Code 3 - The Firefighters Podcast
Code 3 is a podcast for and about firefighters. Each episode covers one topic of interest to the fire service with a single guest. Episodes run about 20 minutes and are designed to be direct and efficient. The show is hosted by Scott Orr.
Episodes
Why Officers Should Train Alongside Their Crews with Jeremy Sanders
The next time you’re doing a training evolution, notice what your officer is doing. Is he or she standing nearby watching you train? Or are they actively training alongside you?The answer says a lot about the officer’s leadership philosophy. My guest today is Jeremy Sanders. He says that it’s better leadership for that officer to be doing the same skills you’re training on.And if you are that offi
Frank Leeb's Lifetime Firefighter Checklist
A few years back, Frank Leeb put together a list of things probies need to know when they start work. Then he realized the items on the list are actually important for firefighters to keep in mind for their whole careers.Today, I’m talking with Frank about some of the rules or virtues on the list and how he came up with them.Frank was a 30+ year veteran of the FDNY when he retired in 2024. He serv
"A Hustle Worth Having" Recruiting Campaign with Jason Caughey
There’s a campaign going on that aims to give volunteer fire departments some tools to help recruit new members.It’s called “A Hustle Worth Having” and it’s aimed at Gen Z-aged community members. For those unfamiliar with the term, it's roughly defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, or 14 to 29 years old.The International Association of Fire Chiefs is behind the campaign and has made all the
The Busiest Volunteer Firehouse in America with Alex Caldaro
How would you like to work the busiest volunteer firehouse in the nation?This house answers an average of four to five thousand calls for service a year. That’s more than many career departments, and they do it out of one station.Perhaps not surprisingly, the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department has no problem recruiting firefighters. They even staff a minimum of four people on overnights. And this
The Heroism and Resiliency of 9-11 with Dr. Chris Meek
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Airlines flight 93.That means there’s now a whole generation that’s grown up since the attacks and views them as history.There’s a new documentary out now that will help that generation understand what 9-11 means to this nation and why.“The Heroism and Resiliency of 9-11
The Color of Fire with RJ Clarke
On this edition of Code 3, we're talking with a firefighter/paramedic who is using the internet to reach young people to tell them about a career as a firefighter.RJ Clarke is working on a documentary photography project titled "The Color of Fire." After 15 years in the fire service, RJ noticed that young kids in the communities he visited rarely considered firefighting as a career because they
The Last Patient with James Owen
On today’s edition, we’re diving into a raw, unfiltered conversation about what happens when the turnout gear comes off and the cumulative weight of the job follows you home. Joining me today is James Owen, a retired 30-year first responder and former Long Beach fire Captain. James is the author of the new book The Last Patient: A Memoir of Resilience and Recovery. We talk about the hard realities
The Proper Use of Ground Ladders with Sam Hittle
adder work is one of the most basic parts of firefighting.But basic does not always mean simple.There is a lot of technique involved in throwing, carrying, and placing a ladder correctly.And small decisions can have a big impact on how well that ladder works when it matters.Today, we’re looking in-depth at best practices for using ladders,We’ll talk about the mechanics behind a good ladder throw.W
When Your Department Doesn't Have Truck Companies with Jim Silvernail
Today, we’re diving deep into fireground operations and functional strategy. Our focus is on how departments can adapt when dedicated truck companies are not available.When you need an effective, efficient, and safe coordinated fire attack, truck company operations aren't optional—they are an absolute necessity. But what happens when your department doesn't have dedicated truck companies in the st
Size-Up: A System for Success with Todd Edwards
Today, we are rethinking everything you know about fire ground size-up. Everyone has been taught standard acronyms like COAL WAS WEALTH. But that traditional method is often too complicated for a young firefighter or inexperienced officer with no background in building construction.Our guest today is here to share what he calls a system for success. He breaks down the vital difference between an i
Searchable vs. Survivable with Sean Duffy
How many times have you pulled up to a location, seen fire blowing out of the second-story windows, and thought, "There is no way anyone is alive in there?" Today’s guest argues that firefighters have been making that call far too early. And it’s often based on outdated campaigns and fear rather than real-world data.You took an oath to protect life. It is the driving force behind every decision yo
Leadership from the Bottom Up with Dr. Candace Ashby
You ever walk into *that* firehouse? You know the one. The crew is burnt out. They’ve given up on morale. And they’re constantly complaining that "Downtown" or "The Brass" have ruined the job.But my guest today argues that if your station’s culture is toxic, you shouldn't be looking at the Fire Chief for help... you should be looking in the mirror for solutions to your problems.Yep. The most powe
Making the Grab with D.J. Stone
There’s a lot of talk about "making the grab" in this job. But how often do you actually break down what went right when a rescue is successful?Not just the tools, but the mindset, the assignments, and the split-second decisions made in the first few minutes.After the high-fives and backslapping, it’s time to analyze how you did it. So you’ll do it right the next time, too.And to look at your mist
Stretch, Charge, Flow, and Move with Daryl Liggins
We often talk about the fireground as a chaotic environment, because it is.But there is a tendency in the modern fire service to meet that chaos with complexity—adding more gadgets, more steps, and more theories to what is, at its heart, a simple physical battle.When the heat is high and visibility is zero, complexity is the enemy. It slows you down. And in this job, slow can be fatal—in fact, it
Venting the Roof: When, Where, and How with Nicholas Papa
Do you know exactly how vertical ventilation works?Depending on your level of experience, you may think you do, but you still might not have a really solid understanding of why it works. Simply cutting a random 4x4-foot hole in the roof won't do the job in all cases.My guest today has a good deal of experience as a firefighter, but he admits that, until he saw a live fire test, he misunderstood ho
Getting Treatment for PTSD at the IAFF's Center of Excellence with Curt Isakson
If you spend any time on social media, you’re probably familiar with Curt Isakson.He has a massive presence on Facebook and about 6,000 followers.Chief Ike, as he’s also known, has had a 30-plus-year career in the fire service.He's also been an advocate for treatment of firefighters who sufFer from PTSD.So it was not a big surprise when Curt decided to enroll in the IAFF’s Center ofExcellence for
When It Was Fun & He Carried a Gun with Bill Niemann
When Bill Niemann joined the fire service in 1976, the landscape looked verydifferent. This was a time of rubber boots, and riding the tailboard of theengine. SCBAs were the newest thing, and not everyone got to have one.When Bill Niemann joined the fire service in 1976, the landscape looked verydifferent. This was a time of rubber boots, and riding the tailboard of theengine. SCBAs were the newes
Choosing an IC on a Volunteer Response with Richard Ray
If you’re a member of a volunteer department, you’ve probably run into the problem of Incident Command.The issue is, who’s going to be the IC on a given fireground.Now, if your volunteer department is lucky enough to have career firefighters showing up to calls with you, the problem’s not so bad. Odds are, that career firefighter is going to be the one who takes command of the scene.But what if th
End of the Road for a Fire Chief with Scott Freitag
This edition of Code 3 is a little different than most.It’s about a Fire Chief who lost his job after he incurred the wrath of the UnionLocal’s officials and, ultimately, the IAFF. Scott Freitag was the chief of the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority, orCAFMA. The agency was created under Scott’s leadership when two fire districts combined undera JMA to form CAFMA in 2015.CAFMA covers 365
Fighting Fires Inside the Box with Eric Wahlberg
Are you tired of being told to “think outside the box?”Well, if you are, I have good news: today’s show is about thinking inside thebox.It's about looking at structures as a series of boxes, determining which box has theactive fire in it, and how to attack that fire. Boxes determine flow path inlarge modern residential structures.It’s an interesting idea, and it was developed for the Plano, Texas
The Art of Throwing Ladders with Kevin Weis
One of the first tools you were taught about when you started this job is the basic groundladder.Once you learned how to throw one, it was no big deal, right? The longer the ladder, the more firefighters get to carry it. Except…What if there’s not enough people on the fireground to do that?You might be surprised to find that the 24-foot extension ladder can safely be carried and placed by just one
Community Risk Reduction: Part of the Job with Chad Costa
One of the least exciting jobs for a firefighter is the dreaded Community Risk Reduction assignment.In an urban environment, CRR may mean doing a meeting with the people you serve. Or maybe you’re changing smoke alarm batteries.Either of those—not exciting, but not so much work, either.But if your department covers urban and rural areas, where you could be tasked to fight a brush fire, well, now y
![[Rebroadcast] Fifth Annual Granite Mtn Hotshots Memorial in Prescott AZ](https://artwork.captivate.fm/181b4895-aeaf-425c-973e-eed74ce0659c/swfZuT7RyGyo5KslEWa9r8Lv.jpg)
[Rebroadcast] Fifth Annual Granite Mtn Hotshots Memorial in Prescott AZ
(This episode is a rebroadcast of a June, 2018 edition of Code 3) On June 30, 2018, the fifth anniversary of the LODD of 19 members of the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew at Yarnell Hill, a memorial ceremony was held in Prescott, Arizona, their home base. The brief ceremony commemorated their loss and celebrated their lives. This is the event.
Command Post Placement and Distractions with Robby Bergerson
Incident commanders, here are some questions for you:How much thought do you put into where you set up your command post?Is it usually on the alpha side of a structure? Why is that? Routine? Street access?What about distractions? For example, noise. That can not only give you a headache but also make you miss an urgent radio call, right?My guest on this edition of Code 3 has been considering que
How to Set Standards for Probie Training with Jesse Marcotte
This week’s show is related to last week’s. If you haven’t heard episode 344 with Jennifer Stanislaw, go ahead and listen to it—it dovetails nicely with this one.On this episode, we’re talking about the importance of setting standards for probie training.Years ago, that training consisted of handing the probie a mop as often as a ladder. It was designed to “teach a solid work ethic.”But just as ha
Two-In/Two-Out: An Idea Whose Time Has Passed with Sean Duffy
Firefighters around the country are looking at the possibility of a new OSHA ruling very carefully.I’m talking about the two-in/two-out rule, contained in NFPA 1500.There’s a new report written by five prominent members of the fire service that says two-in/two-out doesn’t make firefighters any safer. Instead, the time wasted waiting for a RIC crew to get ready makes it more likely that civilian vi
Avoid Death by PowerPoint and Still Teach a Class with Jennifer Stanislaw
From Day One in the fire service, the lecture is the standard teaching method. Sometimes, it seems like fire departments must keep Microsoft in business, what with all the PowerPoint software they must be ordering.And you know the instruction -- notice I didn’t say “learning” – keeps going like this until you retire. Want to be a Battalion Chief? There’s a lecture and PowerPoint for that. An Engi
Using a Halligan Hook as a RIT Tool with AB Turenne
Every firefighter who rides an engine has a favorite tool: The Halligan Bar. As nearly all young firefighters learn, it was invented in 1948 by an FDNY Deputy Chief named Hugh Halligan.Not long after that, he created the Halligan Hook. Sometimes it’s called a New York Roof Hook.This six-foot bar is a favorite of truckies who need to open up roofs.But there’s another way to use the Halligan Hook: a
A Call to Arms with David Rhodes
If you were among those fortunate enough to be in the audience at the opening of FDIC 2024, you heard something special.I’d say it was a call to arms… a call to take revolutionary action.Chief David Rhodes spoke for about a half-hour, laying out a case for change in the fire service.His main argument: that the fire service has become too risk-averse. That the leaders of departments are so afraid
Why Are So Many Firefighters Ready to Leave the Profession? with Dr. Reggie Freeman
Fire departments around the U.S. are approaching a tipping point.At the same time career departments are seeing a drop in applicants, they’re also losing existing firefighters.This is a problem. Once upon a time, not so long ago, it was tough to get a job in the fire department.But now, fewer people line up for those spots. Maybe it’s generational, maybe it’s just a natural cycle and it’ll change.
How to Combine Safety and Aggressive Firefighting with Ryan Scellick
There’s a constant battle between firefighters who believe that safety on the fireground precludes aggressive tactics.The opposite is also true.What’s the compromise between the two?It seems as if firefighters don’t believe that it’s possible to be both aggressive and safe. It is, of course, and my guest today is here to offer some suggestions about how you can implement both.He’s no wimp—he puts
Storage Unit Fires: Look for "Residents" with Tim Thompson
What’s potentially harder to locate victims in than a hoarder house?A stuffed-full self-storage locker.But that’s exactly what can happen. And even if the victim’s not inside at the time of the fire, their activities may have caused it.Those storage spaces are frequently climate-controlled, and they’re cheap…maybe $100 a month for a small one. That makes them seem like a great place to live for so
Fighting fires can also damage your hearing (with Brian Daboul)
Are you ready for this?There’s a whole class of hazardous chemicals that can damage your hearing, and they’re by-products of your average structure fire.Yes, that’s right: When you burn home furnishings, you don’t just get carcinogens. You get “ototoxic” chemicals. Now, the PPE you wear routinely for firefighting protects against this.But—just like the stuff in smoke that causes cancer—ototoxic ch
PFAS in Turnout Gear May Be Hard to Replace with Bryan Ormond
A recent study done at North Carolina State University took a look at PFAS chemicals used in turnout gear and came to some interesting conclusions.PFS layers are what give current turnout coats and pants their oil and water repellency.They're also a known carcinogen, so donning PPE made with PFAS is dangerous even before you step onto your engine or truck. Unfortunately, when the study looked at a
Last Man Out with Jeremiah King
Oneof the best ways to learn anything is by experience.Abetter way, though, is to learn from others’ experiences. That’swhy we’re talking with today’s guest—to get some insight from someone wholearned the hard way.CaptainJeremiah King has been with the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority formore than 20 years.Butthe story of this response takes place when he was about four years into his ca
HyperSight Vehicle-Mounted TICs with Stan Cannata
Anyone who has ever fought a wildland fire knows situational awareness is critical to safety and effectiveness on the fireground.But visibility, a key part of that awareness, is often limited by thick smoke in the wildland fire environment.Call it the fog of war, if you like.No matter what you call it, it’s tough to fight a fire when you can’t see through the smoke.That lack of visibility can lead
NFPA: Is it Doing the Job? with Bobby Eckert
The National Fire Protection Association seems like a pretty importantorganization. For example, Its reports are routinely used by fire departmentsto justify staffing requests.But not everyone is satisfied with how the NFPA operates. Some members of the fireservice believe the standards for equipment service life are too inflexible.And there’s the question of who writes the standards in the first
Firefighter mental health in small bites with Sheena Glover
If you’ve ever known a firefighter who committed suicide, you know how it can change your life.It may have come as a complete surprise to you. Or maybe you had been worried about the firefighter’s state of mind.There’s been a lot said and written about what we can do for ourselves to prevent suicide.But today, we’re going to talk about a program designed to help you intervene in another firefighte
10 Years Gone: The LODD of the Granite Mountain Hotshots (with Todd Able)
Friday, June 30, 2023, is the 10th anniversary of the deaths of 19 wildland firefighters in Arizona.They were hotshots, the kind of people who really do fight fire with fire. Led by a consummate professional, the team made a move that no one expected and no one can explain.That move caused the deaths of the entire crew except for a lookout, who was stationed some distance away.To help me tell thei
Wildland Firefighting Decision-Making with Chad Costa
It’s getting hotter outside, and that traditionally signals the start of wildland fire season in the U.S.Nowadays, of course, there’s no real “season” when wildland fires burn. The season can be all year long in some parts of the country.We won’t argue about the reasons why—suffice it to say, wildland fires are growing bigger and more frequent than in the past.And, as residents of the northeast U
Are You (Still) In Shape For This Job? with Aaron Zamzow
How fit are you?If you’re newer to the fire service, say two or three years in, you’re probably still in reasonably good shape. After all, you had to meet minimum standards at the fire academy.But unless you’ve kept up with the physical fitness regimen, you may be getting a little soft around the middle.Or losing endurance.My guest today says it’s time to do something about that.Aaron Zamzow is a
More on Reading Smoke with Phil Jose
On this episode, we’re talking with Phil Jose, the expert on reading smoke.As you may know—and as Phil likes to remind us—smoke is fuel.In most cases, it’s just waiting for the right conditions to ignite.We’ll discuss how to keep that from happening. Also on the agenda is a little talk about the relative merits of vertical ventilation. When do you go to the roof and start opening it up? It’s all a
"The Call We Carry" with Cody Shea
We’ve talked several times on this show about PTSD and its effects on firefighters. It’s a serious problem, one that affects nearly 40 percent of first responders.On this edition of Code 3, we’re going to talk about a documentary available on YouTube that brings the problem home in a very impactful way.It's titled, “The Call We Carry: Confronting PTSD in the Fire Service.” It’s quite a good docume
SLICE-RS, Risk, and Saving Lives with Robert Avsec
This week, we’re going to make some people angry.We’re talking structure fires, risk, and SLICE-RS.If you’re a probie, that’s an acronym for Size-up, Locate the fire, Isolate the flow path, Cool from a safe distance, Extinguish, Rescue and Salvage at any time in the process.Today’s guest says that, by following those steps in that order, you’ll have a less risky fireground.But what about those who
Harassment: Still a Real Problem in Some Firehouses with Linda Willing
Today’s subject may make you uncomfortable. If it does, that’s not a bad thing—so stick with me. You could save your own career.I am talking about harassment in the fire service, both sexual harassment and other types.Now, look, you know and I know that it goes on. And you know and I know that there have been so-called “sensitivity training” seminars. We also know that they usually aren't well rec
When Your Fire Service Brotherhood Isn't One ... with John Cuomo
The fire service is often called a brotherhood…or a sisterhood, these days. But how strong is that bond, really? One of the best places to see the strength of the brotherhood in action is when tragedy occurs. A mayday call on the fireground results in heroic efforts…and, if those efforts should fail…then the observances for a line-of-duty-death are truly heartwarming.But what about the rest of the
Using Fire Department Culture to Build Your Team with Jason Caughey
There’s a lot of talk in the fire service about the culture. It’s important, which you already know. It’s even celebrated in many cities.But one thing that’s more dependent on the culture of your department than you might think is recruiting.This is especially important if you need to recruit volunteers.Luckily, it’s possible to build the culture you want to see, if you address the issue specifica
How to Build Your Fire Department's Social Media Program with Scott Freitag and Kathy Goodman
Large-city fire departments with multiple PIOs have been showcasing their activities on social media for some time. If you have enough people, it’s no problem.But what if you want to try to engage the community without those resources?Social media can be a direct link with the customers your department serves, so it’s a no-brainer that you’d like to be all over Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTub
The Fire You May Not Be Ready to Fight with Steve Lohr
Just about every area served by fire departments includes a large warehouse or two. If you drive by it, I am sure you wonder how well your department would deal with a fire inside it.But in the last few years, truly massive warehouses have started to appear. These monsters aren’t measured in square feet, they're measured in acres of land covered.If anything—from a fire to a natural disaster—brings
Takin' Care of Mrs. Smith at the Phoenix Firefighters Symposium
Earlier this month, about 400 members of the fire service-from more than 20 states—got together for the Phoenix Firefighters Symposium.They were gathered to hear about Mrs. Smith.Back in 1996, Chief Brunacini—Bruno, to his friends—came up with the idea of Mrs. Smith. She represents why the fire service exists—she’s the first priority for firefighters, the customer they serve. She stands for all th
Training for the Expected, Not the Exceptions with Doug Cupp
If you do enough training evolutions, you will inevitably come up against a trick scenario.You know, the ones where the instructors design something totally implausible into the scenario.They usually fool the firefighters doing the training…and then that allows the instructor to say something that seems wise.Like, “expect the unexpected.”Sometimes, they’ll simply judge a specific thing with undue
What’s Important for Firefighters to Argue About with Philip Clark
As a firefighter, you have probably developed some strong opinions on at least a few topics.Some people call them “the hill you’re willing to die on.” But no matter what you call them, you need to pick your battles when it comes to spouting off about these points of view.My guest today wrote an article about his experiences fighting the smooth bore vs. fog nozzle debate. He finally realized, years
Looking Ahead to 2023 with Randy Hanifen
We’re getting close to the end of another year, and this one, like the last few, seems to have been pretty difficult in a lot of ways.Things are looking a little murky as we try to see the future of the fire service.Of course, firefighters in general can be just a bit pessimistic. But is it justified?That’s why I’ve asked today’s guest to give us some insight into next year. I figure, if we have a
Risk: Yes, You DID Sign Up For This with Steve Prziborowski
Do you detect a lack of willingness among your firefighters to take risks? Have company officers –or your department policy—made “2-in-2-out” a hard-and-fast rule? Are they lacking passion for the job? Today’s guest has been noticing that trend, and he’s concerned. Now, let’s be clear: no one is advocating that firefighters freelance or even take uncalculated or foolhardy risks. But whether it’s m
Training So They Can't Get it Wrong with Fred Kauser
If you’ve been listening to this show for a while, you’ve probably noticed that I talk a lot about realistic training. It’s because there are fewer actual structure fires these days for younger firefighters to see first-hand. That means they need to learn both skills and understanding in training. And to absorb the concepts well enough that it doesn't take thought to do them. They become automatic
A Lesson Learned with Kaci Corrigan
Today’s episode is going to be a little different. It’s a look back at a major learning event in a firefighter’s career. But, as you’ll hear, the lessons taught weren’t necessarily clear. And years later, the firefighter involved is still trying to sort out all of what she should take from the experience. It's not cut-and-dried by any means. But it’s worth hearing about, no matter how long you’ve
When Your Station Assignment Leaves You Out in the Cold with Linda Willing
No matter how large—or small—your fire department may be, it has one house that’s just not as busy as the others. Sometimes, that house is really slow. And it may feel like you’re missing all the action if you’re assigned to it. If you’re new to the fire service career, you may wonder if you’ll ever go on a structure fire run. If you’re an officer, you might worry that your career is stalled. But
To Be a Black Woman in Today's Fire Service with Jennifer Osborne
On this show, we’re going to explore some of the unique experiences of a firefighter who is in the minority on two fronts: She’s a woman and she’s Black. Jennifer Osborne is a 16-year veteran of the Clark County, Nevada, Fire Department. They cover an area in and around Las Vegas. She first became a paramedic in Colorado in 1999 before heading to the fire academy. So she’s been around long enough
You're a New Company Officer - Now What? with Jacob Johnson
If you’re about to promote to company officer, this show is for you. Most firefighters want to move up and take charge of the crew. It’s natural to assume you could do it better, right? And there’s the pay bump. But once you pass the test and are selected, you may find it’s a whole different ballgame than you thought. Especially these days, there isn’t a whole lot of fireground commanding involved
Addressing the "Ridiculous Gap" of Fire vs. EMS with Wes Ward
I started out today’s interview intending to talk about the conflict between fire officers and lower-ranked—but certified--paramedics. It wasn’t long before I got caught up in a discussion about the “state of the Union” of Fire vs. EMS. It’s a hot button issue, for sure.My guest on this edition of Code 3, Wes Ward, says there’s a “ridiculous gap” between the two, one that’s totally unnecessary. An
Five Floors Up with Brian McDonald
Usually, I talk with a member of the fire service on this show, but today’s a bit different. Brian McDonald is an author, but not a firefighter. He’s written several books about New York City, and his latest is about the FDNY. Five Floors Up focuses on two firefighting families, and one man specifically. William Feehan worked his way from probie to Fire Commissioner. He lost his life on September
The Care and Feeding of the News Media with Robert Leonard
What do you think of your city’s news media? Maybe you think of reporters and photographers as an annoyance. Perhaps you view them as a necessary evil. Or—and this is the best, I think—do you look at them as professionals just doing their jobs, reporting the news? I’ve been a journalist for 30-plus years, and I can tell you that, while reporters sometimes make mistakes, very few are out to “get” y
Leading in a New Fire Service Environment with Sal Scarpa
If you’re thinking you’d like to try for a company officer or to move up to a chief officer position, I have a question for you: Who has been your example for how you should lead? I ask because the leadership landscape has changed over the last few years. Even in my business, TV news, I was once told that you can’t just tell people to jump and expect them to ask, “How high?” anymore. So you can im
Situational Awareness Saves Lives with Richard Gasaway
Some people call it auto-pilot. It’s that ability to arrive at a scene and immediately go to work. That’s a learned skill, and it has a place on the fireground. But another learned skill that may be even more important is the ability to analyze decisions before they’re made. You may know it by a more familiar term, situational awareness. Most firefighters believe they have it already, and many do.
Learning from Dark Days with Chad Costa
Every firefighter can recall the worst incidents in his or her career—you know, the ones that made a serious impact on their psyche. They may not have realized it at the time, but these are the days that helped shape their philosophy. You might remember that I was a helicopter pilot years ago. In flying, we called these kinds of days the times we “scared ourselves.” You invariably learn some lesso
Bring back the rescue culture of firefighting with Daniel Folks
I have a question for you today. Why did you become a firefighter? I know, you probably haven’t had to think about it since you were interviewed before hiring. But why did you choose this career? If you’re like most people, you’ll probably mention something, at some point, about saving lives. And that’s great. It’s noble. It’s important. Now, a second question: when was the last time you trained o
When Engine Companies Must Do Truck Company Work with Justin Bailey
Smaller fire departments often work with less personnel than they need. That means there are very few specialists in a volunteer department or a rural agency. One of the specialists you’ll miss right away if you join one is the truckie. While city departments are having (good-natured) arguments over who’s better or more important, small town engine companies need to do both jobs. And, sometimes, t
Physical Conditioning for Firefighter-Athletes with Daniel Higuera
Firefighters are athletes. You may be part of the culture that already knows and accepts this truth. But if this is a foreign idea to you, or if you disagree, consider this: Even if you mostly run medical calls, physical conditioning is critical to your career. In fact, you need to be in top condition because you mostly run medical calls. And it isn’t just because patients are getting larger and h
Firefighting in the Wildland-Urban Interface with Clare Frank
Now that the wildland fire season lasts pretty much all year long—and homes continue to be built further from city centers--the focus is turning to homes in the wildland-urban interface. Fires that threaten homes along the edge of cities and towns have turned some metro departments into wildland companies as well. It's not always a comfortable fit for crews that usually wear turnouts and expect a
Practice Doesn't Always Make Perfect with Corley Moore (And notes on the Granite Mountain Hotshots)
I have no idea how many times I have heard the old phrase, “Practice makes perfect.” Of course, nowadays, we understand that it’s wrong. If practice is going to be worthwhile, we need to practice the right things the right way. Practicing the wrong things is a waste of time. And practicing doing things incorrectly only leads to learning bad habits. And in this job, that can get you killed. So how
What MCI Incident Commanders Should Know with Vincent Bettinazzi
There have been several unfortunate mass-casualty incidents recently as the result of an active shooter. Although the public’s attention is usually focused on the police response, these events ask a lot of a fire-medical incident commander as well. If your department’s training schedule doesn’t include MCI-specific training, you could find yourself in trouble when you arrive at a real-world MCI an
First-of-its-Kind Firefighter Aid Mission to Ukraine Successful | with Eric Hille
A few weeks back, we talked with Eric Hille, a San Miguel, California firefighter about his plans to take a team of volunteers to Ukraine. The mission, called Task Force Joint Guardian, would be the first-ever effort to send civilian firefighters and paramedics to an active overseas war zone. Eric served two tours in the Army, and coupled with his experience as a firefighter, has the right skill s
A Career as a Sister in a Brotherhood with Cindie Schooner-Ball
A while back, firefighter Cindie Schooner-Ball started a blog where she wrote about her time as a “Sister in a Brotherhood.” She had plenty of material to work with–for 28 years, Cindie was a career firefighter in Broward County, Florida, Fire-Rescue, promoting to Captain before retiring. I spoke with her for a Code 3 episode in 2018. Since that time, she realized she had enough stories to fill a
How to Prepare Officer Candidates (and Their Departments) with Paul Watlington
There’s a lot of advice floating around that explains what a firefighter needs to do to get promoted to an officer position. And there’s quite a bit about leadership and what to do once you ARE promoted.On this edition of the show, we’re going to look at a couple of different sides of the promotion equation: How to prepare yourself for a promotion…and what impact on the department promotions may h
Preparing Women for the Fire Academy
Depending on who you ask, women make up roughly four to five percent of US career firefighters. That’s why it’s still a news story when a woman is promoted to a leadership position in a major fire department. How you see this situation likely depends on your age and your gender. Older male firefighters may recall a time when women were unwelcome in firehouses. They may claim quotas allowed women w
California firefighter plans aid mission to Ukraine | Guest: Eric Hille
A firefighter in San Diego County, California, has started Operation Joint Guardian, an effort to help the people of Ukraine.Eric Hille, a veteran of the US Army, planned to just send USAR equipment over there. Many civilian structures are being heavily damaged by Russian rocket attacks and local USAR resources are unable to keep up.Then, when he found out that aid workers on the ground wouldn’t k
Is This What You Signed Up For? with Bob Horton
If you’ve ever walked into a firehouse and heard someone say, “This isn’t what I signed up for,” or if you’ve thought it yourself, let me relate a quick story. About five, six years ago, I was visiting station 71 in Prescott, Arizona. The engine was dispatched to a lift assist. Now, you may think you know what that is, but this call was not that. Engine 71 arrived to find a woman who needed help g
Mayday and the Aftermath with Steve Conn
The evening of March 21, 2003 was normal for the crew of Colerain, Ohio Township’s Engine 26. The guys were cleaning up after dinner. Then the dispatcher interrupted them with a call to a structure fire. When they arrived on scene, the crew found a single-family residence with flames showing. Police said there might be someone trapped inside. Lt. Steve Conn and a rookie partner made entry and bega
What happens to you if Qualified Immunity goes away? | Guest: Brad Pinsky
If you’re a firefighter or medic, especially a volunteer, you’re able to do your job because the law grants you the ability to do it without fear of legal reprisal if someone decides you made a mistake.That’s thanks to “qualified immunity” laws.But two states have passed new laws that have the effect of eliminating that protection.And it could mean firefighters and medics in those states are in ma
Earning (and Saving Lives) While They're Learning with David Mattox
There’s an unusual fire department in Fairbanks, Alaska. It’s called the University Fire Department. It serves a University of Alaska campus and nearby North Star Borough from two stations. What makes this department special is that all the rigs are staffed by full-time University students, over 50 of them. They work side-by-side with 11 career firefighters, who act as mentors. The students work 4
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