Book excerpt: The sixth edition of Introduction to Fire Protection and Emergency Services meets and exceeds the National Fire Academy’s Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) course objectives and outcomes for the Associate’s (Core) course called Principles of Emergency Services (C0273). The Sixth Edition delivers future fire service candidates a head start in the competitive selection process by familiarizing students with the selection and training process. In addition, the Sixth Edition provides a comprehensive and concise overview of the broad spectrum of the fire service, from the primary duties of the modern fire department, to emergency incident management, to fire prevention, to department administration.The Sixth Edition reinforces foundational knowledge, including the history and future of the fire service; the chemistry and physics of fire; issues facing the fire and rescue service in the United States; and careers in the fire and emergency services. The entire range of services of the modern fire service is explored, including emergency medical services, hazardous materials response, wildland fires, swiftwater rescue, and urban search and rescue.The Sixth Edition includes:An emphasis on safety and professionalism, which is reinforced through discussions of incident effectiveness, fire fighter ethics, customer service, physical fitness, training, decision making, fire prevention, and behavioral health Organizations that support the fire service are highlighted, including:Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance.Firefighter Cancer Support Network.Leary Firefighter FoundationDiscussions on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Repeated Exposure to Trauma (RET) and their effects on fire fightersAn expanded discussion of the possible future effects of climate change and the effect on the fire and rescue service