Actually, it's the same Fire Chief magazine first published in 1956, but redesigned. From the new logo on the cover to the products in the back, every page and aspect of this magazine has been reviewed and reworked to bring you, our readers, the best information. We want every department and every leader to succeed as they maneuver the fast-changing role of today's emergency services.

The U.S. fire service is at a “churning point,” with new directions and needs every day. Firefighters are still the first to respond to a call, but from local, state and national levels, every segment is in transition. To help us figure out where the fire service is heading, Fire Chief conducted its most comprehensive reader survey ever. Response was excellent; some of the results were surprising, but many answers supported what we had always believed about our readers.

Volunteer chiefs told us that their biggest problems are fund-raising, training, and recruitment and retention. The Department of Homeland Security may talk of pre-planning, mutual aid and terrorism response, but volunteer chiefs told us that they need new turnout coats and pants. They want new response vehicles — not parade showpieces — to replace 30-year-old fire trucks that aren't NFPA 1901 — compliant.

Chiefs of combination departments emphasized the stress of straddling of two cultures. Combination departments are increasing in numbers as volunteer departments add full-time personnel for daytime coverage. We predict this segment of the fire service will see the largest growth due to suburban sprawl and recruitment issues.

Career departments are facing a much broader picture. No, they aren't all terrorist targets, but Oklahoma City didn't think it would be either. Our readers said that the three major issues facing career departments are budgets, staffing and training.

To reflect these concerns, we welcome three new members to our Editorial Advisory Board. Chief Debra Amesqua, Madison (Wis.) Fire Department, brings her expertise and a progressive vision of the American fire service. Retired FDNY Lt. Bob Pressler adds a no-nonsense focus to training and safety issues. Longtime fire service member Ted Halpin, extension specialist for Cornell University and co-founder of FARMEDIC, is an outstanding resource on volunteer and rural fire department issues. We also have named Chief Ronny Coleman as a contributing editor to celebrate his 20 years with the magazine. His articles and Chief's Clipboard column continue to urge our readers to be better fire service professionals.

As we reconsidered the issues that are important to you, we also thought about how the Internet has changed the way people read and learn. You'll notice that News & Trends includes shorter articles and our features are more focused, but both have been designed to deliver more information while maintaining our high standards of content. We've tried to highlight what you need to know with short tidbits and bullet points, and we're working to showcase photographs wherever they can illuminate a story. And that's just the tip of the nozzle.

We also have redesigned firechief.Com to include a daily news update and expanded special reports. Our weekly Command Post e-newsletter offers readers a tight focus on news, now with more original content and an informal editor's note — the only one in the fire service — that gives you a “heads-up” on what can affect your career and department. Our Web site also hosts In Service Online News, a monthly e-newsletter and companion site that will be a one-stop shop for EVTs and personnel involved with vehicle specification and maintenance.

We're very pleased with the new look of Fire Chief. Every step was taken to provide you with good, solid information to help you be the best fire chief and officer you can be in today's changing fire service. We look forward to your comments.