All of Dennis Smith's books,
Blaze the Forensics of Fire by Nicolas Faith
Last Man Down- by Richard Picciotto
So Others Might Live A History of New York's Bravest by Terry Golway
Firefighters:Stories of Survival From the Front Lines Edited by Clint Willis (kind a hit & miss book in my opinion)
and of course all of the IFTSTA & NFPA texts you can afford...
Besides all the training manuals, ERG's, etc, I recommend a very awsome book written by Robert C. Bingham called " Street Smart Firefighting" awsome book, lots of info. You can learn alot from it.
Uniform Fire Code
International Fire Code
ACGIH Chemical Handbook
Fire Chief's Handbook
NFPA Chemical Classifications
Chemicals Used for Illegal Purposes
Dictionary & Thesaurus
The above library focuses on (for me) the most important part of the fire service. Fire prevention. All cool and such to be able to extinguish fires but too prevent them in the first place is what our job is all about. I like dealing with the more complex problems out there and that would be hazardous materials.
Under both the UFC (Uniform Fire Code) an the IFC (International Fire Code), firefighters, depending upon their jurisdiction and adopted fire codes have the authority to regulate the on site handling, transport, dispensing, and storage of hazardous materials. The referenced books enable firefighters to have the necessary information to provide the basic three components of doing our job in regard to building inspections and "fire prevention".
1. Keep all means of egress clear. ALWAYS. People have to be able to get out safely.
2. Separate all hazardous materials classifications by either a distance, separation wall or approved cabinet to prevent intimate mixing of hazardous materials becoming methyl-ethyl-you-gunna-die-4-sure-in-all.
3. Use NFPA Hazard Identification diamonds using contrasting background numbers and pictographs on the bottom of the placard.
My bookshelf contains these reference sources to ensure that at one point I could do my job and now... so others can. How on earth do you think I can answer all these questions?
"Failure to prepare is preparing for failure... Be prepared..."