  • Leadership
  • Planning

Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis Report released by the attorney general of Hawaii

Posted: Sept. 19, 2024
Wildfire burn area to the edge of suburban neighborhood in Southern California.
  • Wildfire and WUI

How stakeholders view wildfire mitigation efforts for homes

Posted: Aug. 22, 2024
Person holding a respirator
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Health and Safety

NIOSH project addresses respirator effectiveness with workers with facial hair

Posted: Aug. 8, 2024
Damage from a major post-wildfire landslide that occurred on 9 January 2018 near Montecito, Santa Barbara County as a result of the 2017 Thomas Fire.
  • Wildfire and WUI
  • Data
  • CRR

A new National Institute for Standards and Technology report outlines best practices for post-fire analysis

Posted: Aug. 23, 2024
a photo of a landscape showing signs of extremely high temperatures
  • Health and Safety
  • Planning

New resources help communities plan for extreme heat

Posted: July 18, 2024
Photo of examination gloves, a mask and safety glasses
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Health and Safety
  • Codes and Standards

Using standards when selecting and purchasing responder equipment

Posted: July 11, 2024
Photo of the recovery efforts
  • Hazmat
  • Health and Safety

2023 East Palestine train derailment and hazmat release

Posted: July 5, 2024
A view of the Vulnerability Explorer
  • Wildfire and WUI
  • Data
  • CRR

New tools launch to raise awareness on wildland urban interface fire

Posted: July 17, 2024
Photo of a group of firefighters
  • Health and Safety

Become a Gold Helmet Department

Posted: June 20, 2024
NERIS
  • NERIS
  • Data
  • Events

Nearing the horizon: improved incident reporting, better incident data

Posted: June 29, 2024
Photo of a label on a barrel of hazardous materials
  • Hazmat
  • Health and Safety
  • EMS

OSHA updates Hazard Communication Standard

Posted: June 13, 2024
Firefighter using an SCBA
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Health and Safety
  • Codes and Standards

DHS Science and Technology Directorate releases report on self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) lessons learned

Posted: June 6, 2024
NERIS
  • NERIS
  • Data
  • Events

Tackling America’s fire problem

Posted: June 24, 2024
Firefighter wearing c-thru navigator
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Health and Safety
  • Codes and Standards

DHS Science and Technology Directorate release field assessment report on C-THRU

Posted: May 30, 2024
Photo of fentanyl pills
  • EMS
  • Health and Safety

The Drug Enforcement Administration 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment

Posted: May 23, 2024
FEMA photo of the aftermath of the Hawaii wildfire
  • Wildfire and WUI
  • Data
  • Codes and Standards
  • Fire Investigation
  • Leadership
  • Planning
  • Events

Lahaina Hawaii fire timeline report

Posted: May 2, 2024
Portrait of an adult outdoors who is on the autism spectrum.
  • Health and Safety

Responding to incidents involving individuals with autism

Posted: April 25, 2024
Photo of a teenage firefighter cadet.
  • Health and Safety

Guidance for junior firefighter safety and health

Posted: April 18, 2024
Photo of a residential fire
  • Battery Safety
  • Health and Safety

Fire is fast and getting faster

Posted: April 5, 2024
Photo of a wildland fire
  • Wildfire and WUI

National Wildfire Coordinating Group updates wildland fire safety training

Posted: March 28, 2024
Photo of a first responder using an unmanned aerial system
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Planning
  • Codes and Standards

DHS releases guidance for unmanned aerial systems for public safety missions

Posted: March 28, 2024
Photo of a first responder using hazmat protective gear
  • EMS
  • Hazmat
  • Health and Safety
  • Training

Procedural guidelines for special pathogens

Posted: March 21, 2024
Photo of a firetruck
  • Health and Safety

Improving emergency vehicle lighting and visibility at roadway incidents

Posted: March 7, 2024
U.S. Fire Administration
  • Codes and Standards
  • Leadership
  • Planning

USFA and OSHA presentation on the emergency response notice of proposed ruling

Posted: March 21, 2024
Photo of a CBG filling station
  • Hazmat

Tactics for responding to alternative fuel vehicle incidents

Posted: Feb. 29, 2024
Photo of a vehicle crash
  • Codes and Standards
  • Data
  • Health and Safety

NHTSA updates the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria

Posted: Feb. 22, 2024
Photo of EMS workers in training establishing an airway on a mannequin.
  • EMS

New evidence-based guidelines for prehospital airway management

Posted: Feb. 15, 2024
Building damaged from the Hawaii Wildfires
  • Wildfire and WUI
  • Data
  • Codes and Standards
  • Fire Investigation
  • Leadership
  • Planning
  • Events

Preliminary After-Action Report: 2023 Maui Wildfire

Posted: Feb. 8, 2024
Photo of worn firefighter turnout gear
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Hazmat
  • Health and Safety

Results of first 2 National Institute of Standards and Technology studies on PFAS in turnout gear

Posted: Feb. 1, 2024
Photo of an ambulance with lights and siren on.
  • EMS
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Health and Safety

New guidance on emergency medical services use of lights and siren

Posted: Jan. 25, 2024
Photo of firefighter turnout gear and SCBA
  • Hazmat
  • Health and Safety
  • Training

Rapidly removing an unresponsive firefighter from personal protective equipment

Posted: Jan. 18, 2024
Photo of a group of firefighters
  • EMS
  • Health and Safety

Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposes to expand protections for emergency workers

Posted: Jan. 4, 2024
photo of equipment clearing overgrown vegetation
  • Funding
  • Wildfire and WUI

The importance of good grant reporting

Posted: Jan. 11, 2024
photo of an energy storage system
  • Battery Safety
  • Hazmat
  • Health and Safety

Responding to fires that include energy storage systems (ESS) are a new and evolving hazard

Posted: Dec. 21, 2023
photo of DePLife deployed on a residence
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Health and Safety
  • Codes and Standards

DHS Science and Technology Directorate helps responders see through walls with DePLife

Posted: Dec. 7, 2023
Photo of a damaged lithium-ion battery in a phone
  • Battery Safety
  • CRR

Learn to take C.H.A.R.G.E. of battery safety

Posted: Nov. 30, 2023
Photo of firefighters using C-THRU technology
  • Equipment and Technology

Will C-THRU help firefighters navigate smoky indoor environments?

Posted: Nov. 16, 2023
Photo of firefighter gear storage
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Health and Safety
  • Codes and Standards

New standard for firefighter personal protective equipment

Posted: Nov. 9, 2023
Photo of portable radios
  • Health and Safety
  • Leadership

The transition to advanced encryption standard

Posted: Nov. 2, 2023
Photo of a person struggling with mental health
  • EMS
  • Health and Safety

Integrating 911 and 988 services with innovative crisis response systems

Posted: Oct. 26, 2023
Photo of a strip mall
  • Health and Safety
  • Planning

Minimize firefighting risks at strip mall fires

Posted: Oct. 12, 2023
Photo of an ambulance driving in a city
  • EMS
  • Health and Safety

NHTSA publishes data on ground ambulance crashes

Posted: Oct. 5, 2023
Photo of a wildland firefighter
  • Health and Safety
  • Wildfire and WUI

New research on inhalation exposures for wildland firefighters

Posted: Sept. 28, 2023
Photo of a firefighter wearing PPE
  • EMS
  • Health and Safety

NIOSH releases advisory for response to chemical suicide incidents

Posted: Sept. 21, 2023
Photo of a pediatric nurse with a child
  • EMS

New performance measures for pediatric readiness

Posted: Sept. 14, 2023
Photo of a wildland fire
  • Wildfire and WUI

Wildland fire lessons learned center launches enhanced website

Posted: Sept. 7, 2023
Photo of EMS working with a patient
  • EMS
  • Health and Safety

First responder guide for linking people to substance use services

Posted: Aug. 24, 2023
Heat map
  • Data
  • EMS
  • Health and Safety

New EMS heattracker helps understand and reduce health risks

Posted: Aug. 17, 2023
Photo of corrugated stainless-steel tubing
  • Health and Safety
  • Fire Investigation

ATF investigation report on lessons learned from 2 LODD

Posted: Aug. 10, 2023
photo of a 911 call center
  • Fire Investigation
  • Health and Safety

New survey of emergency communications center personnel offers insight on the 911 profession

Posted: Aug. 3, 2023
photo of a wildfire burning
  • Wildfire and WUI
  • Data
  • Codes and Standards
  • Fire Investigation
  • Leadership
  • Planning

FEMA's Mitigation Assessment Team releases first report in the aftermath of a wildfire

Posted: Aug. 10, 2023
photo of a train derailment
  • EMS
  • Hazmat
  • Health and Safety
  • Planning

AskRail for rapid access to rail car hazmat information

Posted: July 27, 2023
Photo illustration of a heart monitor
  • EMS
  • Health and Safety

Real-time heart health monitoring for firefighters

Posted: July 20, 2023
Photo of wildflowers with a town in the background
  • CRR
  • Wildfire and WUI

Include everyone in wildfire safety and prevention efforts

Posted: July 24, 2023
photo of a firefighter fighting a residential fire
  • CRR
  • Data
  • Health and Safety

Tool for accessing data on fire risk and vulnerability

Posted: July 13, 2023
photo of people inside a church
  • Health and Safety
  • Planning
  • Terrorism

Protecting houses of worship from targeted violence

Posted: July 6, 2023
Photo of Ohio National Guard first responders at the East Palestine fire.
  • Data
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Hazmat
  • Health and Safety
  • Planning
  • Terrorism

First responders need real-time hazmat information at rail incidents

Posted: June 29, 2023
Photo of a hydrogen truck
  • Equipment and Technology

Testing concludes on prototype hybrid fuel rescue truck

Posted: June 22, 2023
Firefighters carrying a fire shelter
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Wildfire and WUI

NWCG standards for M-2002 fire shelters updated

Posted: June 15, 2023
Photo of a person showing compassion for another
  • Health and Safety

Study examines higher suicide rates among first responders

Posted: June 8, 2023
photo of a volunteer fire station
  • Funding
  • Leadership

USFA releases new manual on retention and recruitment

Posted: June 15, 2023
Photo of a woman wearing a mask in a high smoke level environment
  • CRR
  • Health and Safety
  • Wildfire and WUI

Minimizing the effects of wildfire smoke

Posted: June 8, 2023
firefighting foam used during a vehicle fire
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Hazmat
  • Health and Safety

Firefighting foams: PFAS vs. fluorine-free foams

Posted: May 25, 2023
Photo of firefighter putting on gear
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Health and Safety

In-suit communications evaluation video

Posted: May 18, 2023
Photo of firefighter putting on gear
  • Hazmat
  • Health and Safety

New information on potential carcinogens in firefighter gear

Posted: May 11, 2023
mountain highway auto accident
  • Data
  • Health and Safety

Start using ReportStruckBy.com… It could save your life

Posted: May 4, 2023
Autism decal
  • EMS

Autism resources for first responders

Posted: April 27, 2023
Photo of firefighters fighting off a large wildfire
  • Training
  • Wildfire and WUI

2023 Wildland fire safety training annual refresher

Posted: April 13, 2023
hazmat team at railroad tanker incident
  • Data
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Hazmat

CBRNResponder: FEMA's one-stop shop for CBRN incident management and data sharing

Posted: April 13, 2023
electric bike stand
  • Battery Safety
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Hazmat
  • Health and Safety

2023 Firefighter Safety Stand Down: Lithium-ion batteries

Posted: April 6, 2023
Fentanyl in clear packet
  • EMS
  • Hazmat

Reducing first responder occupational exposures to opioids

Posted: March 30, 2023
Photo of firefighters huddled together on duty
  • Wildfire and WUI

Management of large wildland fire incidents

Posted: March 23, 2023
Photo of firefighters using a wildland fire safety shelter
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Wildfire and WUI

Wildland fire shelter safety warning

Posted: March 16, 2023
Photo of a person using VR while using a laptop
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Training

Immersive learning: an important part of fire service training

Posted: March 9, 2023
Solar panels on a fire station
  • CRR
  • Planning

Sustainable energy and conservation solutions for fire departments

Posted: March 8, 2023
Aerial ladder truck with money
  • Funding

You'd be surprised how simple it is for your fire department to get grant money

Posted: March 2, 2023
Electric vehicle
  • Battery Safety
  • Equipment and Technology
  • Hazmat
  • Health and Safety

Fire and EMS: Be alert for alternative fuel vehicle conversions

Posted: March 1, 2023
Community hillside wildfire
  • CRR
  • Wildfire and WUI

Fire protection engineers: Key players in solving the wildland urban interface fire problem

Posted: Feb. 24, 2023
Firefighters on hoseline
  • Health and Safety

Help reduce firefighter cancer: Join the National Firefighter Registry

Posted: Jan. 17, 2023
White House
  • Fire Investigation

President Biden signs legislation to investigate major fires

Posted: Dec. 27, 2022
Firefighter and medic looking ahead
  • EMS
  • Health and Safety

Increasing the focus on fire and emergency medical services behavioral health

Posted: Dec. 15, 2022
Engine and ambulance
  • Leadership
  • Planning

EMR - ISAC: Making vital, timely, actionable emergency services sector information easily accessible

Posted: Nov. 16, 2022
Wheelchair
  • Planning
  • Wildfire and WUI

Mitigating losses incurred by vulnerable populations during wildfires

Posted: Oct. 28, 2022
embers at night from the camp fire
  • CRR
  • Wildfire and WUI

Protecting structures from wildfire embers and fire exposures

Posted: Sept. 1, 2022
High-rise residential building
  • Codes and Standards
  • CRR

Protecting people who live or work in high-rises

Posted: Jan. 12, 2022