Our History
FireNuggets
By Firefighters, For Firefighters
January 2000
FireNuggets debuted, founded by Ted Corporandy and Paul Schuller, both Battalion Chiefs from San Francisco Fire Department. It was one of the first (if not the very first) free access online fire service publications to be created, focusing on promoting a common-sense approach to every day decision-making for routine and emergency operations. Many highly respected professionals and brothers and sisters in the fire service used this publication to share their “Nuggets” and move their messages nationwide. Very soon, it achieved recognition as one of the most respected and credible online fire service resources on the World Wide Web.
Ted
Corporandy
Paul
Schuller
2001-2012
As FireNuggets grew, so did the costs of keeping the website running. To support the platform and continue serving the fire service, local seminars were launched, with proceeds helping fund operations. The seminars sustained FireNuggets for many years and brought firefighters together to learn and share ideas. But as economic challenges impacted attendance, the events became increasingly difficult to maintain, eventually resulting in the end of the seminars and the decline of the website.
January 2013
FireNuggets announces its closure, with a letter by Paul Schuller titled The End of an Era. In its closing, FireNuggets writes “Perhaps in the future a group of energetic, web-savy, and passionate firefighters would like to make a go of the site. Anyone so inclined is welcome to contact us.”
June 2013
FireNuggets shared that its legacy would continue through the stewardship of “a credible group of Brother and Sister Firefighters” committed to carrying its mission forward. That group was the Berkeley Firefighters Association Local 1227, whose members (David Sprague, Jon Pique, and Alfonso Munoz) recognized the value and impact FireNuggets had on the fire service. Through their dedication and a carefully planned transition of leadership, FireNuggets would be given a second life and a renewed opportunity to continue serving firefighters.
April 15, 2014
FireNuggets was officially transitioned to the Berkeley Firefighters Association Local 1227 with a vision to enhance technological capabilities, preserve and archive existing and future content, modernize website design, incorporate multimedia including video, and introduce innovative approaches to further the organization’s mission.
2014 to Present
In the last 12 years, FireNuggets secured a 501(c)3 status and sustained its role as a nationwide firefighter training resource, while also expanding to include 24 affiliate chapters. The organization continues to provide high-quality training materials and actively partners with fire departments and organizations across the country to advance and prioritize firefighter education and development through event management, marketing, and connections.