The Firehouse Podcast
Editor-in-Chief Peter Matthews talks with Firehouse authors and speakers and members of the fire service about firefighter training and tactics, leadership, trends and traditions.
Episodes
The Human Performance Side of Fire Officer Development – J.P. Moore
Peter Matthews talked with J.P. Moore, deputy director of the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), about their leadership development programs that place an emphasis on human performance for leaders during fireground operations and in-station situations.
Moore details some of IFSI’s programs that look at train future and current leaders on dealing with incident command, personnel management a
The Latest on FSRI’s Electric Vehicle Fire Research – Adam Barowy
For the last few years, electric vehicle (EV) fires have made national news headlines because of the unique and unknown challenges they present to firefighters, leading UL Research Institute’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) to launch a research effort to understand the mitigation and safety concerns.
Adam Barowy, a principal research engineer with FSRI, details the three-year effort to doc
Beyond the Bugles: Little Fire Department, Big Leadership Mindset
Chief Jacob Johnson interviews Chief David Jones (ret.) of the Addison, TX, Fire Department. In this week's episode of Beyond the Bugles, they discuss all things leadership involving leadership within a small department that hosts big events, the finite techniques it takes to be a successful fire chief and strategies on collaborating with other fire departments.
Los Angeles Fire Department: Rooted in Training – Andy Ruiz
Peter Matthews talks with Capt. II Andy Ruiz, who oversees the In-Service Training Unit for the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). He explains how LAFD is rooted in training with recruits beginning their training at the site where a firefighter was killed in the line-of-duty during a fire at the now-LAFD academy. He shares how the department manages in-service training across 468 square miles at
Your Fire Department Legacy and the Company Officer - Jared Vermeulen
Peter Matthews talks with Jared Vermeulen, who authored a new book, “The Modern Fire Officer: Building Legacy That Endures,” that is designed to help guide today’s fire officers through the many situations they encounter each day.
Vermeulen says that today’s fire officers often wear dozens of hats compared to a few hats for previous generations because of the all-hazards role that fire department
Beyond the Bugles: The Leader Within You
Chief Jacob Johnson sits down with long time friend, West Columbia, SC, Fire Department Battalion Chief Marc Aloan. They discuss all things leadership and dive into some deep questions. It’s fun, packed full of knowledge and provides important insight for all to hear and learn.
Risk vs. Reality: Safety Starts with the Smart Firefighter - Eric Valliere
Peter Matthews talks with Eric Valliere, CEO of the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA), about increasing the organization’s efforts in the awareness of firefighter safety and health.
For years, FDSOA has offered incident safety officers (ISO) and health and safety officers (HSO) education and today they fcus on bridging the gap between research, science and new operational effor
Beyond the Bugles: Leadership Through Disaster
Chief Jacob Johnson interviews his lifelong friend Capt. Rusty Ryan, of the Pearland, TX, Fire Department, as they discuss general firehouse leadership and how that translate to leadership through disaster as Capt. Ryan lead search and rescue teams through the central Texas floods on July 4, 2025.
Fireground Accountability, Incident Command and Technology – Doug Myers
Peter Matthews talks with Fire Chief Doug Myers, from the Berrien Springs-Oronoko, MI, Fire Department, about commanding today’s fireground incidents. Myers led the development of the Scene Watcher App to help incident commanders track tasks and firefighters on scenes when command staff is limited.
Myers discusses the NIOSH 5, the five recurring factors that have been mentioned in the NIOSH LODD
Recap of the Interschutz, The World’s Largest Fire Conference – Kristopher Blume
Chief Kristopher Blume joins Peter Matthews to reflect on what products and innovations he saw while attending the largest firefighter conference in the world, Interschutz, earlier this month in Germany. From robots and apparatus to PPE and training equipment, Blume explains the difference between Interschutz and shows in the U.S.
Blume explains how technology filled many of the exhibit halls at t
Beyond the Bugles: Leadership from the Lens of the Pearland, TX, Fire Department
Chief Jacob Johnson gets to accomplish a dream of truly putting fire department members on the map by interviewing one of his own from the Pearland, TX, Fire Department, Chief Shane Bridges. The two discuss culture, mentorship and leadership from the lens of their own department.
Inside the Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation – Michael Hildebrand
Peter Matthews is joined by Michael Hildebrand, who sits on the board of directors for the Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation, which honors the legacy of Prince George’s County firefighter Jim Yvorra, who died in the line of duty in 1988.
Hildebrand recalled his longtime friendship with Yvorra and his dedication to the fire service by being an active member and book publisher in the areas o
Leadership and Life Lessons from the Marines, The Citadel – Thomas Gordon
Peter Matthews talks with past FireFusion keynote speaker Thomas J. Gordon, who completed a 30-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, about leadership, resilience and his book, Marine Maxims, Turning Leadership Principals into Practice.”
After his military career, Gordon returned to his alma mater, The Citadel, to serve as the Commandant of Cadets and shares stories of developing leaders from a yo
Beyond the Bugles: It Comes Down to Legacy and Trust
Beyond the Bugles host and chief for the Pearland, TX, Fire Department Jacob Johnson interviews one of his best friends and mentors, Mark Campise, who is the chief of the Sugar Land, TX, Fire Department. They dive off into all kinds of subjects that they have encountered together over the last 23 years together. The conversation reaches depths of more than just chief talk, as they discuss real lif
How the Fire Service Psychology Association is Leading Efforts in Firehouses
Retired chief Robert Avsec and Dr. Tracy Hejmanowski, who work with the Fire Service Psychology Association (FSPA), dive into the topics of firefighter mental health and psychology as part of the annual Mental Health Awareness Month. Avsec relates firefighter mental health support for firefighters like hazmat responses, with four levels of resources, which was the basis of a report he wrote and he
Retirement and Lessons from the Hardest Days – David Griffin
Dr. David Griffin reflects on his 21-year career with the Charleston, SC, Fire Department before as he entered retirement. Griffin talks about the profound impact on his career when he lost nine colleagues at the Sofa Super Store Fire and endured the loss of firefighters from suicide and health-related issues, with a look at leadership and fire service culture.
Griffin shares the short- and long-t
Beyond the Bugles: Leadership Is More Than a Title
Chief Jacob Johnson is joined by Fire Chief Les Stephens, of the San Marcos, TX, Fire Department, on the new episode of Beyond the Bugles. Understanding that leadership goes further than the title in the fire service, the two discuss integrity, accountability and love of the job.
Finding Your Identity in the Firehouse – Tyler Whittredge
Peter Matthews is joined by Saratoga Springs, NY, firefighter Tyler Whittredge to talk about firefighters’ finding their identities in the station, accountability and what makes a good firefighter.
Whittredge explains what he’s observed when it comes to members find their personality in a job full of Type-A personalities and how members can build each other through their strengths. Part of the pr
Station Design Conference 2026 Preview – Janet Wilmoth, Mike Scott, Patrick Stone
Station Design Conference Director Janet Wilmoth and architects Mike Scott and Patrick Stone discuss this year’s conference, which takes place in May in Reno, NV. Peter Matthews digs into their sessions, asks what’s new at the public safety facility design conference and what they suggest attendees do to get the most out of the conference.
Janet Wilmoth offers highlights from around the conferen
Beyond the Bugles: Lessons That Build a Legacy
In the second episode of Beyond the Bugles, Chief Jacob Johnson is joined by retired Chief Dennis Reilly. The legacy that Chief Reilly left behind is one to be admired and one that is extended on this episode. The two chiefs discuss integrity, moral courage, setting the tone and family.
Flipping Fire Service Leadership – Flip Griffin
Flip Griffin, a retired U.S. Navy Command Master Chief, talks with Peter Matthews about his new mission, Firehouse Freedom. Griffin has been teaching fire departments about the impact of leadership in recruitment, retention and burnout at all levels of the departments.
Griffin relates to his time in the military when recruitment was at an all-time high following the Sept. 11 terror attacks to the
Foundations for The Modern Fire Officer – Jared Vermeulen
Capt. Jared Vermeulen talks with Peter Matthews about his book, “The Modern Fire Officer,” and his approach to being a fire service leadership in current times. The book was born from Vermeulen’s experiences as an officer and from the promotional process, leading him to share practical, modern leadership skills for fire service leaders.
Vermeulen’s goal is to build strong companies by focusing o
Beyond the Bugles: Chief Chat with Doug Boeker
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Beyond the Bugles, where Assistant Chief Jacob Johnson of the Pearland, TX, Fire Department, sits down with Fire Chief Doug Boeker of the Fulshear, TX, Fire Department.
Together, they dive into leadership at the chief officer level, covering the do’s and don’ts of command, firehouse culture and the importance of meaningful kitchen-table conversations.
The discus
You’re Always a Firefighter First – Ryan Pennington
Charleston, WV, Battalion Chief Ryan Pennington joins Peter Matthews to talk about his approach to every shift, reminding himself that he’s a firefighter first and foremost. With that approach, Pennington’s foundation remains rooted in the basics while he has promoted through the fire department.
Pennington falls back on the principles he used to launch his training company, The Views from the Jum
Finding Your Leadership Why as a Next Generation Fire Chief – Justin Sherwood
Justin Sherwood, who became fire chief in Bemidji, MN, nearly five years ago, reflects on the journey and shares what he learned at both personal and professional levels. Sherwood didn’t plan to follow his father’s footsteps into the fire service and pursued a degree in education, but that changed following the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.
In 15 years, Sherwood climbed the ranks and was named fi
Basement Fires and Hidden Dangers Below – John Lewis and Robert Mora
John Lewis and Robert Moran have been teaching basement fire tactics and strategies for nearly two decades, after a series of close call incidents they were involved with. The two, known as Jersey Guys Fire Service Training, discuss tactics, construction and command for below-grade residential fires on this episode.
From the use of the ELBOW acronym for basement fire size-up, to hoseline placemen
An Urban Fire Captain’s Approach to Fires in Vacant Structures – Sean Eagen
Capt. Sean Eagen joins Peter Matthews to talk about firefighting operations in vacant structures, because many vacant buildings can still be occupied, posing a serious life hazard. Eagen, a 28-year veteran of the Buffalo, NY, Fire Department, shares his experiences and takes listeners through his size-up approach.
From cues and clues on suspected vacant homes, Eagen talks about how firefighters sh
Firefighters Reflect on Military Service, Veterans Day – Dan Byrne, TJ Cullison, AJ Kehl
Peter Matthews is joined by former U.S. Marine Daniel Byrne; T.J. Cullison, who served in the U.S. Army; and A.J. Kehl, who just retired from a career in the U.S. Air Force. They discuss the similarities and differences between serving in the fire service and military and what carried over from their time serving in the U.S. military to the firehouse and what Veterans Day means to them.
They offer
Firefighter Training for the Unknown – Michael Daley
Michael Daley joins Peter Matthews to discuss firefighter training today with a look at training challenges expected over the next five years, including new responses such as electric vehicles, and the abilities and skills news firefighters bring to the job.
Daley, a proponent of well-trained and educated firefighters, says firefighters should train to a level or professionalism – whether voluntee
Leadership in an Evolving Fire Service – Kristopher Blume
Peter Matthews talks with Chief Kristopher Blume about the realities of leading fire departments today, as they evolve quicker than ever and what is driving people away from the fire service in historic numbers.
Blume highlights key parts of his recently published book, Carry the Fire: The Crucible of Leadership in the Fire Service and the two discuss the background of his recent Firehouse.com art
The Silent Fire: PTSD in the Shadows of an FDNY LODD – Eileen & Katreana Bellew
Peter Matthews is joined by Eileen Bellew, widow of FDNY Lt. John Bellew, and his daughter, Katreana, to discuss their paths through PTSD since John lost his life during the 2005 Black Sunday fire in the Bronx.
Eileen shares her journey, which began Jan. 23, 2005, when she learned that John was seriously injured after jumping from an apartment building. From being escorted to the hospital, the fi
Big Blazes, Fire Investigations and Arson Arrests Big Fires – Bill Niemann
Peter Matthews talks with Bill Niemann, who spent nearly two decades in the Prince William County, VA, Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Bureau. During that time, Niemann and his team relaunched the department’s arson investigation unit and logged many headline-making arson arrests.
Niemann provides insight into his 17-year assignment in the fire marshal’s bureau and the relaunch of their fire inves
The Habit of Risk: Normalization of Deviance in the Fire Service - Grant Tinker
Peter Matthews talks with Battalion Chief Grant Tinker about the normalization of deviance, often mistaken for complacency, and how deeper in the fire service and carries serious consequences.
In this episode the two discuss how it shows up in day-to-day habits at home or the fire service and can result in dangerous consequences. They talk about crew resource management, pioneered by the aviation
Recruiting and Educating Gen Z Firefighters – Jeremy Blair & Courtney Hull
Peter Matthews talks with Jeremy Blair and Courtney Hull about a unique program that prepares high school seniors to become firefighters through Waukesha County Technical College in Wisconsin.
The two share how fire departments can better connect with Gen Z recruits by rethinking education and engagement through recruitment. Blair explains why today’s students want to feel part of something bigge
Mental Health: The Rocks in a Firefighter’s Backpack? – Steve Baker
Peter Matthews sits down with Assistant Chief Steve Baker to discuss the mental health challenges firefighters face, and the life-changing events of a single day in 2019 that reshaped his journey.
With two decades in emergency services, Baker shares how he reached a breaking point, what he discovered when he took a hard look at the “rocks” weighing down his backpack, and how he began shedding tho
Is Your Department’s Culture Helping or Hurting Your Firefighters? – Michael Dozier
Peter Matthews talks with Battalion Chief Michael Dozier of The Company Officer about the deep-rooted cultural challenges facing today’s fire departments.
Dozier starts by breaking down what “culture” truly means in the fire service and how departments across the country, at every rank, are struggling with communication, trust, and aligning expectations. He explains how key points contribute to
Mentoring New Company Officers – Ariel Jackson
Peter Matthews sat down with Capt. Ariel “AJ” Jackson to look at his role in developing an officer mentoring and training program for the Anne Arundel County, MD, fire officers.
Jackson, a second-generation firefighter, talks about the night he was promoted and the working fire with entrapment that followed. That fire turned into a career-long learning experience for him in which he partnered wit
The Importance of Fire Service War Stories – Michael Glore
Peter Matthews invites author Michael Glore, who is a deputy chief with the Reading, PA, Fire Department, to share his interest in fire service history and how the war stories from the past has shaped today’s fire service.
Glore, who has nearly 40 years in the fire service and has co-authored four fire service history books, explains why firefighters should know their department’s history to he
The Jersey Guys Reflect on Journey to Firehouse Hall of Fame – John Lewis and Robert Moran
Peter Matthews sits down with longtime Firehouse contributors John J. Lewis Jr. and Robert Moran, who have been named Firehouse’s Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The two reflect on their fire service careers, Lewis retiring as a lieutenant and Moran as a fire chief.
The two, known as The Jersey Guys, entered the fire service Northern New Jersey and had lengthy careers in both volunteer and career fi
Transitioning to NERIS: Essential Information for Fire Departments – Tom Jenkins
Peter Matthews sits down with Chief Tom Jenkins to discuss the latest developments with the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) and what fire departments should expect as NFIRS is phased out in 2026.
Jenkins breaks down how departments can begin the transition, outlines timelines, and how more than a dozen records management systems have already been approved to integrate with
Pushing Beyond the Status Quo in the Fire Service – Steven Baker
Peter Matthews talks with Assistant Chief Steve Baker of the Plymouth, MN, Fire Department about how fire service delivery has evolved in his region.
Baker shares how the transition from volunteer and paid-on-call firefighters to combination and full-time agencies has led to faster responses and more efficient operations. He highlights the role of regionalized training, inter-agency collaboratio
Reflecting on the Fire Service from the Next Wave of Leadership – Rob Policht
Peter Matthews talks with Rob Policht, a lieutenant with Passaic, NJ, Fire Department and one of the guys between Flow and Vent, about the state of today’s fire service and how a podcast he was on with a former Navy SEAL changed some of his approach to the fire service.
As a young officer, Policht provides his perspective on bridging the gap across multiple generations in the station. From bring
The Young Fire Instructor’s Path to Success – Jacob Gates
Peter Matthews talks with Jacob Gates, a lead instructor at the Ohio Fire Academy, about the need to stay relevant while instructing multiple generations of the fire service and staying up-to-date strategies and tactics.
Gates, who also serves with Mifflin Township Division of Fire in Gahanna, OH and the Falls Township, OH, Fire Department explains some of the changes he has witnessed as teachin
Making the Most of Your Thermal Imaging Cameras – Joe DeVito
Capt. Joe DeVito talks about the need for added training and an enhanced understanding of thermal imaging cameras (TIC) for firefighters during today’s emergency responses.
DeVito talks about the lack of training for most firefighters, from the basics of fireground operations to rescue and other incidents. They talk about how to overcome the common misconception that a TIC is primarily an office
Getting the Most Out of the Station Design Conference – Janet Wilmoth & Rob Manns
Station Design Conference Director Janet Wilmoth and Principal Architect Rob Manns discuss the impact of the Station Design Conference on recent fire station construction projects, and how attendees can maximize what they get out of attending the annual conference focused on fire station designs and construction for new and renovated stations.
Wilmoth planned the 11th annual conference, taking pla
Moving for a New Career in the Fire Service – Christopher Zak
Assistant Chief Christopher Zak talks with Peter Matthews about his retirement from the Milford, CT, Fire Department and transition to a new career in Hanahan, SC. He moved to become a training office and has since promoted to assistant chief.
Zak talks about the decision to call an end to his first fire service career and how a Google search took him to South Carolina, plus the conversations an
The Company Officer’s Number 1 Priority – Daniel DeYear
Chief Daniel DeYear returns to The Firehouse Yak podcast after talking about the fire service’s approach to safety with a discussion on company officer development based on his workshops.
DeYear digs into decades of leadership lessons from nearly two decades as an officer and chief in Dallas Fire-Rescue, including communication, accountability, trust and support. Many including firefighters and o
Remembering FDNY’s Tragic Black Sunday – Jeff Cool
Peter Matthews talks with Jeff Cool about the tragedy of Jan. 23, 2005, which was named FDNY’s “Black Sunday” after the department lost two firefighters at a fire in the Bronx and one at a fire in Brooklyn. The Bronx fire left four other firefighters seriously injured, including one who died from the fire six years later.
Cool, a Rescue 3 firefighter, responded a fire in an apartment building tha
Developing Your Personal Board of Directors – Andy Starnes
Peter Matthews talks with Andy Starnes about the importance of each person having a personal board of directors who they can reach out to and seek advice from throughout their lives. Starnes stresses why this board is just as important for decisions within the fire service as it is at home and with your family.
While Starnes is known around the world for his efforts to educate firefighters on the
TX Fire Commission’s Focus on Firefighter & Gear Safety and Training – Mike Wisko
Peter Matthews talks with Mike Wisko, the Agency Chief of the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) about their role in ensuring firefighter training and equipment and member safety throughout the state’s career fire departments.
The two talk about the annual TCFP Firefighter Injury Reports that are mandated training in the state, and some of the trends TCFP has found, including an overall re
Anatomy of a House Fire with Multiple Victims Rescued – Jake Ryks
Peter Matthews talks with Jake Ryks, a St. Paul, MN, firefighter who was just named Minnesota’s Firefighter of the Year, along with Mason Conlin, for their efforts to rescue seven people from an early morning house fire. Ryks credits ongoing training and the desire to know your job with the herculean rescue and medical treatment efforts by firefighters at the Jan. 3, 2024 house fire.
Ryks, who wa
Leading the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation – Victor Stagnaro
Peter Matthews talks with Victor Stagnaro talks about taking over the CEO role at the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), which he assumed last year, after more than two decades of having Ron Siarnicki create and lead the organization tapped to honor America’s fallen firefighters while taking care of their survivors.
Stagnaro highlights several of the programs that NFFF offers, incl
Commanding Special Operations for South Metro, CO – Scott Richardson
Peter Matthews talks with Scott Richardson about how he manages the special operations and line support teams for South Metro Fire Rescue, which covers over 300 square miles of diverse terrain in Colorado with myriad of unique response scenarios. Under Richardson’s command is the department’s technical rescue resources, wildland and ARFF crews, dispatch and apparatus and equipment maintenance team
20 LODDs in 144 Days, A Wake-up Call for Firefighter Culture? – Daniel DeYear
Peter Matthews talks with Daniel DeYear, a recently retired deputy chief from Dallas Fire-Rescue, about his work involving LODD investigations in Texas and how it relates to the often contentious discussions on firefighter safety and fire service culture.
DeYear outlines a 144-day period in which his team investigated nearly 20 firefighter deaths – all from fireground operations – including the
Leadership & Retention Ideas for Volunteer Fire Departments – Brandon Fletcher
Peter Matthews talks with Gilt Edge, TN, Fire Chief Brandon Fletcher about the challenges facing today’s volunteer fire service, plus an innovative program to help retain existing members.
Fletcher outlines some of the top factors that are impacting the rolls and operations of departments today, including a dive into volunteer-focused leadership, politics and personalities and how to keep member
Where is Community Risk Reduction Today – Daniel Byrne, Laura Kondor, Ben Shearer
Peter Matthews talks with Daniel Byrne, Laura Konor and Ben Shearer about new approaches to Community Risk Reduction (CRR) and fire prevention in 2024, and what has changed with public outreach since COVID-19. Byrne is an assistant chief with the Burton, SC, Fire District, Kondor is fire safety coordinator for the North Charleston, SC, Fire Department and Shearer is community risk reduction specia
Training Turns into Mayday, Close Call – Ragan Underwood
Peter Matthews talks with Capt. Ragan Underwood from the St. George, LA, Fire Department about a close call he had during a training burn where he was caught the flow path and was trapped in the home when the incident commander radioed for crews to leave the structure.
Underwood, a veteran instructor and member of the Insight Training cadre, was taking part in a live fire training at a home in Il
Tactics for the Known and Unknowns at Warehouse Fires – Brian Gettemeier
Peter Matthews talks with Brian Gettemeier, a captain with the Cottleville Fire Protection District in St. Charles County, MO, about fires in warehouses, including sprawling ecommerce facilities that are being built in communities large and small.
Gettemeier began instructing and writing on the topic of the dangers and challenges on warehouse fires after seeing several fires in such facilities th
Staying Motivated & Truck Company Leadership – Sean Eagen
Peter Matthews talks with Capt. Sean Eagen from the Buffalo, NY, Fire Department about his role as a company officer and commander, plus how today’s busy fire service can stay motivated through tough times. Eagen shares leadership advice and crew management ideas, including the ability to communicate with groups across multiple platforms.
Eagen, coming from a busy city in the urban rust belt of Am
Survival for the New Fire Company Officer – James Jester
Peter Matthews talks with Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company Chief James “Jay” Jester about how to survive the promotion to company officer. They talk about the common and surprising challenges news officers face and how to prepare for the new rank, where their responsibility grows as they supervise crews.
Jester shares how officers, whether from volunteer or career fire companies, become an inte
Removing the Ego from Today’s Firefighter Training – Jesiah Newsome
Peter Matthews talks with Reading, PA, firefighter Jesiah Newsome about the importance of keeping training both motivational and inspiring, especially for younger firefighters. They also discuss how a big hurdle in today’s training is the ego of instructors, and how they can lead to negative experiences.
Newsome explains the need to create a positive learning environment from rookie school, thro
The Single-Role Fire-Based Paramedic – Chad Costa
Peter Matthews talks with Chad Costa about his capstone research on the impact of single-role paramedics in fire-based EMS systems. Costa, an assistant chief with the Petaluma, CA, Fire Department talks about the pros and cons of the highly debated topic to help fire departments manage responses as EMS call volumes soar.
They discuss how single-role vs. dual-role medic positions function, plus the
Politics and the Fire Chief – Jared Renshaw
Peter Matthews talks with Western Berks, PA, Fire Commissioner Jared Renshaw about this work to educate fire chiefs about their role in politics and how they can successfully navigate city hall.
Renshaw, who has served in departments on the East and West coasts, has been writing and teaching on the topic of fire service politics, helping leaders navigate the confusing and challenging paths where
Military Vet, Fire Chiefs Talks PTSD & Peer Support – Robert “Butch” Cobb & Paul Drennan
Peter Matthews talks with Robert “Butch” Cobb and Paul Drennan, both retired deputy chiefs from Jersey City, NJ, about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the importance of peer support teams.
Cobb, a veteran of the Vietnam War, opens up about a moment that triggered flashbacks of his time in Vietnam, and how it led his life into a spiral until he began meeting with a doctor. This was the
International Firefighters Day – Ken Prillaman & Jerry Streich
Peter Matthews talks with former Minnesota fire chiefs Ken Prillaman and Jerry Streich about their mission trips to Africa and later, Kenya, as part of this year’s International Firefighters Day coverage. Prillaman and Streich traveled multiple times to Liberia in West Africa.
Prillaman shares how the citizens he protected in Brooklyn Park, MN, connected him with officials in Liberia, which spa
Showing Up for the Job & Helmet Cam Videos – Brian Bastinelli
Peter Matthews talks with Harrisburg, PA, Battalion Chief Brian Bastinelli about how firefighters and officers can show up for the job every day, and provides insight into his helmet camera videos posted on YouTube.
Coming from a busy fire department, Bastinelli began capturing helmet camera videos to use for internal training and began editing them for all the fire service to watch and learn.
Recruitment, Retention & Organizational Development – Jerry Streich
Peter Matthews talks with former Fire Chief Jerry Streich about his work to help fire departments grow through the use of organizational development, plus a discussion on the recruitment and retention (R&R) programs he’s been involved with, including his upcoming Firehouse Station Design Conference program, “How Station Design Can Enhance Recruitment and Retention.”
Streich served as a fire ch
Leadership, Research & Transitioning Departments - Craig Haigh
Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Peter Matthews talks with Craig Haigh, retired Hanover Park, IL, fire chief who continues to teach and consult on various fire service topics.
From coordinating regional response policies with small- and mid-size departments, to having the honest conversations about when departments need to transition to staffing and operational models that fit their communities current a
Rapid Intervention Chief Training - Gary Coney & Bob Hoff
Peter Matthews talks Capt. Gary Coney from Chicago Squad 2 and retired Chicago Fire Commissioner Bob Hoff about the rollout of the new Responder Intervention Team (RIT) Chief course being offered by the Illinois Fire Service Institute on the new episode of The Firehouse Yak.
This is the first hands-on course for chief officers that digs into mayday incidents from the command level with topics incl
Training Chief & TIC for Leadership - Moses Jefferies IV
Peter Matthews talks with recently promoted Nashville Fire Department Assistant Chief/Chief of Training Moses Jefferies IV about his new role in training and the evolution of training in a young department and growing city, plus his “TIC for leadership” mindset.
As the city of Nashville grows, building construction, operating guidelines and training practices have been evolved to keep up with myri
Military Firefighting & Leadership - AJ Kehl
Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Peter Matthews is joined by AJ Kehl, who currently serves as fire chief of the Misawa Air Base in Japan. Kehl, a Master Seargent, is an author and speaker who has worked in 75 countries.
Kehl, talks about how military-trained firefighters manage their duties as both military soldiers and firefighters and how they manage training and duties for both roles. He also highligh
New Battalion Chief Lessons - Marc Aloan
Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Peter Matthews sits down with Marc Aloan, who was recently promoted to battalion chief with the West Columbia, SC, Fire Department. Aloan, a champion of firefighting culture and tradition, talks about the transition from company officer to chief and shares what he has learned over the last couple months.
The two talk about Aloan journey from the volunteer fire service and
Coffee with the Captain - Jake Henderson
Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Peter Matthews brings on Capt. Jake Henderson from the Fort Worth, TX, Fire Department, who is currently assigned to Quint 24 on the city's east side. Henderson, a second-generation firefighter, runs coffee_with_the_captain, an Instagram account where he shares thought-provoking shares passages from books aimed to inspire firefighters, officers, chiefs and also in your of
Successful Mentoring in the Fire Service - Jacob Johnson
Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Peter Matthews talks with Pearland, TX, Assistant Fire Chief Jacob Johnson about mentoring in the fire service. Johnson has been blazing the path to re-introduce mentoring to all ranks within the fire service and he shares his views on the best way to mentor, and how mentees can seek trusted coaches.
Whether you are a veteran firefighter or officer, or a new relatively n
Firefighter Training Today & in the Future - Edward Tracey
Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Peter Matthews is joined by Edward Tracey, the captain of Rescue 11 at the Rochester, NY, Fire Department. Tracey, with 30 years in the fire service, has written for Firehouse and spoken at their events on topics including firefighter training.
On this podcast, Tracey goes in-depth on this two recent articles about micro-learning and tips for enhancing company-level drill
Today on Firehouse – Ep. 19: Situational Awareness for Firefighters with Rich Gasaway
Peter Matthews talks with Dr. Rich Gasaway about what firefighters need to know about situational awareness in 2021. Gasaway, who retired at rank of fire chief after a 30-year career in the fire service, has studied situational awareness impacting firefighting operations that resulted in near-miss, injury and firefighter fatality incidents. The two discuss what firefighters working on today's fire
Today on Firehouse – Ep. 18: The Jersey Guys Talk Firefighter Training, Tactics & Leadership
Peter Matthews talks with John Lewis and Robert Moran about training, tactics and leadership in today's fire service. Known as The Jersey Guys, Lewis, a retired lieutenant from Passaic, NJ, and Moran, currently fire chief in Brewster, MA, explain how firefighter training tactics has evolved since they began teaching. Having served in volunteer and career fire departments, the two discuss effective
Today on Firehouse – Ep. 17: Charles Werner on Drones in the Fire Service
Peter Matthews talks with retired Fire Chief Charles Werner about how fire departments and other public safety agencies are deploying drones for countless operations.
Today on Firehouse – Ep. 16: Talking Smart Firefighter Training with Demond Simmons
Peter Matthews talks with Battalion Chief Demond Simmons about his article, "Smart Training and Firefighting." Simmons explains the basis for the article and concept, which explains the roles of "smart" and "aggressive" in educating firefighters. Also, a discussion on the role of company officers in encouraging their firefighters to work smarter on the fireground.
Today on Firehouse – Ep. 15: Nashville Christmas Day Explosion with Fire Chief William Swann
Peter Matthews talks with Nashville Fire Department Director/Chief William Swann about the Christmas Day explosion. Chief Swann shares how previous incidents and trainings with local, state and federal agencies allowed for a unified command to be established and operate smoothly after the bombing that damaged over 40 buildings. The two discuss the lessons Nashville Fire has learned from the Christ
