Extra Alarm: Fire service pruning – make way for fresh ideas, technology and practices

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Division Chief Eric Latimer, who uses the metaphor of pruning a rose bush to emphasize the importance of evaluating and updating fire department practices, policies and technology. Pruning is necessary to eliminate outdated methods and make way for new, more efficient practices. Areas for potential pruning include outdated policies, unsafe practices, irrelevant tools, and administrative methods that fail to leverage new technologies. Continuous and mindful evaluation led by adaptable and communicative leaders can lead to a more efficient, effective and safer fire department.