Mastering the Craft: Cultivating a Philosophy for Fire Attack

by Jeff Rothmeier

In this insightful book, veteran firefighter and author Jeff Rothmeier aims to galvanize the minds of firefighters so that they can fulfill their potential and execute effectively in the moment of truth. Training to act effectively means understanding individual tactics fully. Aggression that is not supported by competence, morality, and discipline can be reckless. To be effective, firefighters must believe in and cultivate the power of their mental abilities. Understanding the nature of combat, fire, and humanity informs their instincts. A proper philosophical approach to firefighting is the key to tactical excellence. Identify the skills and vulnerabilities of the enemy―as well as the firefighter―to optimize fire attack. Assess the benefits and drawbacks of aggression to accurately manage fireground risks. Focus on which action to take, when to take it, and how to make it decisive. Empower the individual firefighters to play a crucial role on the fireground.

192 pages, Paperback

Published June 6, 2023

Reviews

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had such high hopes for this book. I am a big fan of John Boyd’s work. This book contains many errors, some of which are the fault of Fire Engineering (numerous typos, the wrong title of the book printed in the header of the even numbered pages). I feel like the author uses too many descriptive words. Some sentences were like reading a word salad. Also the Grumman F-14 Tomcat did not fight in the Korean War.

Here’s hoping a future edition fixes some of the above issues.