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Articles by Tom Merrill
Small home design choices shape family connection, one “Good Night” at a time.
When people talk about a “healthy built environment,” our minds often turn to large, structural elements that encourage healthier ways of living. Intermountain Health is orienting the front doors of its forthcoming downtown hospital toward the 600 South Trax station, to both facilitate and encourage public transit access. Salt Lake City, meanwhile, has long sought to make the city more walkable by restoring and incentivizing mid-block passageways.
The Choice Before Us: Deciding the Future of the Volunteer Fire Service
What will determine the future of the volunteer fire service? Guest Mike Ledford joins Tom Merrill to challenge the excuses, outdated practices, and resistance to change that can hold volunteer departments back.
After the Title Is Gone
Leaving the fire service doesn’t necessarily mean leaving behind the friendships, memories, and sense of identity that came with it. In this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department, host Tom Merrill and guest Chad Edwards explore how firefighters are treated after they leave. They discuss how the transition into retirement can be tough and finding purpose post retirement.
How to Maintain On-Scene Accountability
Chief Doug Myers from the Berrien Springs-Oronoko (MI) Fire Department joins host Tom Merrill for a conversation about emergency scene accountability for this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department. They touch on practical approaches to establishing and maintaining accountability from the moment the firefighters arrive until the incident is under control. They also look at the system, procedures, and leadership responsibilities that help ensure every firefighter goes home safely.
Building and Retaining a Volunteer Fire Department
In episode 100 of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department, host Tom Merrill speaks with Brandon Fletcher, chief of the Gilt Edge (TN) Fire Department, about building and sustaining a professional rural volunteer department. They discuss practical leadership, recruiting and retaining younger members, holding people accountable, and in-house and hybrid training.
The Secrets to a Successful Social Media Presence
Host Tom Merrill welcomes Rob Reardon to lay out practical social media strategies every fire department needs on this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department. Reardon, a former TV reporter turned fire chief, explains how departments use social platforms to build trust, recruit personnel, defend budgets, and control the narrative during incidents. They give concrete advice about how to engage your audience, what makes a good photo, and what tagging is all about.
Mergers and Consolidations: Uniting Departments for a Safer Future
Across the volunteer fire service, conversations about mergers and consolidations are becoming impossible to ignore. Departments are facing increasing demands, shrinking membership, and rising expectations from the communities they serve—forcing leaders to take a hard look at how they operate and whether working together might be the path forward. But these decisions are about more than budgets and efficiency; they involve tradition, identity, and the future of the fire service itself.
NERIS: What Do You Need to Know?
Want to learn more about NERIS? On this episode of Professional Volunteer Fire Department, Tom Merrill checks in with Tom Jenkins for a four-month status report on the National Emergency Response Information System. This system went live January 1st, replacing NFIRS.
Downtown Salt Lakers can gain more than they lose by going carless.
Carless and Carefree In 2018, when we first moved into our condo in downtown Salt Lake City, I immediately began to wonder how soon it would be that my family could go carless. After all, my friends with children in cities like Chicago, New York and D.C. had pulled it off. Why not us? However, with little storage space and a greater distance between our front door and the car (elevators, lobbies, a dozen parking stalls), our Subaru became a four-wheeled adventure backpack.
Navigating Local Politics
Fire commissioner Jared Renshaw, from the Western Berks (PA) Fire Department, joins host Tom Merrill on this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department. They discuss a topic that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves in the fire service: building strong relationships with the local elected officials who help shape the future of our departments.
How the Supreme Court's Conception of Its Role Contributes to the Deformation of the Constitution
Courts How the Supreme Court's Conception of Its Role Contributes to the Deformation of the Constitution The Court's law-declaration approach not only departs from its dispute-resolution premise but risks yielding a faulty product.
The Role of Delegation Theories in Deforming the Constitution
Congress The Role of Delegation Theories in Deforming the Constitution The Supreme Court's approaches of assuming agency authority to issue legislative rules and of prohibiting Congress from delegating to itself have resulted in an enormous transfer of power to the Executive.
The "Unitary Executive" Theory's Contribution to the Deformation of the Constitution
[The second of four blog posts drawing on yesterday's Hallows Lecture at Marquette Law School.] My first blog post set forth the implicit but widely accepted "three buckets" picture of the government's structure underlying the Supreme Court's separation of power cases, under which if a federal entity is not part of Congress or part of the judiciary, it inevitably follows that it must be in the Executive Branch.
How Unstated Legal Ideas Have Deformed the Constitution
Congress How Unstated Legal Ideas Have Deformed the Constitution In the "three buckets" picture of the structure of the federal government, a federal entity that is not part of Congress or part of the judiciary must inevitably be in the Executive Branch. | [The first of four blog posts drawing on tonight's Hallows Lecture at Marquette Law School.] For several decades, we have been witnessing a Congress in long decline and a corresponding ascent of the President and the courts.
The Difficulty of Having Difficult Conversations
In this episode of the Professional Volunteer Fire Department, Lieutenant John Russ from the Brentwood (TN) Fire and Rescue Department joins host Tom Merrill to discuss an often-avoided topic in the fire service: having difficult conversations. From leadership challenges, to addressing performance issues and holding people accountable, Russ shares practical ideas and real-world experience on how to approach tough discussions with honesty, respect, and professionalism.
Lights and Sirens on Every Call vs. Due Regard
In this episode of the Professional Volunteer Fire Department, Dave Denniston, fire commissioner, Virgil (NY) Fire District, and past chief of department, Cortlandville (NY) Fire Department, joins host Tom Merrill. They discuss driving with due regard and embracing the mindset that just because the pager activates or the rooftop siren sounds does not mean members need to respond with lights and sirens. The two practical solutions and ideas for ensuring all members drive with due regard.
Extreme sports didn’t prepare me for one competitor: tinnitus
Can’t Beat It? Befriend It By Tom Merrill My journey with tinnitus and hyperacusis literally began as a wakeup call of horrible sounds in my head and dizziness so terrible that I could hardly walk the morning after a very hot day kitesurfing in Panama. The eardrum of my left ear had popped; it was like something crashed inside my head. I couldn’t hear in that ear, couldn’t balance. I had over-the-top tinnitus and extreme noise sensitivity.
Are You a Shark or a Dinosaur? Challenges in the Volunteer Fire Service
In this episode of the Professional Volunteer Fire Department, host Tom Merrill welcomes guest Tim Pillsworth a firefighter/EMT and past chief of Winona Lake Engine Co. #2, Orange Lake (NY) Fire District. They explore how consolidation, duty crews, and embracing new training methods can help departments thrive amid rising call volumes, budget constraints, and shifting community expectations.
The Holiday Season is when Downtown Salt Lake City truly shines for lo...
For our family, every season downtown brings with it a particular charm. Spring exudes that post-winter energy, with people eager to gather outside again. Summer is full of food, music and late nights. Fall is slower and feels like a collective winding down in preparation for the indoor season. But make no mistake—the holiday season is where downtown literally and figuratively shines.
Empowering Volunteer Firefighters: Enhancing Health, Fitness, and Longevity
In this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department, host Tom Merrill sits down with Dr. Allison Barry, assistant professor at the School of Health and Consumer Sciences at South Dakota State University. Dr. Barry shares insights from her groundbreaking community-based research focused on improving physical activity and nutrition among volunteer firefighters.
Insights with Chief John Salka
In this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department, Chief John Salka, a seasoned FDNY veteran and lifelong volunteer firefighter, digs into the realities of today’s volunteer fire service. From recruitment challenges and background checks to the crucial role of professionalism without paychecks, Salka shares hard-earned wisdom on the true meaning of service.
Celebrating the Heart of the Volunteer Fire Service
In this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department, host Tom Merrill sits down with Rick Lasky and John Salka to discuss the enduring strength and value of volunteer firefighters. Despite ongoing challenges and negativity, volunteer fire departments remain a vital part of the firefighting community, comprising roughly two-thirds of all U.S. fire departments. The conversation highlights the deep commitment volunteers bring—often sacrificing family time and personal convenience.
Navigating OSHA’s Proposed Safety Standards
Fire service veteran Dave Denniston joins host Tom Merrill to revisit the ongoing discussion about OSHA’s proposed overhaul of the past fire brigade standard. This episode breaks down key challenges faced by volunteer fire departments—ranging from the impact of incorporating over 1,500 NFPA standards to concerns about manpower, funding, and administrative burdens.
Understanding NERIS in Your Department
In this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department, host Tom Merrill sits down with Tom Jenkins, a fire service veteran and senior advisor at Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes. They discuss the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS). Set to replace the decades-old National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) by January 1, 2026, NERIS introduces a modern, streamlined approach to fire incident data collection.
Turning a Volunteer Fire Department Around
In this episode of the Professional Volunteer Fire Department, host Tom Merrill welcomes Chief John Buchan of the Florissant (CO) Fire Protection District. Buchan shares how he turned a struggling volunteer fire department around in just one year—doubling membership while restoring community trust and morale. Facing low numbers, fractured leadership, and financial mismanagement, Buchan focused on realigning the department’s priorities around its volunteers and the community.
The Younger Generation of Firefighters
Often labeled “the problem” with today’s volunteer fire service, the young people joining the ranks today are different from generations past. But that is true of every generation, and these young men and women are NOT the problem. Yes, there are some problems and serious challenges in the volunteer fire service. But why are so many so quick to judge and dismiss, chastise and throw under the bus the younger generation that is stepping up and volunteering?
High-density living around downtown Salt Lake City builds community into residents' routines.
So much of what surrounds me these days—smartphones, social media, cars, streaming services, working from home—seems almost designed to push me into a solitary existence. But when I made the move back downtown in 2016, I very intentionally did so because I knew I needed the opposite—I needed community. I was recently divorced, a couple years into a quiet faith transition, and needed a village to help me raise my kiddos.
The Professional Volunteer Fire Department: Training
Joe LoCicero, past chief of Wallkill (NY) Fire Company, joins host Tom Merrill. LoCicero shares his thoughts on training in the volunteer fire service. He covers an innovative training program used in his area that helped build a better-prepared and more cohesive and knowledgeable firefighting force throughout his county. And it’s worth noting that since the program’s implementation, drill attendance has skyrocketed.
Coming to a Town Near You!
Firefighter Air Supplement THE WAY AMERICA SHOPS has changed quite a bit over the past 20 years. And, to help support the new shopping habits, there has been an increase in the number of big-box warehouse type stores, supercenters, megastores, and distribution centers being built. Big box is a term used for industrial facilities or warehouses that store all sorts of products awaiting distribution throughout the region.
Utah lawmakers fail to represent downtown Salt Lake living because they don't understand it.
On a recent Sunday, my kids asked me if they could spend the afternoon at the downtown Main Library. I often let them go without me but on that day, I wanted to join. I told them to head out and that I'd meet them after I was done washing dishes. Some time later, I arrived and found them engaged in a serious chess match using the life-size set available on the Library's ground floor. Seeing that they'd be preoccupied for a while longer, I located a corner to do some writing.
Enhancing Volunteer Fire Department Recruitment and Retention
In this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department, host Tom Merrill welcomes Deputy Chief Kent Swarts from the Rehoboth Beach (DE) Volunteer Fire Company. With extensive experience in both the volunteer fire service and business, Swarts shares actionable strategies for improving recruitment and retention within volunteer departments.
From Recruitment to Response Optimization
In this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Departmentpodcast, host Tom Merrill engages in a dynamic conversation with fire service veteran Jerry Knapp. Their discussion focuses on the multifaceted challenges facing volunteer firefighters, including dwindling participation, burnout from frequent false alarms, and the need for strategic leadership.
Legal Pitfalls to Avoid During Recruitment
On this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department, host Tom Merrill welcomes fire service attorney Brad Pinsky. They discuss best practices for departments to follow when designing a membership application and accepting new members. Most fire departments provide residents who are interested in volunteering with membership applications. Unfortunately, many departments ask prohibited (or even illegal) questions on their membership application.
Winning With the Engine You Have, Not the Engine You Want
In this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department, host Tom Merrill talks with Brandon Fletcher about what departments can do to create a winning mindset and achieve success on the fireground with the engine they do have, not the one they wish they had. Building the perfect engine for your fire department is a challenge that many would love the opportunity to solve! Unfortunately, the opportunity is rarely afforded to the departments that operate in a rural environment.
The Professional Volunteer Fire Department: Corporate Transparency Act
This must-listen episode features renowned fire service attorneys Brad Pinsky and Curt Varone. Pinsky and Varone put the Corporate Transparency Act in the spotlight, discussing its impact on fire and EMS agencies. Changes will be implemented as of January 1, 2025, so tune in if any of the following apply: You believe your agency is tax exempt. You know your agency is tax exempt. You need to learn more.
For some Salt Lake families, less space in the center of the city is more than enough.
I did not make the decision to move into a high-rise lightly. I was worried about all sorts of things: not being able to park just outside my door; not having an enclosed, exclusive backyard; the feeling like we would be living on top of each other; noise from neighbors; not having enough storage space; and the list went on. Thankfully, I was purchasing from a friend who first let me rent for six months to ensure it worked for our family. The truth was, within a week we knew—condo life was for us.
The Professional Volunteer Fire Department: 30 Fires You Must Know!
If the names Hackensack, Keokuk, Yarnell Hill, or Buffalo don’t resonate with you as a firefighter, you need to listen to this podcast. Host Tom Merrill speaks with Billy Goldfeder and Frank Leeb about their book, 30 Fires You Must Know. They are joined by guests Mike Lombardo of the Buffalo (NY) Fire Department; Mark Wessel of the Keokuk (IA) Fire Department; Steve Kalman of the Hackensack (NJ) Fire Department; and Joe Woyjeck of the Los Angeles County (CA) Fire Department.
Small Lake City
Share In her 2024 State of the City address, Mayor Erin Mendenhall made a statement that was music to my ears: "Downtown is for families." That simple statement embodied a core theme of her address, acknowledging that—despite the recent explosion in development and investment in our urban core—the number of families living downtown remains relatively small and that needs to change. And depending on who you spoke to afterward, this was either the absolute right focus or an impractical pipe dream.
Raising a family in downtown Salt Lake City is an adventure, but shouldn't be treated like a pipe dream.
In her 2024 State of the City address, Mayor Erin Mendenhall made a statement that was music to my ears: "Downtown is for families." That simple statement embodied a core theme of her address, acknowledging that—despite the recent explosion in development and investment in our urban core—the number of families living downtown remains relatively small and that needs to change. And depending on who you spoke to afterward, this was either the absolute right focus or an impractical pipe dream.
Big Box Warehouse Dangers
Around the country, large, warehouse-type structures are going up on a regular basis to house every type of product imaginable (think Amazon, Walmart). Often, they are built in small-town America and rely on the protection of volunteer fire departments. These structures present a multitude of challenges and there are important steps that need to be taken both before any shovels even hit the ground and continue after the warehouse is operational.
The Professional Volunteer Fire Department: Steve Prziborowski
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The Professional Volunteer Fire Department: Talking OSHA with Dave Denniston
As many of you are aware, OSHA is working on a complete overhaul to the decades old 29 CFR 1910.156 Fire Brigade Standard. While many of the proposed changes would be helpful and improve the safety of emergency responders, some could prove burdensome, and in some cases impossible, for volunteer fire and emergency service departments to comply with.
The Professional Mindset: Definitions Don’t Matter; Actions and Behavior Do
VOLUNTEERS CORNER | By THOMAS A. MERRILL For MORE THAN a decade now, I’ve discussed the importance of serving as a professional volunteer firefighter and running our volunteer fire departments in a professional manner. In Fire Engineering, online, on the speaking circuit, and now in a book, I have outlined why it’s so important. I’ve emphasized ways to create and enhance a volunteer member’s professional image and a volunteer department’s professional culture.
Top Trending Reads of the Month: Fall's Must-Read Books
Welcome to our latest blog post, where we dive into the literary world to bring you top trending reads of the month! Whether you're a dedicated firefighter, a fire service leader, or simply someone with an unwavering passion for the fire service and emergency response, we have handpicked a selection of books that are sure to ignite your curiosity and expand your knowledge.
Professional Development for the Volunteer Firefighter
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West Virginia v. EPA: Getting to Actual Delegation
Both the Chevron doctrine and West Virginia v. EPA are based on ideas about the delegation of interpretive authority from Congress to administrative agencies. Chevron introduced the idea of "implicit" delegations, and the doctrine spawned by it eventually held that any ambiguity in an agency statute is an implicit delegation. West Virginia is effectively an unacknowledged carveout.
Questions About “Major Questions”
West Virginia v. EPA is clearly designed to impose new limits on federal agencies insofar as they seek to rewrite the scope of their authority. The Supreme Court's attention to the scope of agency authority is welcome. As noted in the immediately prior post (the third in this five-post guest series, here being the first and second), the Court held in City of Arlington v. FCC (2013) that federal courts must give Chevron deference to an agency's interpretation of the scope of its authority.
Podcast: The Professional Volunteer Fire Department
Mergers and consolidations are hot topics of conversation within the volunteer fire service and often thought to be the cure-all solution for the membership crisis. However, if not done properly, they can fail miserably leading to unmotivated and disenchanted members, or even less members available to do more work.
West Virginia v. EPA: What Would Have Been the Result Under the Chevron Doctrine?
The Supreme Court's June 2022 decision in West Virginia v. EPA will be remembered for its endorsement of the "major questions doctrine." The new doctrine, as would have been obvious to all participating justices, is designed to function as an exception to the Chevron doctrine, so named for Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. (1984).
Was “Major Questions” Necessary?
The Supreme Court held in West Virginia v. EPA that the federal agency did not have authority to adopt what amounted to a cap-and-trade system for existing fossil-fueled power plants because this raised a "major question" of "economic and political significance" as to which Congress had not clearly delegated authority to the EPA.
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