Janet Wilmoth grew up in a family of firefighters in a Chicago suburb. She first worked for FIRE CHIEF magazine in 1986 as an associate editor and also served as FIRE CHIEF's international correspondent while living in Europe and Asia. Fifteen years ago, Wilmoth created In Service for FIRE CHIEF to address increasing issues with apparatus safety and maintenance. She is currently on the Fire Department Safety Officers' Association's committee for its annual Apparatus Specification and Maintenance Symposium, serves on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation and the Home Safety Council's Development Committee.