Resource roundup: Top training, downloads and webinars from 2025

Each year, certain topics rise to the surface as firefighters, company officers and chiefs look for clear guidance on evolving operational demands, leadership expectations and workforce needs. This roundup captures the resources you and your peers turned to most — the training that shaped discussions, the downloads that informed planning and the webinars that offered practical, experience-driven insight — all in one place for quick reference.

⬇️ Downloads

FireRescue1’s 2025 downloadable resources tackle a range of operational, leadership and planning challenges. Each download offers focused guidance drawn from real fire service experience — whether you’re exploring emerging tactics, strengthening command readiness, planning facilities or navigating recruitment and wellness demands — giving you accessible tools to inform decisions and advance your department’s work.

What Firefighters Want in 2025: Aggressive + Safe Tactics

FireRescue1’s latest What Firefighters Want eBook explores findings from a 1,600-person survey examining how firefighters across the country view the tension between aggressive fire attack and a safety-first culture. It offers valuable insight into prevailing perspectives and shines a light on real-world behaviors, attitudes and training gaps.

Rookie Rules: What to expect day 1, shift 1, year 1

This guide walks new firefighters through the realities of their first shift, first year and beyond — what they’ll encounter, what to expect, and how to navigate everything from training, station culture, expectations and the learning curve. It’s a useful reference for new recruits and for mentors tasked with onboarding, helping streamline the transition and setting realistic expectations early in the career.

Fire station must-haves: Firefighters share checklist of features

This compilation presents features and design elements firefighters themselves identify as essential when building or upgrading fire stations — from operational needs to comfort, safety and wellness considerations. It’s a practical checklist for departments seeking to build “crew-first” stations that support both performance and quality of life for personnel.

Fire Command Ready: Building bench strength

This publication explores how departments can build depth in leadership so more personnel are prepared to assume incident command responsibilities when needed, as relying solely on a designated IC puts departments at risk, especially during unexpected events. The eBook outlines strategies for ensuring continuity of command through training, policies and shared responsibility.

Discover how fire departments are redefining station design [eBook]

This resource surveys trends in modern fire station design, highlighting how three departments are rethinking facility layouts, materials and amenities to better meet today’s operational, health and sustainability needs. For readers responsible for station planning or involved in long-term growth, it offers a useful reference on what the next generation of firehouses can — and perhaps should — look like.

The transition home

This resource — part of FireRescue1’s First Responder Wellness Week content series — looks at what happens after shift ends, particularly how firefighters re-enter home life and the emotional, psychological and relational challenges that can come with the transition. For first responders and departments alike, this resource offers a valuable perspective on post-incident recovery, mental health and supporting family dynamics outside the firehouse.

How to fund your next station

This guide outlines practical approaches for identifying, securing and justifying the financing needed to build or upgrade fire stations. For departments navigating tight budgets or competing priorities, it provides concrete strategies and planning advice to support capital projects — a must-read for chiefs, administrators and grant writers alike.

💻 Webinars

FireRescue1’s 2025 webinars featured in-depth discussions with fire service leaders, subject-matter experts and practitioners who break down current challenges and evolving best practices across operations, command wellness and department planning. These sessions offer practical insights you can apply immediately — whether you’re refining tactics, strengthening leadership systems, preparing capital projects or supporting personnel — and provide an efficient way to stay informed as the fire service continues to adapt.

Before, during and after-action — command and control of large-scale fire incidents

This webinar examines the full lifecycle of command operations in large or complex incidents — from pre-event planning through post-action assessment. It’s beneficial for officers and chiefs who want a deeper understanding of command structure, coordination and communication during major events.

Panelists: Fire Chief Chad Augustin, Fire Chief Brian Fennessy, Fire Chief Robert J. Garcia, Fire Chief Dustin Gardner, Chief Deputy Jon F. O’Brien and Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder

Smarter specs: How to optimize fire apparatus design

This presentation explores how departments can tailor apparatus design specifications to operational realities — ensuring that vehicles and equipment are optimized for actual needs rather than one-size-fits-all assumptions. It’s relevant for chiefs, apparatus officers or procurement staff looking to create more efficient, functional and cost-effective fleet solutions.

Panelists: Fire Chief Michael Baker, Division Chief Adam Storey, Assistant Chief Greg Ward and Fire Chief Jason Caughey

What Firefighters Want in 2025 — aggressive tactics + safety culture

This webinar dives into the same 2025 survey as the eBook above, presenting the data, key themes and discussion about what firefighters really think about safety vs. tactical aggression. It’s a useful format for department leaders or crews who want to bring the conversation in-house, spark discussion and inform policy or training decisions.

Panelists: Fire Chief (ret.) John Oates, Assistant Chief (ret.) Eric Valliere, Battalion Chief Lance Vinson and Fire Chief Jason Caughey

The command blueprint: Build the system, lead the fireground

This session provides a structured look at building reliable incident-command systems using clear procedures, checklists and command-post placement. It’s designed for departments that want to strengthen command effectiveness and consistency under the demands of dynamic fireground conditions.

Panelists: Fire Chief Jason Caughey, Chief Kristopher T. Blume, Assistant Chief Nicol Juratovac and Bureau Chief of Training Trevor Frodge

Ask the Architect — questions that drive the design process and create crew-first stations

This webinar brings design experts to the table and walks viewers through key questions and considerations that drive functional, crew-centric station design. For anyone planning a new station or renovation, it offers guidance from people who understand both architecture and the unique needs of fire service.

Panelists: Design Principal Christopher Kehde, Fire Chief Richard Mikel, Battalion Chief John Jeniec Jr., Fire Chief Matt Sabo and Fire Chief Jason Caughey

Grants Day 2025: public-safety funding playbook

This webinar outlines current grant opportunities and offers a strategic framework for positioning fire departments to win public-safety funding. It’s especially valuable for departments facing limited budgets — giving actionable guidance for grant writing, prioritizing needs and aligning requests with funder expectations.

The power of connection — family, friends and faith for first responders

This webinar takes a broader view of first-responder wellbeing by focusing on social and emotional support systems: family, friends and faith. For firefighters and officers looking to support overall wellness, resilience and mental health — inside the firehouse and at home — it provides meaningful discussion and perspective.

Panelists: Dr. Rachelle Zemlok, Dr. Derrick Edwards, Mike Taigman, Rebecca Lynn