About Us - Fire Science

Who Are We?

All of us on the FireScience.org team share a passion for fire science and public service careers. We also like to gather, analyze, and share data with others. So we’ve married our two interests by creating a one-stop resource for all things related to careers in fire science. We’ve scoured the available information, sorted through it, and compiled the facts you’ll need in one place. FireScience.org will help you determine whether a career in fire science is right for you, which of the many fire science or public service career paths to pursue, and what kind of training you’ll need to be successful. We also help you sort through the many training and education options to find ones that that best fit your needs.

Meet Our Contributors

Kathleen Swed

Kathleen Swed is a full-time writer living in New York's Capital Region. She holds an MFA with a concentration in fiction from Pacific University as well as degrees in music from the University of Maine and Ithaca College. She is the author of several science fiction series, which she writes under the name of Kate Sheeran Swed.

Melissa Sartore

Melissa Sartore holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her BA and MA in history are from Western Illinois University. A medievalist by training, she has published on outlawry in medieval England with additional publications on outlaws in popular culture and across geographic and historical boundaries. She also writes for several online outlets, notably Ranker.com, and provides her own sarcastic take on historical events at History According to Snark.

What is Our Purpose?

In our increasingly complicated world, career opportunities in the fields of fire science and public service have become varied and plentiful. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, for instance, did not even exist until after the 9/11 attacks. Today it employs more than 200,000 people. The bravery of first responders during the 9/11 attacks and after several recent natural disasters, such as Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, has also inspired a whole new generation. You could say the field of fire science is experiencing unprecedented growth. As a result, there are more training options than ever.

Career training and education can require a significant investment of time and money. We’re here to help you navigate and evaluate the existing educational options so that you use your education dollars wisely and maximize your time. Where do you begin your search? What should you look for in a program to ensure it will prepare you properly? How do you choose between the types of degrees available? Should you invest in a training academy, a community college, a four-year college, or even a master’s degree? Our goal is to provide you with the necessary and accurate information to help you answer these questions and get you started on an exciting fire science career.

What Do We Do?

At FireScience.org, we have our finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the fields of fire science and public service. First, we’ve compiled all the information you need to decide whether to pursue a career in fire science or public service and present it here in an easy-to-follow format. We’ve talked to experts about the kind of training you’ll need, and what you can expect form the different careers. We’ve researched where to get training and created comprehensive, searchable lists of schools and programs.

Second, we update our data on a regular basis and keep you abreast of developments in the fields of fire science and public service through our blog and through topical articles and content in the Resources section. Look to us as your main source of the latest information regarding education and careers in fire science. Lastly, we wish to impart our enthusiasm for fire science and public service careers on all our site visitors and encourage people from all backgrounds to consider fulfilling careers in these fields.