The purpose of the Top Priority: A fire service guide to interoperable communications handbook is to provide fire and emergency services with a comprehensive understanding of interoperability. This understanding, in turn, can form the foundation for increasing the effectiveness of emergency response services and improving the safety of emergency response personnel. Although written from a fire-service perspective by William L. Pessemier, the handbook, published by the International Association of Fire Chiefs, can be used by fire departments, emergency medical services, law enforcement agencies and emergency managers.