A year of tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires showed the need for a long, hard look at the fire service. I have a few predictions and suggestions for the coming year.

1. Citizen emergency response teams will become more prevalent. If we've learned anything this past year, it's that moving masses of people demands pre-planning. You must educate your community to be your partners, working with you in response. Whether it's through CERT or Ready.gov, chiefs need to step up their public-education programs to include pre-planning for citizens. Start working with grade-school students and work up to teaching teenagers CPR. Teach adults and senior citizens what to take, how to evacuate their homes and where to go. The need for educated citizens is critical and urgent.

2. Retired fire chiefs should return to the fire service. They can only be out fishing or golfing for so long before they start to miss the fire service, so get them to come back. If CERTs need an authority figure to make them work, retired chiefs are perfect for the job. They still have incredible value and willing students.

3. Global emergency services should have a global emergency response summit — share information and share ideas. I remember attending the Fire Frontier Safety Program in Tokyo in 1994. If we can attend an equipment show every five years in Germany, why not form a summit of emergency service leaders to find some common ground in disaster response? This might be an opportunity for the Institution of Fire Engineers to flex some of its international strength.

4. Sesame Street kids will emerge as the new leaders. These are emergency responders who are better-educated, grew up with diversity and question authority. There's also a dose of Mr. Rogers's compassion, which fits nicely with the next generation of Mrs. Smiths.

5. Emergency managers will want to be your boss. There's a new breed of administrators emerging from universities across the nation. Their job is to administer and coordinate the efforts of all responding agencies. They are part of a generation that grew up with fast computers and thrive on new technology. They demand accurate statistics and factual information, and they want it now. Be warned!

6. FEMA needs to resurface like the legendary Phoenix from those muddy waters. It's time for Secretary Michael Chertoff to read Good to Great by Jim Collins and hire “some Level 5 leaders.” Acting FEMA Director R. David Paulison is a Lone Ranger and he needs some support. Put some powerful, non-political leadership in FEMA and the USFA.

7. Emergency vehicle technicians should step up and align themselves with one of the existing state associations that are offering some excellent programs and support. EVTs have struggled hard to achieve visibility, recognition and training in the past 20 years. Technology is on the fast track, liabilities abound and budgets are due to be shaved again. Don't back pedal!

8. You will change how you receive information. How do you want to receive timely news and updates? Newspapers or e-news? Radio or 24-hour TV news channels? Instant messaging or mobile phone messaging? If you don't have time or budget for a conference, would you pay to download the presentation or handouts and listen at your leisure?

9. Trade show exhibitors are reaching burnout on the increasing number of trade shows. When the truly frustrated exhibitors complain about the number of trade shows or the strong-arm tactics, I say “don't go.” You vote with your dollars, folks.

One change that's already been made is here at Fire Chief. Jake Jaquet will take over as editor of Fire Chief and Wildfire. As editorial director, I will be able to better focus on our core mission and develop the Fire Chief brand to better serve your role in the challenges ahead.

There is only one magazine for fire chiefs today. Of our 52,100 subscribers, 33,676* are fire chiefs — whom we know by name. That's a pretty strong vote of confidence, don't you think?
*June 2005 BPA.