by Billy Goldfeder, Frank Leeb, and Friends
30 Fires You Must Know offers a compelling examination of 30 pivotal fires that remain tactically relevant today. This resource provides a deep dive into modern fire history, offering valuable lessons for firefighters and first responders. By detailing these significant incidents, the book aims to honor the lives lost and ensure that their stories and the lessons learned continue to impact future operations.
While there are thousands of fires that have changed the fire service, the "30" was selected from several hundred that have occurred in the past couple of decades that any firefighter operating today must know about.
Each chapter includes vivid details from someone who was there or has direct knowledge of each of the fires, ensuring a clear understanding of the events. Additionally, each section begins with an overview to set the stage for what’s to come and a “lesson plan” at the end designed to help you share the details with your firefighters. The book also features a QR code linking to www.30Fires.com, where you can access more information about each fire, including documents, reports, photos, audio, and videos.
With a commitment to supporting the fire service community, all royalties from 30 Fires You Must Know are donated equally to four key charities:
The 30 Fires covered are:
Fire #1: Black Sunday Fire (January 23, 2005—New York, NY)
Fire #2: McDonald’s Fire (February 14, 2000—Houston, TX)
Fire #3: Knights of Columbus Hall Fire (February 15, 2013—Bryan, TX)
Fire #4: One Meridian Plaza (February 23, 1991—Philadelphia, PA)
Fire #5: New York Telephone Exchange Fire (February 27, 1975—New York, NY)
Fire #6: Ebenezer Baptist Church Fire (March 13, 2004—Pittsburgh, PA)
Fire #7: Duplex Fire with Firefighter Trapped (March 13, 2020—Gwinn, Michigan)
Fire #8: Southwest Supermarket Fire (March 14, 2001—Phoenix, AZ)
Fire #9: Back Bay Fire (March 26, 2014—Boston, MA)
Fire #10: Squirrelsnest Lane Dwelling Fire (April 4, 2008—Colerain Township, OH)
Fires #11: Two “Modern” Single Family Dwelling Fires
Fire #12: McMicken Battery Energy Storage System (ESS) Explosion (April 19, 2000—Surprise, AZ)
Fire #13: Ingram Square Shopping Center (May 18, 2017—San Antonio, TX)
Fire #14: Cherry Road Fire (May 30, 1999—Washington, DC)
Fire #15: Southwest Inn Fire (May 31, 2013—Houston, TX)
Fire #16: Diamond Heights Fire/133 Berkeley Way (June 2, 2011—San Francisco, CA)
Fire #17: Father’s Day Fire (June 17, 2001—Queens, NY)
Fire #18: Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire (June 18, 2007—Charleston, SC)
Fire #19: Yarnell Hill Fire (June 30, 2013—Yarnell, AZ)
Fire #20: Hackensack Ford Fire (July 1, 1988—Hackensack, NJ)
Fire #21: Woodscape Drive Dwelling Fire (July 23, 2018—Clarksville,MD)
Fire #22: Osceola County Fire Rescue (July 30, 2002—Kissimmee, FL)
Fire #23: Walton Avenue Fire (August 27, 2006—Bronx, NY)
Fire #24: PA State Fire Academy Training (October 23, 2005—Lewistown, PA)
Fire #25: Englewood Neighborhood Fire (November 2, 2012—Chicago, IL)
Fire #26: Ghost Ship Fire (December 2, 2016—Oakland, CA)
Fire #27: Worcester Cold Storage Fire (December 3, 1999—Worcester, MA)
Fire #28: Vandalia Ave Fire (December 18, 1998—New York, NY)
Fire #29: Keokuk Fire (December 22, 1999—Keokuk, IA)
Fire #30: Buffalo Propane Explosion (December 27, 1983—Buffalo, NY)