Overview

35 Things Every Fire Officer Must Know and Do by Frank Viscuso is a must-read leadership guide for newly promoted and seasoned fire officers. This practical playbook covers essential principles for leading high-performing crews, building trust, resolving conflict, managing performance, and navigating the day-to-day realities of the fire service. Packed with real-world examples and actionable tools, it’s the ultimate resource for anyone looking to lead with confidence, integrity, and impact in one of the world’s most demanding professions.

Full Product Details

Author:   Frank Viscuso
Publisher:   Fire Engineering Books
Imprint:   Fire Engineering Books
ISBN:  

9781593705213

ISBN 10:   1593705212
Pages:   224
Publication Date:   31 October 2025
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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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 Postincident 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

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Author Information

Frank Viscuso is a retired deputy fire chief and best-selling author of twelve books, including the widely popular fire service leadership book Step Up and Lead. He is an international speaker who travels throughout the world providing leadership training for various teams and industries, including emergency services, professional athletics, sales teams, the healthcare industry, small businesses, and large corporations. His popular keynotes, seminars, and books are designed to introduce people to timeless leadership principles and to equip them with the skills needed to lead, inspire, and motivate their teams. Deputy Chief Viscuso was an opening ceremony keynote speaker at the FDIC International fire conference (2022) as well as the recipient of the ISFSI George D. Post Instructor of the Year award in 2025, which recognizes individuals for extraordinary accomplishments in fire service training. For more information, please visit FrankViscuso.com.

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