The best Firefighting & Prevention books: Reddit reviews

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

I got a book called firefighter functional fitness by Jim moss. It has some good workouts in there and great information.

We did our first flame piece last year- you are welcome to PM me.

There is a great book on profane. Make: Fire: The Art and Science of Working with Propane https://www.amazon.com/dp/1680450875/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VyuOCbSGFNQX4

Also the people at poofersupply.com are burners and very helpful. They also occasionally give classes. We didn’t manage to take one, but heard good things.

Highly recommend those resources unless you are very knowledge about propane (your post implies that’s not the case)

Re material: For us, we were metal artists first. Five years of welding experience, some garage space and a stubborn attitude got a lot done. MIG welding is fairly quick to pick up (we honestly learned most of what we know from a weekend class and you tube videos, and lots of time burning ourselves in the garage). Steel is fairly easy to work with. Make friends with the people at the metal yard and have them use their big sheer to do major cuts for you, and you can do a lot of the rest with hand held power tools.

Keep it small and keep it simple would be wise advice- but no one who is making flame art for burning man wants wise advice. ;) so let’s go with this: try really hard not to blow yourself up.

Take the initiative, grab a book and plan some trainings for your team.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1284144631/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_2e0JBb03Q0GMH

If that book is too expensive, buy the 3rd edition from 2013 - the content is still relevant.

Talking to makers who make them is def a great way-- i was also recommended this book, which is AMAZINGLY written, and walked me through making my own boosh/poofer, def check it out if interested! https://www.amazon.com/Make-Fire-Science-Working-Propane/dp/1680450875

The Fires: How a Computer Formula, Big Ideas, and the Best of Intentions Burned Down New York City--and Determined the Future of Cities

This is more a look at the policy decisions that led to ‘The War Years’.

Embedded systems are my thing (firmware engineer outside of burner world). But my friend literally wrote the book on poofers, and safe plumbing, I'd start there and then you can get into controlling the solenoids with arduinos and mosfets, switching hot surface ignitors with relays, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Make-Fire-Science-Working-Propane/dp/1680450875/ref=sr\_1\_1?crid=2KBDR8MGXC8M9&keywords=make%3A+fire&qid=1655749277&sprefix=make+fire%2Caps%2C111&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Smoke-your-Firefighter-Interview-Lepore/dp/0972993452/ref=nodl_

This book is worth it’s weight in gold. He goes through commonly asked questions and explains how he would answer them, and then explains the reasoning behind the question and why he answered it the way he did. I was asked a few questions that were almost verbatim from that book. Even if you don’t, it’ll get your mind thinking the way it needs to be for this kind of interview.

Also, if you know people in the department reach out to them and ask to set up a mock interview or two before your actual one. Good luck!

This book right here will get you heading in the right direction. It focuses on all aspects of firefighter fitness and breaks it down into different sections "core, cardiovascular fitness, strength, etc." Also touches on nutrition quite a bit. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0990844242/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_KAC5Y8EBZXE1S101XV3B

Take a look at the book Firefighter Functional Fitness. I got it a few years ago and restructured my department’s fitness program. Here’s the Amazon link:

Firefighter Functional Fitness: The Essential Guide to Optimal Firefighter Performance and Longevity https://www.amazon.com/dp/0990844242/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_SDKFAFB5X4M3D4KXERRF

I'm a big fan of The Big Burn. It kind of misses the mark with regards to being just about Oregon but it'll help you with a great chunk of history on the PNW and even America's parks.

Um, 334 is the article for NM, NMC and NMS. Those would be the cables that are being protected.

If you don't own a code book, check out Amazon

Hey, what kind of books are you looking at reading? Fiction? Non fiction? Training? There's lots out there.

For training and knowledge for work, I would always suggest the IFSTA book https://www.amazon.com/Essentials-Fire-Fighting-Department-Operations/dp/0133140806/ref=sr_1_1/130-2392591-2972541?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1520626489&sr=1-1&refinements=p_27%3AIFSTA

It's a little over 1600 pages full of detailed information of most aspects of firefighting

It’s a bit spendy to buy on ones own but this is what my academy used: Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills https://www.amazon.com/dp/1284144631/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_GYvJAb6GX487X.

Perhaps you can find a used one for a decent price. Or you could go find a volunteer fire department, and they’ll get you all set up. Many colleges also offer 2- and 4- year degrees in fire science that you end up with a bunch of certifications, sometimes including paramedic- which many career departments require.

want to have a copy of the National Electric Code for your desk? $85

you can register for free access online but you get one page at a time and no hyperlinks >=|

For the written test I bought this book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1580629326/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1433203398&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&keywords=firefighter+exam&dpPl=1&dpID=61WVdP0nemL&ref=plSrch

For the chiefs interview this one was extremely helpful: http://www.amazon.com/Smoke-your-Firefighter-Interview-Lepore/dp/0972993452

Physical fitness is key too, running, training with a weighted pack (I bought one on eBay) and body weight exercises will benefit you greatly.

Also, if you have any friends or connections in the department you're applying for, pick their brains.

The community college courses I took were, in many cases, taught by active duty fire department personnel, so consider it part of the application process. Show up on time, sit in the very front of the classroom, behave professionally, and it could be your ticket to a letter of recommendation should you ask when the time comes.

The usa nec code book is written by lawyers in legalese and can be difficult to comprehend

If you get the nec handbook it translates some of the legalese into American English:

http://www.amazon.com/National-Electrical-Code-Handbook-2014/dp/1455905445

I read Firefighters: Their Lives in their Own Words, and although very different, it was a decent book.

I don't think much of anything compares to "82," and sometimes I wish it could be made into a movie before Smith dies.

I bet your fire academy will be using one of these two books as the basic firefighting textbook:

Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations

Fundamentals of Firefighter Skills

So you might want to ask the academy what book they use, or just get whatever you feel like. Because more info never hurts, right? Personally, I got both of the books above and another textbook as well. I liked being able to see how different books presented the information.

If you're in school for EE or to be an electrician, or starting a job as such - Then the NEC is your new best friend. It's well worth the $150 to buy the handbook as well. Lot's of good helpful notes in there...

Firefighters: Their Lives in Their Own Words