About Joe DeVito
Joseph DeVito began his fire service career at age 17, following in his father’s footsteps with the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department on Long Island, New York. What began as a passion became a lifelong career, eventually leading him to the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District in Florida. After beginning as an EMT with Lee County EMS and becoming a paramedic, Joe returned to his true calling—the fire service. He has served as a firefighter, engineer, lieutenant, and captain, and also served five years as Battalion Chief. During Hurricane Ian, he served as Operations Division Supervisor for Fort Myers Beach.
For more than 15 years, Joe has dedicated himself to the study of thermal imaging and fire behavior. Influenced by the Kill the Flashover Project and mentored by Andrew Starnes, he developed a passion for helping firefighters understand not just how to operate a thermal imager, but how to interpret what it is showing and use that information to make better fireground decisions. That passion ultimately led to TIC Tips Fire Training LLC and its mission: turning thermal imagers from tools firefighters carry into skills they trust.
Joe has presented at fire departments and conferences across the United States and has shared his experience through podcasts, webcasts, magazine articles, and other fire service media. Whether teaching a recruit class, working directly with a fire department, or presenting at a national conference, his goal remains the same: provide practical, experience-based education that firefighters can apply on the fireground to improve safety, efficiency, and decision-making.
Joe is the author of The Basics to Build On: Thermal Imaging, published by Fire Engineering, and holds numerous professional certifications, including Level I Thermography, CPSE Fire Officer designation, Florida Fire Officer II, Instructor II, Live Fire Training Instructor, and EMS Instructor. Despite more than three decades in the fire service, Joe remains a student of the profession—committed to continuing to learn, teach, and give back to the fire service.
“The advanced level is mastery of the basics.”
— Ray Mancini
Mission
To improve firefighter safety and performance through practical, evidence-based education in thermal imaging and fire behavior. We build knowledge, confidence, and decision-making skills that help firefighters understand their tools, recognize changing fire conditions, and make better decisions on the fireground.
Vision
To raise the standard of thermal imaging education in the fire service by creating a culture where firefighters use thermal imaging with competence, confidence, and purpose. We envision thermal imaging as an integrated part of fireground operations—not simply a tool that is carried, but one that is understood and effectively applied to size-up, search, fire attack, ventilation, rapid intervention, and firefighter survival.
Core Values
Safety First
Every lesson, every class, and every decision is driven by one goal: helping firefighters operate more safely and go home after every shift.
Knowledge Through Understanding
We teach the why, not just the how. Understanding fire behavior and thermal imaging gives firefighters the knowledge to interpret what they see, make better decisions under stress, and build advanced skills on a strong foundation of the basics.
Integrity
We present honest, evidence-based education grounded in current research, testing, and real-world experience. When the science evolves, so do we.
Practical Application
Training must translate to the fireground. We focus on practical skills and realistic applications that firefighters can use immediately during size-up, search, fire attack, ventilation, rapid intervention, and other fireground operations.
Continuous Improvement
The fire service, technology, and our understanding of fire behavior continue to evolve. We remain committed to learning, testing, and improving so the training we provide remains relevant, practical, and current.
Service Before Self
We believe in giving back to the fire service through education, mentorship, and shared knowledge. Our goal is to help firefighters and departments build stronger skills, make better-informed decisions, and pass that knowledge on to the next generation
Passion for the Profession
We are passionate about the fire service and committed to making it better. That passion drives us to continually learn, teach, share, and help firefighters build the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
Our Promise
We don't just teach firefighters how to use a thermal imager. We teach them how to think with it.
Every TIC Tips Fire Training program is built to provide practical, relevant, and experience-based education that firefighters can take from the classroom to the fireground. Our commitment is to teach the fundamentals, challenge firefighters to think critically, and provide them with knowledge and skills they can continue to build on throughout their careers.
Our team
TIC Tips Fire Training LLC brings together experienced fire service instructors committed to practical, relevant, and evidence-based education. From classroom instruction and workshops to hands-on and live-fire training, our team is focused on giving firefighters knowledge and skills they can apply on the fireground.
Joseph DeVito
Founder & Lead Instructor
Josephine DeVito
Marketing & Business Administration
Adjunct
Instructor
Adjunct
Instructor