About 20 years ago, Anthony Avillo was taking courses at William Paterson College when a professor read one of his papers and told him he should pursue a career in writing.
“He encouraged me to write more, but I never listened,” Avillo said. “I never thought of myself as a writer.”
For the past 18 years, 41-year-old Avillo has been a firefighter, first as a member of the Weehawken Fire Department, then later moved up the ranks of the North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue, where he currently serves as a deputy chief and shift commander.
However, in recent years, Avillo has returned to his roots, putting pen in hand and writing articles about firefighting strategies and techniques for Fire Engineering magazine, a national monthly publication geared toward firefighters.
“I’ve written about a dozen articles in that magazine,” said Avillo, who is also a certified fire instructor at the Bergen County Fire Academy in Mahwah, and teaches classes there regularly when not working for the NHRFR. “Once I get started, I have diarrhea of the pen. I just go and go.”
Avillo just completed an article about post-fire control activity, and one about technical high angle rope rescues that was featured on the cover of the magazine.
However, his latest work is a book entitled “Fire Ground Strategies,” published by Pennwell Publishing, that helps prospective firefighters become more skilled on their jobs, as well as helping them prepare for the state-certified promotional tests.
“It’s basically a strategy and tactics book,” Avillo said. “It’s based on how they can improve their performances on fire grounds, then strengthen their performances in promotional exams.”
Avillo said he got the idea from a friend who works as a publisher at Pennwell.
“A guy I work with at the Bergen County Fire Academy helps to publish a few magazines,” Avillo said. “I was also working for a group, Study Group, Inc., which helped firefighters get promoted. I was thinking that it all could be put in a book and my friend thought it was a good idea and told me to go for it.”
Avillo said that he started writing the book in 1998 and completed it last year. It was finally published in September of 2002.
“I started writing it when my wife was pregnant and I had some time on my hands,” Avillo said. “Well, during the time it took to write it, we had two daughters.”
Avillo said the book has sold approximately 500 copies since it was published.
“I’ve spoken at about five or six seminars since it’s been published and I bring the book with me to sell at the seminars,” said Avillo, who has a work/lab book that accompanies the textbook. “The response has been tremendous. I’ve been told it is readable and helpful, getting down and dirty into the business of the job.”
Avillo said that the books have also been turned into a 48-hour college course that he has developed with his partner, Newark Fire Captain Mike Nasta, a fellow instructor at the Fire Academy.
“The Bergen County Fire Academy has already adopted the course,” Avillo said. “Passaic County Community College is considering to use it as a regular course and we’re in negotiations with the National Fire Academy. Things are moving along well.”
The textbook is also being adopted by colleges for use in public safety courses.
“I’d like to see where it goes,” Avillo said. “I’m glad I can contribute. It’s an accumulation of all that people have taught me over the years and what I’ve learned from others.”
Avillo was asked if being a published author has changed how he views his mission as a firefighter.
“I’ve certainly brought it further than most,” Avillo said. “I never thought this was possible. I may spend time teaching and writing, but first and foremost, I’m still on the street. I’m still a firefighter first and always will be. Working for this department has enabled me to hone my craft. But I fight fires more than anything.”