Starting your career as a firefighter can be both exciting and challenging. The road to becoming a well-rounded firefighter involves mastering a blend of practical skills and strategic thinking. One of the best ways to build these essential capabilities is by learning from seasoned experts who have not only written about firefighting tactics but have also applied them in real-life situations.
No matter the specific topic, these five books share a common goal: to prepare firefighters for the challenges they’ll face on the fireground. Written by experienced instructors who understand both the theory and the real-world application of firefighting tactics, these titles focus on practical, actionable strategies. Each book emphasizes safety, decision-making, and effective coordination—crucial skills that all recruits must develop. With a strong foundation in both strategy and execution, these books help firefighters at any level enhance their abilities, stay safe, and excel in high-pressure situations.
Let’s explore the top 5 strategy & tactics must-read books for new firefighters, authored by industry experts who also serve as Fire Engineering instructors, ready to guide you through your firefighting journey.
1. Coordinating Ventilation: Supporting Extinguishment and Survivability by Nick Papa
Coordinating Ventilation: Supporting Extinguishment and Survivability is a go-to guide for understanding the crucial role ventilation plays in firefighting. Written by Nick Papa, this book examines the relationship between ventilation and fire behavior to identify how it affects the fire, operations, and—most importantly—victim survivability. Ventilation can be universally applied, from the smallest rural community to the largest metropolitan city.
About the Author: Nick Papa
Nicholas Papa is a lieutenant with the New Britain (CT) Fire Department, where he has served for more than 13 years, 6 as a company officer. He is a UL-FSRI technical panelist for the study on coordinated fire attacks. Before starting his career, Nick volunteered in a neighboring suburb for four years, becoming a second-generation firefighter.
Nick contributes to Fire Engineering magazine, produces the Training Minutes series Venting Tactically as well as the DVD Lights Out, and cohosts the podcast Politics & Tactics. An FDIC classroom instructor since 2017, he teaches at local and regional fire conferences across the country. He holds an MPA in emergency management from Anna Maria College and a BS in public safety administration from Charter Oak State College. Nick is also the sole proprietor of Fireside Training.
2. 25 to Survive: Reducing Residential Injury and LODD by Douglas Mitchell & Dan Shaw
Written by experienced instructors Douglas Mitchell and Dan Shaw, 25 to Survive: Reducing Residential Injury and LODD is an essential read for any firefighter working in residential settings. This book provides a roadmap for reducing injuries and line-of-duty deaths (LODD) during fire operations. For new recruits, it’s a valuable resource for “street-proven” tips, techniques, and company-level drills that address and overcome the 25 most common errors that occur at residential building fires.
About the Authors: Douglas Mitchell and Dan Shaw
Doug Mitchell works for the New York City Fire Department, where he also held the rank of fire marshal. Previously, he served with the Fairfax County, VA, Fire and Rescue Department. A published fire service author in several genres, he is a vice president/senior instructor for Traditions Training. He instructs on fire service topics at several national conferences.
Captain Dan Shaw began his firefighting career at the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and currently serves as a captain. He serves as a vice president/senior instructor for Traditions Training. In addition to his book authorship, he has published articles in trade magazines and served as an instructor at national conferences. He is a principal member of NFPA 1400.
3. Fireground Strategies, Third Edition by Anthony Avillo
The third edition of Chief Anthony Avillo’s bestselling Fireground Strategies is an invaluable resource for the education and development of outstanding fire officers. Through case studies and illustrative examples, Avillo covers how to identify a strategy, develop an action plan, and implement tactics to meet the objectives of the course of action on the fireground.
Fireground Strategies is a required text in senior-level undergraduate firefighting strategies courses and is recommended reading for promotional exams across the United States.
About the Author: Anthony L. Avillo
Anthony L. Avillo is a career Deputy Chief with North Hudson (NJ) Regional Fire & Rescue. In addition to North Hudson Fire, Avillo is also involved in the fire service in other ways. He teaches at the Bergen County (NJ) Fire Academy (BCFA) and FDIC and is also a partner in Study Group, Inc., a business that helps firefighters and officers of career departments prepare for promotional exams.
4. The Tactical Firefighter by Mark van der Feyst, Matt Wehrle and Rob Wiggins
A firefighter needs to be combat-ready 24/7, consistently self-improving—a person who is mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared, can adapt as needed, buys into the positive culture of the department, and is not afraid to step up and get the job done, no matter how mundane the task. That person will pour blood, sweat, and tears into the job. Tactical means constantly being able to adapt and implement small-scale actions for a larger purpose, which is to serve the community that has entrusted firefighters with their lives.
The Tactical Firefighter is the culmination of the knowledge and experience of leaders who have contributed effective and efficient techniques and tactics to the development of the fire service. We are all students of the fire service, and we have been fortunate to learn from the best the country has to offer. We thank those industry leaders for leading by example and being the best they can be.
About the Authors: Mark van der Feyst, Matt Wehrle, and Rob Wiggins
Mark van der Feyst, began his career in the fire service in 1998 with the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company in Pennsylvania, where he served as a firefighter and training officer for four years. From there he joined the Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services, Canada, where he served for three years. Currently, Mark works for the Fort Gratiot Fire Department as a firefighter. Before joining the fire service, he was a design engineer for SimplexGrinnell for five years.
Mark graduated from Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology as a fire protection engineering technologist and the Justice Institute of British Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in fire and life safety studies. He is currently pursuing his Master of Science in safety, security, and emergency management at Eastern Kentucky University.
Mark is an international instructor, teaching in Canada, the United States, and India. He is a local-level suppression instructor for the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy and an instructor for the Justice Institute of British Columbia Bachelor of Fire and Safety Studies degree program.
Matt Wehrle is a full-time firefighter with the Town of Oakville (Ontario) Fire Department. He started in 2010 where he worked for several years as a Training Officer before transferring to Suppression. Prior to this, he worked as a district chief and training officer with a volunteer fire department in rural southwestern Ontario. Matt has been a civilian instructor with the Department of National Defense, Canadian Forces Fire Academy at Base Borden Ontario, focusing on structural firefighting techniques where he also assisted specialized rescue and aircraft rescue firefighting (ARFF).
Matt’s NFPA certifications include Firefighter II, Officer II, Instructor II, Incident Safety Officer, and Vehicle Rescue Tech. He has also been certified through the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office as a Company Officer, Training Officer, and Career Firefighter.
Rob Wiggins is a career firefighter with the city of Barrie in Ontario, Canada. Rob has been a firefighter since 2007, starting in a paid-on-call role in his rural hometown, where he rose to the rank of captain. Rob started his career position with a medium-sized urban department on Oakville Fire Department’s Ladder Company 242. In 2019 Rob made the move to his local area career fire department and is currently assigned to Barrie Fire and Emergency Services Rescue 1.
Rob began instructing during his time with his paid-on-call fire department, and he has been passionate about hands-on, realistic training ever since. He has had the opportunity to instruct at multiple fire colleges and is currently an instructor at Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario.
In 2018 Rob joined Firestar Services, Inc., where he has had the pleasure of working with and learning from some of the best and most passionate firefighters in Canada and the United States. Rob has had the privilege of instructing at the Canadian High-Rise Conference and HROC in Pensacola, Florida, which was the highlight of his instructing career. Rob is passionate about the fire service, its culture, and its traditions and is a founding member of Ontario’s Hogtown FOOLS.
5. House Fires by Jerry Knapp
House Fires by Jerry Knapp is an essential guide for firefighters, officers, and students of fire suppression, offering practical strategies and tactics for effectively combating house fires. This comprehensive text combines traditional and modern approaches, featuring interactive, scenario-based learning drawn from real fireground experiences.
Inside, readers will find:
- Interactive scenarios based on fireground experience to help develop your fireground decision-making
- Compilation of the best strategy and tactics for house fires from many experienced fire service experts
- Firefighters: critical information, insight, and understanding of strategies you will be expected to execute on the fireground including size up, search/rescue, fire attack, ventilation, and engine and truck operations
- Fire officers: scenario-based practical application of traditional and modern approaches to house fires
- Students of fire suppression: a comprehensive text including the latest research on our most important alarm
Whether you are a new recruit or a seasoned officer, House Fires will be a trusted resource throughout your career. Use it as a go-to reference, refining your strategy and tactics as you advance in rank, and develop the critical decision-making skills needed for every call, especially the most important—the house fire.
About the Author: Jerry Knapp
Jerry Knapp is the chief of the Rockland County (NY) hazmat team and a former nationally certified paramedic. His is a 39-year veteran firefighter/EMT with the West Haverstraw (NY) Fire Department and a training officer at the Rockland County Fire Training Center in Pomona, NY. He is a member of the technical panel for the Underwriters Laboratories research on interior and exterior fire attack at residential fires. He has a degree in fire protection and is an adjunct professor of fire technology. He is a frequent contributor to Fire Engineering.
These books go beyond just theory—they’re real-world tested, written by the same experts who will help guide and train you throughout your firefighting career.
Fire Engineering books are trusted by fire departments and training facilities nationwide because they’re designed to build both your practical skills and your strategic thinking, keeping you prepared from the very start. We also have a variety of books perfect for new recruits, covering everything from leadership to volunteer departments and more. Check out some of our top recommendations here, and keep an eye out for upcoming blog posts featuring even more great reads from our instructors!
