The RunBoard Blog

Practical guides for the people who run the calls.

Grant writing, compliance, scheduling, training, fleet operations. Honest writing from people who've actually pulled hose, ran a transport, and fought for budget. No fluff.

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DEA Narcotics Log Compliance for EMS: What You Actually Need

A practical guide to DEA controlled substance recordkeeping for EMS agencies - registration, chain of custody, witnessed waste, daily counts, retention, and the violations most ...

Setting Up a New Fire or EMS Department: A 90-Day Operational Playbook

A 90-day playbook for getting a new fire or EMS department

How to Write a Winning FEMA AFG Grant in 2026

A practical, operational walkthrough of the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG): who qualifies, how scoring really works, the documentation that wins, and the most commo...

How to Win a FEMA SAFER Grant in 2026

A practical guide to the FEMA SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant - eligibility, the two activity tracks, hiring vs. recruitment/retention, the cost-...

Fleet Operations Software for Small Businesses (Tow, Taxi, Courier)

A practical guide to fleet operations software for small businesses - tow companies, taxi fleets, courier services, and other operations running 5 to 50 vehicles. What to track,...

ISO Class Rating: A Plain-English Guide for Small Departments

A plain-English explanation of the ISO Public Protection Classification (PPC) - what each class means, how the scoring works, what auditors look for, and how small departments c...

NFPA 1851 PPE Service Life: When to Retire Turnout Gear

A practical guide to NFPA 1851 - the standard governing turnout gear care, inspection, and retirement. What inspections are required, when to retire gear, the 10-year rule, and ...

Small Fire Department Annual Budget: A Working Template

A working annual budget template for small fire departments and fire districts. Real line items, realistic numbers, and the categories volunteer chiefs always forget until somet...

Vehicle Checkoff Templates: NFPA-Aligned Daily, Weekly, Monthly

NFPA-aligned daily, weekly, and monthly fire apparatus checkoff templates. What to inspect, what

Volunteer Fire Department Software: What's Actually Affordable in 2026

What volunteer fire departments actually need from operations software, what to ignore, the pricing math behind per-user vs per-department licensing, and what to verify before y...

Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment & Retention: A Practical Playbook

A practical playbook for recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters - what actually works, what gets funded by SAFER, and why the retention problem is harder than the recru...

Volunteer Firefighter Tax Credits & LOSAP: A 2026 Overview

A practical 2026 overview of volunteer firefighter tax credits and Length of Service Award Programs (LOSAP): federal rules, state-by-state programs, eligibility, and how small d...

Mutual Aid Agreements: A Plain-English Guide for Small Departments

Coming soon.

Firefighter Mental Health: Resources Every Small Department Should Know

Coming soon.

Combination Fire Department Staffing: Making the Math Work

Coming soon.

State and Foundation Fire Grants Beyond AFG: Where Else to Look

Coming soon.

Improving Your ISO Class as a Small Department: Where to Focus First

Coming soon.

Single-Station Department: A Daily, Weekly, Monthly Operational Checklist

Coming soon.

Volunteer Fire Department Insurance: What You Actually Need

Coming soon.

Apparatus Refurbishment vs. Replacement: How to Make the Decision

Coming soon.

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