The Firehouse Yak: Patrick Wirkus – What Civil Service Exams Miss About Fire Service Leadership, And What You Can Do About It

Peter Matthews talks with Patrick Wirkus about his EFO research on whether firefighters and officers are truly prepared to become leaders following a civil service promotion and what readers can do to be ready for the new rank.

Peter Matthews

Patrick L. Wirkus

Nov. 9, 2026

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The Firehouse Yak: Patrick Wirkus – What Civil Service Exams Miss About Fire Service Leadership, And What You Can Do About It

Peter Matthews talked with Patrick Wirkus about his recent EFO Research Brief, which looks at whether firefighters and officers who take civil service exams are properly evaluated and trained for the promotion.

Wirkus conducted research within his department, asking members whether the promotional process prepared them for their new roles, on and off the fireground and learned that many were not prepared for a leader’s actual roles. He dives into topics from managing people, conflict and relationships to fireground command.

Throughout the podcast, Wirkus reflects on what firefighters preparing for promotional exams should do to not only help them attain the new rank but be ready to lead, while sharing ideas for department leaders to help prepare their next generation of leaders.

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About the Author

Peter Matthews

Editor-in-Chief

Patrick L. Wirkus

Patrick L. Wirkus, EFO, CFO, MIFireE, is a battalion chief with the Elizabeth, NJ, Fire Department and founder of Division Command Training, LLC. He has more than two decades of fire service experience, with a focus on fireground operations, incident command, officer development, and division-level supervision. Wirkus holds a master’s degree in Fire Executive Leadership and Emergency Services Management from Columbia Southern University and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer program. He holds the Chief Fire Officer designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence and is a Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers. A published fire service author and instructor, Wirkus focuses his research and professional work on strengthening officer development, improving fireground command and supervision, and preparing current and future fire officers to lead effectively in increasingly complex operational environments.