Introducing the Peer Review Panel for the Fire Heritage Review

As we prepare to launch the inaugural edition of the Fire Heritage Review in the late summer, one of the most important steps in establishing the journal has been building a rigorous, credible, and transparent peer‑review process. For any scholarly publication, peer review is the foundation that ensures accuracy, strengthens research quality, and upholds the integrity of the field.

A peer‑review panel provides essential guidance to both editors and authors. Panel members evaluate submitted manuscripts for historical accuracy, methodological soundness, relevance to the fire heritage community, and overall contribution to the field. Their feedback helps authors refine their work, supports new and emerging voices in fire service scholarship, and ensures that each published article meets the journal’s standards of scholarship. In this way, the panel plays a central role in shaping the scholarly direction of the Fire Heritage Review.

With the journal’s first issue now in development, we are pleased to introduce the distinguished Peer Review Panel whose expertise is helping the Nationaal Fire Heritage Center establish a credible, high-quality scholarly journal.

Meet the Panel

Dr. Robert C. Andrews, Jr., P.E. FIFireE, LPMSFPE, EFO

Dr. Robert C. Andrews has devoted his career to the fire protection profession as an engineer, fire chief, deputy fire marshal, educator, and internationally recognized speaker. A licensed Professional Engineer in Texas for over 41 years, he is a Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers and a Life Member of SFPE, NFPA, and IAFC. Dr. Andrews currently serves as a commissioned Deputy Fire Marshal with the Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office, where he advises the Command Staff and holds full Texas peace officer authority.

In 2022, he was inducted into the National Fire Heritage Center’s Hall of Legends, Legacies & Leaders for his national contributions to the fire and emergency services. In 2025, Dr. Andrews was elected a Board Member of the Yvorra Leadership Foundation, where he is leading the effort to support and raise funds for the Chief Alan Brunacini Special Projects Program. He holds degrees from the University of Maryland, Grand Canyon University, and Temple University, and completed the Advanced Leadership Program at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School. A graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and recipient of its Outstanding Research Award, he continues to teach in the program and serves as an adjunct professor in the University of Maryland’s Department of Fire Protection Engineering. He has presented internationally on emergency response, industrial firefighting, and railroad fire safety.

Prof. Kenneth E. Isman, P.E., FSFPE

Kenneth E. Isman is a Clinical Professor Emeritus in the University of Maryland’s Department of Fire Protection Engineering and a nationally recognized authority on fire sprinkler systems. From 1987 to 2014, he served with the National Fire Sprinkler Association, rising to Vice President of Engineering. A Licensed Professional Engineer in Connecticut and a Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, Professor Isman has represented the fire sprinkler industry on more than a dozen National Fire Protection Association technical committees and currently chairs the NFPA Committee on Residential Sprinkler Systems. He also served on the NFPA Standards Council from 2000 to 2006.

A prolific author and lecturer, Professor Isman has written and edited key industry publications, including Layout, Detail and Calculation of Fire Sprinkler Systems, the Fire Pump Handbook, and Pumps for Fire Protection Systems. He contributed regularly to NFSA’s SQ Magazine and served as editor of Sprinkler TechNotes.

Dr. Scott D. Kerwood, CFO, EFO, CEMSO

Scott D. Kerwood is the Fire Chief of Hutto Fire Rescue in Texas and a lifelong student of the fire service. He has taught master’s and doctoral courses in homeland security, fire, and emergency management operations and currently serves as an adjunct instructor for the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. Scott holds degrees from Oklahoma State University, the University of Oklahoma, and Walden University, and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program.

He is credentialed through the Center for Public Safety Excellence as a chief fire officer, chief emergency medical services officer, and fire marshal, and is a Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers and past president of its USA Branch. Scott serves on the International Association of Fire Chiefs Board of Directors as the Safety, Health and Survival Section International Director and participates on multiple NFPA technical committees related to responder health, safety, and wellness. He is also a member of the International Fire Service Training Association Executive Board. Beginning his fire service career in 1978, Scott served in numerous roles across multiple departments and taught for several organizations nationwide.

Chief Chris Serb

Chief Serb joined the Chicago Fire Department in 1999 and currently serves as a Deputy District Chief, supervising a 45‑square‑mile area with 23 fire stations and 210 platoon‑duty members. Prior to joining CFD, he spent four years as a writer and editor at both consumer and trade magazines. During his fire service career, he has continued working as a freelance writer, focusing on business, sports, and history; he has published hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles and three books.

He holds an associate degree in Fire Science from Harold Washington College, a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of the Holy Cross, and both a Master of Science in journalism and an MBA from Northwestern University.

Hon. Asst. Chief Gary Urbanowicz

Gary Urbanowicz is a recognized and accomplished historian of the New York Fire Department. In 2001, Gary’s work was recognized with his appointment to the Department as an honorary Battalion Chief. He has been promoted several times, now holding the rank of Assistant Chief. From 2017 to 2022, Gary served as the Executive Director of the New York City Fire Museum.

He is the author of Badges of the Bravest and co‑author of The Last Alarm, and has contributed to numerous publications about FDNY history, including Pass it On; The Second Alarm, The Dreyfous Collection, and the Department’s training publication WNYF. He has made presentations nationally as well as internationally. For the past eleven years, he has presented a lecture on the history and traditions of the FDNY to every new class of probationary firefighters.

After the tragedy of September 11th, Gary was assigned to the team of writers who prepared eulogies for the 343 members lost on that day. His work continues to support the preservation and interpretation of FDNY’s rich historical legacy.

Looking Ahead

We are grateful for the panel’s guidance as we prepare the first issue of the Fire Heritage Review. Their expertise and commitment have helped establish a strong scholarly foundation for the journal’s inaugural year. We look forward to sharing more updates as we approach the journal’s late‑summer release.

Support the National Fire Heritage Center

If you value our mission, we invite you to make a donation to the National Fire Heritage Center. Your contribution helps preserve and share vital knowledge that informs the future of fire protection. Click below to donate and make an impact today.

Fire Hose in the United States

by Willie G. Shelton, Jr., CEM, FIFireE

Fire hose has played a major role in the development of organized firefighting in the United States. Before reliable hose was available, firefighters often relied on bucket brigades or hand pumpers that discharged water through fixed pipes. The introduction of hose allowed firefighters to move water closer to a fire, aim streams more accurately, and eventually support the growth of modern fire departments.

Early Use in America

Fire hose was introduced in the United States in Philadelphia in the 1790s. Early canvas hose was not durable enough for regular firefighting, so fire companies soon turned to leather hose. These leather hoses were heavy, required careful maintenance, and could leak or burst under pressure.

In the early 1800s, Philadelphia firefighters improved leather hose by fastening strips of leather with copper rivets and washers. This made hose stronger and more dependable, helping fire companies use hydrants and pumps more effectively.

From Leather to Fabric and Rubber

During the nineteenth century, fire hose technology improved rapidly. Woven linen and cotton hoses began replacing leather because they were lighter and easier to handle. Rubber lining helped reduce leaks and made hoses more reliable under pressure.

One important American development came from Cambridge, Massachusetts. In the 1870s, Lyman Blake and Theodore Dodge worked on rubber-lined canvas hose, and later improvements in woven tubular fabric helped create stronger, more flexible hoses. The Boston Woven Hose Company became an important manufacturer and helped move the industry away from unreliable leather hose.

Modern Fire Hose

By the twentieth century, rubber-lined cotton-jacketed hose became common in municipal fire service. Later, synthetic materials such as polyester, nylon, thermoplastic liners, and modern rubber compounds made fire hose lighter, stronger, easier to dry, and more resistant to rot and abrasion.

fire hose on track wreck elkton md — A train wreck in Elkton, MD., on Oct. 31, 1965 (Singerly Fire Company Museum

Quick Timeline

1790s: Fire hose appears in Philadelphia, first using canvas and then leather.

Early 1800s: Riveted leather hose improves strength and reduces leaks.

Mid-to-late 1800s: Rubber-lined and woven fabric hoses become more practical.

Late 1800s: Woven linen and cotton hoses increasingly replace leather.

1900s: Rubber-lined cotton-jacketed hose becomes widely used.

1970s onward: Synthetic fibers and lighter liners improve strength, weight, and durability.

Support the National Fire Heritage Center

Old School Firefighter

by Sonia “Shaw” Aguirre, A.S., B.A., NRP

We belong outdoors. Despite all the inventions that have made life easier for mankind, science continues to find that we thrive as humanity in the wild. Out there, we find fresh water cleaned naturally by its natural flow, along with natural filtering materials like sand, gravel, charcoal, and clay; biological agents like beneficial bacteria and microbes, aquatic plants, and plant seeds; natural disinfectants and processes like sunlight and its ultraviolet radiation, increased oxygen flow from water and air movements, and wetlands which filter; and natural chemical processes like sedimentation from gravity’s effect on heavier contaminants, adsorption from soil and organic matter, and mineral purification from the natural minerals in the water.

We find a fresh source of oxygen from being amongst the greenery like grasses, plants, and trees, and the aeration from waterfalls and wind currents. We find healthy sources of food in wildlife living freely in the waters or on the land, consuming their natural resources. When our country began, we were living outdoors more. From within caves, beneath shelters made of greenery, inside shelters made of ice or animal skins, to eventually homes made and supported by wood, stone, and clay. We prepared our food out in the open, using a variety of campfires to cook, keep warm, and take warm baths, and eventually transitioning to wood stoves, coal stoves, kerosene oil stoves, and gas stoves. We began using wooden torches, oil lamps, candlelight, and gas lanterns to light our way at night. And, from all this, began the fires…

Entering the Fire Service

In a small rural community in Texas in 1994, I, an 18-year-old gal, joined my local volunteer fire department, an all-male crew, fresh out of school, with barely a high school diploma, a license to drive, and a first aid and CPR card. And then, I was immediately thrown into the fire, so to speak. With absolutely no training, the fire calls started coming in.

Each time, my routine was the same: I drove to the station, looked around as everyone, including me, stripped down to our shirts and shorts, put on our bunker gear, and drove to the scenes. It was all on-the-job training as we pulled up to the scenes, heavy black smoke billowing out, large red and orange flames heating up the area, trying to reach you or your crew or its occupants and incinerate everything it touched faster than you could extinguish it. The race was on to get to the fire hydrant, connect the fire hose, and charge the line, as others rushed to deploy the line.

Learning as an Old School Firefighter

It was always a rush, a rush to the front to be on the nozzle or to back up the firefighter at the front. I loved the fall of the water upon us as we fought the flames and pushed our way in, just daring it to come at us. Believe it or not, I was smiling, just so happy to be there making a difference. In one major structure fire, no one was available to support me, so I went to the rear. Being untrained, I looked down, and there were downed wires that had fallen from the commercial structure fire. I looked all around, and there was no one to ask if walking around amongst all this was safe.

No one was around. I was in full gear. I had a job to do, so I did my duty. In the moment, I just thought, my bunker gear, my boots, they’ll protect me. I fought the fire alone from the rear for a bit, as everyone else was busy and we had limited volunteer firefighters. I survived. Frequently, we prepped emergency landing zones for the military helos that supported the rural areas of the border community, where frequent motor vehicle accidents became multiple casualty incidents on the freeway due to vehicles being cramped with numerous unrestrained men, women, and children, often being ejected in every which direction.

Firefighter/Paramedic Aguirre, 2001, Clint Fire Department (TX) under the late Fire Chief Armando “Mike” Terrazas

There were also the water rescues along the Rio Grande River, where, believe it or not, despite the desert community, hypothermia set in when the illegal immigrants would attempt to hide in the water for extended periods of time, worsening their drowning risk. Of course, there were the CPR saves, the occasional ambulance fire, and the patrol vehicle accidents and rescues. The jaws of life were fun!

The Spirit of Volunteer Firefighting

Looking back, this sounds like a comic book story, but it all did happen. Those were the days. We were all volunteers, there because we loved what we did, especially the learn-as-you-go environment. I literally had a blast; though it cannot be advocated as standard anymore, I can say nothing beats falling in love with the job of firefighting except in the way I came into it.

FF/Paramedic Aguirre assisting El Paso Fire Department’s (TX) Certified Fire Investigators and their Arson Dog, who provided mutual aid to the Clint Fire Department at a structure fire that was a total loss. (2001)

I never did get a chance to become an officially certified firefighter, but I would do it all over again just the way I did. If you need to remember why you became a firefighter, go serve with a rural volunteer fire station in small-town USA, where no paid services are available. Like I said, we belong outdoors…or maybe it’s just us “firefighters” now. Unforgettable!

Here’s to all of us and courage under fire…

[Standing Outside the Fire (1993) by Garth Brooks]

About the Author

Sonia Shaw Aguirre has dedicated much of her life to public safety. Raised as the daughter of a Texas law enforcement officer, her career in emergency services encompasses duties as a volunteer first responder, a volunteer firefighter, and a paramedic throughout the country and as a non-commissioned officer in the United States Coast Guard following the September 11 attacks. Her greatest accomplishments in the field, she feels, have been saving the lives of firefighters and multiple law enforcement officers involved in line-of-duty incidents and flying with them out on military helos. Her experiences in firefighting, emergency medicine, rescue operations, and public safety continue to inspire her interest in preserving and sharing firefighter history.

Dixon to Serve as Editor of Peer-Reviewed Fire Service History Journal

CUMBERLAND, MD. March 24, 2026—The National Fire Heritage Center (NFHC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Dixon as the founding Editor of the Fire Heritage Review: The Journal of Fire Service and Fire Protection History, a new peer‑reviewed publication dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and advancing the historical record of the American fire and emergency services.

Educator, Editor and First Responder

mike dixon journal editor — Captain Mike Dixon at an elementary school for Fire Prevention Week 1976..

Dixon brings more than four decades of experience as a public historian, university educator, and fire‑service researcher, along with a long personal history of service as a first responder and volunteer firefighter. His dual perspective—as both a practitioner and a historian—has shaped his work documenting the traditions, challenges, and evolution of the fire and emergency medical services across the Mid‑Atlantic region.

Dixon’s involvement with the fire service began at a young age, serving with a department in Cecil County, Maryland. Over decades, he responded to emergencies, supported operational readiness as Cecil County Emergency Management’s public information officer, and led award-winning fire‑prevention initiatives. This firsthand experience has informed his historical work, giving him a grounded understanding of the people, culture, and risks that define the fire service.

Scholar-Practitioner Rooted in the Fire Service

His contributions have been widely recognized by his peers. As a young firefighter, he was honored by the county Fire Chiefs Association as Cecil County Firefighter of the Year in 1971, an early acknowledgment of his dedication to public safety. Dixon also holds the distinction of induction into two prestigious halls of fame: the Harford-Cecil Volunteer Firemen’s Association Firefighter Hall of Fame and the Maryland State Firefighters Association’s Hall of Fame, awarded at the MSFA’s 130^th Annual Convention in recognition of his distinguished contributions to the Maryland fire service at the state level.

In addition to his fire service background, the scholar-practitioner holds graduate degrees in history and behavioral sciences. He serves as an adjunct assistant professor of history, teaching at several colleges and universities, where he integrates applied fieldwork, public‑history practice, and community‑based research into his classroom instruction. His work has been featured on the Today Show, the BBC, the Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, Maryland Public Television, National Geographic, Southern Living, and the Washington Post.

Dixon previously served as editor of The Volunteer Trumpet, the publication of the Maryland State Firefighters’ Association, and has produced research documenting volunteer and career fire‑service traditions. His oral‑history projects and community‑based scholarship have helped preserve the lived experiences of firefighters and emergency responders across generations.

Leading Fire Heritage Journal

“I’m honored to help guide the Journal at this important moment,” Dixon said. “The fire service has a rich and complex story, and this journal fills a gap in the literature, providing a vital peer-reviewed platform for scholars, practitioners, and community historians to share research that strengthens our collective understanding of that legacy.”

As editor, Dixon will oversee the journal’s editorial direction, peer‑review process, and long‑term development as a national forum for fire service history scholarship. His appointment comes as the NFHC expands its efforts to support research, archival preservation, and public engagement through the newly launched journal and other initiatives.

The Journal welcomes submissions from historians, fire‑service professionals, researchers, graduate students, and emerging scholars.

mike dixon paramedic — Mike Dixon with the Singerly Fire Company in Elkton, MD, is the third from the left in this 1978 newspaper photo (Source: Cecil Whig, 1978)

Final Call for Journal Articles

The National Fire Heritage Center has extended the submission deadline for the inaugural issue of the Fire Heritage Review to March 31, 2026. We have already received a number of thoughtful, well‑developed contributions that reflect the strength and diversity of fire service history across the country.

Several prospective writers have requested additional time to complete their submissions, and in support of our mission to document, preserve, and interpret the nation’s fire and emergency services heritage, we are extending the deadline to ensure their work can be included.

This inaugural issue represents an important step in building a lasting scholarly record, and we want to provide space for as many high‑quality contributions as possible.

We welcome articles from historians, fire service professionals, researchers, students, and others committed to advancing the study of fire protection history.

To review submission guidelines and full details for the Fire Heritage Journal, click this link.

The Journal will be published in the late summer of 2026.

Why Should Today’s Firefighters Care About the History of the Fire Service?

By Garry Briese

Understanding the history of the fire service is not just about nostalgia; it is a critical professional tool for safety, identity, and operational evolution. While technology rapidly changes the job, history provides the “why” behind what firefighters do every day.

1. Safety and Tactical Evolution

Modern safety standards are frequently “written in blood,” born from past tragedies that reshaped how buildings are constructed and how crews operate.

2. Preventing the Repeat of Past Mistakes

Historical tragedies like the Iroquois Theatre Fire (1903) and the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (1911) directly led to today’s requirements for outward-opening exit doors, panic bars, and fire-resistant materials.

3. Professional Identity and Solidarity

History creates a sense of belonging to a “brotherhood and sisterhood” that spans centuries, helping firefighters maintain high morale and a shared sense of mission.

4. Meaningful Traditions

Knowing why symbols like the Maltese Cross are part of the fire service or why specific tasks like “pushing a new engine into the fire station” build connections and respect for the robust history of the fire service

6. A Compass for the Future

Watch this YouTube video by Rich Laskey about the history of the fire service

Remembering Commissioner Ira Striejewski

Past Chief & Commissioner Ira Striejewski (Courtesy of Eggertsvile Hose Company)

The National Fire Heritage Center (NFHC) is saddened to hear of the passing of Ira Striejewski, 91, on January 9, 2026.

Fire Commissioner Striejewski dedicated more than seven decades to the fire service, beginning his volunteer career with the Eggertsville Hose Company in Amherst, NY, in 1952. He went on to serve as Fire Chief from 1977 to 1980 and later as Fire Commissioner, continuing a remarkable family legacy of service. His father also served as both Fire Commissioner and Fire Chief of the same fire department, and his grandfather was among the first paid firefighters in the City of Buffalo Fire Department.

In 2015, Commissioner Striejewski was elected to the NFHC Hall of Legends, Legacies, and Leaders, one of the Center’s highest honors. This recognition is reserved for individuals whose contributions have significantly shaped the fire service and whose leadership and dedication have earned national respect. The fire department leader exemplified the spirit of this award through his lifelong commitment to protecting his community and advancing the fire service.

A funeral service for Chief Striejewski was held on January 16, 2026.

You may read his obituary by clicking this link.

The NFHC honors the Chief’s distinguished service and enduring contributions to the American fire service. His lifelong commitment to duty and community will continue to inspire those who follow in his footsteps.

Eggertsville hose company — Chief Ira Striejewske is seated in the department’s squad truck in 1952. Photo Courtesy of Eggertsville Hose Company

Nominations Open for Hall of Legends, Legacies, and Leaders Award

The National Fire Heritage Center (NFHC) has announced that it is accepting nominations for the Fire and Emergency Services Hall of Legends, Legacies, and Leaders (HLLL) class of 2027. Nominations will be accepted through June 30, 2026.

The HLLL award honors those who have made a lasting impact through their unwavering commitment and contributions to the fire protection and emergency services disciplines.

Individuals and organizations may nominate deserving candidates who exemplify excellence and dedication. To learn more and submit a nomination, please click the link below to examine the submission instructions, which contain detailed information and guidance.

Click this link to download the full details about the award and the nomination process.

2027 Hall of Legends Instruction Download

Here is the link to the Hall of Legends Class of 2025.

NFHC Elects Captain Bramlett to Board of Directors

The National Fire Heritage Center (NFHC) is pleased to announce the election of Christina Bramlett of Monticello, Georgia, to its Board of Directors. With her diverse fire service leadership experience, the Monroe County Emergency Services Fire Captain, Fire Safety Educator, and Public Information Officer strengthens the NFHC’s mission of preserving and promoting America’s fire protection legacy.

As the nation’s premier archive for fire protection history, the NFHC safeguards a vast collection of irreplaceable documents and artifacts. These perishables include art and artifacts, audio recordings, books, charts, maps, photographs, reports, and videos that chronicle the history of the fire service.

Dr. Lynn White, President of the NFHC, remarked on the appointment: “Christina’s experience integrating fire history into new recruit training is a tremendous asset to help NFHC achieve its goals and mission. Her vision about the importance of not only preserving but also sharing the history of America’s fire services and disciplines is a perfect match with ours. We welcome her to our board.”

Bramlett brings 24 years of fire service experience to the Board, spanning volunteer and career departments across multiple states. Her career began as a volunteer firefighter in Fort Wright, Kentucky, and has included service as a firefighter/paramedic with DeKalb County Fire Rescue in Atlanta before joining Monroe County Emergency Services five years ago. In her current role at Monroe County Emergency Services, Bramlett transitioned from shift captain to full-time Public Information Officer and Fire-Life Safety Educator.

Captain Bramlett — Captain Baramlett, Public Information Officer and Fire Safety Educator

“I am excited and honored to be a part of this organization and look forward to growing its presence and influence in our industry,” said Captain Bramlett. “The preservation of our fire service is important because men and women built the foundation that we now reside on. To learn from and honor their commitment and sacrifices is what drives those who truly understand what it took to get us where we are today.”

Bramlett’s connection to the NFHC began through Chief Glenn Dorner, whom she met while he researched the history of Monroe County Emergency Services, a department he led from 2000 to 2006. The two connected immediately over their shared passion for fire service history and tradition. When Chief Dorner stepped away from the NFHC board, he recommended Bramlett as his successor.

“Keeping growth in the front windshield is important, but having a strong rear-view mirror of where we’ve come from is equally vital,” Bramlett added. “That perspective applies to the fire service as a whole, which is why the NFHC’s mission resonates so deeply with me.”

The NFHC has an engaged board of directors representing diverse sectors of the fire protection field nationwide. Together, they work to guide the NFHC into the future, ensuring that the history of the fire protection disciplines is preserved for generations to come.

NFHC 2025 Annual Meeting

CUMBERLAND, MD—OCTOBER 11, 2025—The National Fire Heritage Center (NFHC) held its 19^th annual meeting at its new headquarters in the Allegheny Museum, marking a significant milestone for the organization. Directors gathered both virtually and in person, with participants traveling from as far as Texas to conduct the nonprofit’s business.

The NFHC was established in response to a pivotal 2003 study by the U.S. Fire Administration, which highlighted the urgent need to collect, preserve, and provide access to the historical records of the fire service and fire protection disciplines across the United States. Since its formation in 2006, the NFHC has dedicated itself to preserving and celebrating the rich history of fire protection and fire department organizations.

During the meeting, directors Lynn White, Chuck Montgomery, and Mike Dixon were reelected to the board, and Christina Bramlett was welcomed as a new director. Officers reelected for the coming term were Lynn White, president; Billy Shelton, vice president; and Stuart Nathan, secretary. The NFHC also recognized retiring directors Mike Wieder, Glen Corner, Bob Andrews, and Iggy Kapalcyznski with gifts acknowledging their service.

Archivist DeVore reported continued progress on cataloging and digitizing the NFHC collection with support from the Internet Archive to make materials accessible online. The Public Relations Committee discussed ongoing work on the NFHC blog and issued a call for submissions for a new annual journal dedicated to fire protection history, with a deadline at the end of February.

President White provided an update on the organization’s five-year strategic plan, approved last year as a guiding framework. Additionally, Don Bathurst shared news on the Hall of Legends, Legacies and Leaders program and the Ben Franklin Writers Award.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to preserving and promoting the history of fire departments and the fire protection industry for generations to come.