The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has announced the release of the fourth edition of its Crew Resource Management (CRM) Manual.
According to the IAFC, the updated manual was unveiled during Fire-Rescue International (FRI) 2025 in partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF).
The association reported that the manual is designed to strengthen firefighter decision-making, communication, and overall team performance.
It added that the update reflects lessons learned from multiple fire service incidents where human error was identified as a leading cause of preventable injuries and deaths.
The IAFC explained that the new edition continues to emphasize the importance of addressing fatigue, stress, and routine conditions as key risk factors in firefighter safety.
The IAFC stated that human error remains the most common contributing factor in fire service incidents, with mistakes often compounding under stressful or routine conditions.
It added that the manual outlines how CRM principles can help interrupt chains of error before they lead to serious outcomes.
The IAFC reported that case studies included in the manual show how errors can be small at first but escalate into fatal incidents if left unchecked.
Examples cited include the South Canyon Fire in 1994, the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse Fire in 1999, and the Sofa Super Store Fire in 2007.
The IAFC explained that each example demonstrates how CRM practices could have helped reduce risk by improving situational awareness and communication.
The IAFC reported that CRM has been adopted across high-risk industries including aviation, medicine, military operations, and rail.
It explained that these sectors have recorded improved leadership, efficiency, and reductions in accidents following adoption of CRM.
The IAFC added that the manual encourages fire departments to adapt these proven approaches to their own structures and operating environments.
It stated that the resource is intended to show that preventable accidents are not random events, but the result of behavioral patterns that can be changed.
The association said this is why CRM focuses on decision-making and communication as central tools for reducing firefighter injuries and fatalities.
The IAFC explained that adopting CRM is a department-wide process that requires long-term cultural change.
It reported that the manual advises against issuing one-time directives, recommending instead that CRM be introduced as a sustained training program for all staff.
The association stated that CRM is designed to empower every member of a department to raise safety concerns while maintaining established chains of command.
It added that examples provided in the manual show how local crews can benefit from training when firefighters identify hazards during incidents.
The IAFC said that training must be reinforced through regular review, peer examples, and integration into department operations.
The IAFC reported that aviation is now on its fifth version of CRM and regards it as a standard practice across the industry.
It explained that the United States Coast Guard and Air Force have also validated CRM over more than three decades of operational use.
The association stated that results from these services demonstrate that structured training in decision-making and communication reduces accidents and saves lives.
It added that fire service departments can use modified versions of CRM if they need sector-specific adaptations.
The IAFC explained that examples such as the Illinois Fire Service Institute’s Firefighter Training Initiative show how the framework can be tailored to fire operations.
The IAFC reported that applying current death and injury rates, 2,425 firefighters could die and 2,375,000 could be injured if full implementation of CRM takes another 25 years.
It explained that the manual advises departments to shorten that timeline by making CRM a central training and operational priority.
The association stated that CRM is positioned as a proven, validated approach with a 40-year history across high-risk environments.
It added that the updated manual provides a practical path for departments to reduce preventable firefighter injuries and fatalities.
The IAFC said the resource is available for departments seeking to integrate CRM into their training and operational structures.
The IAFC’s release of the fourth edition of the CRM manual is relevant for fire and safety professionals because it provides a structured approach to reducing preventable injuries and deaths in the fire service.
It highlights the continued role of human error in operational incidents and offers tested strategies for improving communication, decision-making, and situational awareness.
The manual draws on evidence from multiple industries, demonstrating that CRM training reduces accidents when fully implemented across organizations.
For fire and safety leaders, the manual presents a practical resource for cultural change and operational improvement in departments.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) released the fourth edition of its Crew Resource Management (CRM) Manual.
The release was made in partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) during Fire-Rescue International (FRI) 2025.
The IAFC reported that the manual aims to improve firefighter communication, decision-making, and team performance.
It stated that human error remains the leading cause of preventable firefighter injuries and deaths.
The IAFC explained that CRM has been adopted in aviation, medicine, military, and rail with reported improvements in safety outcomes.
The association reported that the manual calls for fire departments to adopt CRM as a cultural change, not a one-time training session.
It said that aviation, the Coast Guard, and the Air Force have validated CRM over decades of operational use.
The IAFC reported that if adoption takes 25 years, 2,425 firefighters could die and 2,375,000 could be injured during that time.
The manual presents strategies for shortening this timeline and reducing preventable incidents in the fire service.
The IAFC confirmed that the manual is available as a resource for departments.
