What are some of today's most pressing issues in the Fire Service? We look at a couple in this episode: Training in Today's Fire Service, as well as Retention and Recruitment. 

Joining us to cover these topics is Assistant Chief Joe Manning of the Largo FL Fire & Rescue Department. With nearly 30 years in the Fire Service, he has seen it all in training programs, as well as a departments working strenuously with retention and recruitment. In this interview, he explains what he has seen and what he and the Largo Fire & Rescue Department over the years. 
We believe you will be extremely interested in our discussion, and you will probably hear some of his ideas that you can bring back to your department, as there are many departments across the country facing these and other similar difficulties, while remaining vigilant for the calls that need to be cared for.

Whether you’re a veteran firefighter or a rookie, the likelihood that you’ve seen or even read FIREHOUSE® Magazine, is high. It has been a staple in most firehouses and with thousands more visiting the website, attending conferences and more. 
Its current Editor-in-Chief is Peter Mathews. Peter is the Director of Conferences and FIREHOUSE® Magazine. He has worked at FIREHOUSE® since 1999, serving in various roles on both the Magazine and FIREHOUSE®.com staffs He completed an internship with the Rochester NY Fire Department and has served with fire departments Glenwood Landing. Rush NY and Laurel MD.
Peter is an avid photographer of the fire service and frequently rides along with the fire departments in Dallas and Ft. Worth TX. 
Today, Peter and I will discuss the 25th anniversary of the Worcester MA Cold Storage Fire and his look at the recent new conference, Fire Fusion.  
                                   
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Please remember that we need your help especially during this Holiday Season; to raise the important funds we use to financially help our Brothers/Sisters and/or their families, when they are in dire need. Since 2020, we have donated nearly $7,000.00 to our Brothers and Sisters. We can only do that with your help. Please visit our homepage at https://www.5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and scroll down to the photo of the E2QB siren. Select the photo and our donation page will appear. From $1.00 to whatever you can afford, any amount will help us. 
And you can always reach us at [email protected]

Since 2015/2016, we have an elevated consciousness regarding cancer in the fire service. With slow, but sure processes, we learned the AFFF, and our gear are “dosed” with PFAS. That it about to change. 
My guests on this episode of “5-Alarm Task Force!” are Kevin Yeazell and his son Kevin Ryan Yeazell of a company Fireground Supply. Several seasons ago, we met (via podcast) Quincy Emmons, from Canada. His company created a product, Fire Rein. It is a liquid composed of all-natural product, without any PFAS/PFOS. 
My guests reached out to Quincy’s company for details and saw how valuable this could be for the fire service. Additionally, Fireground Supply created another firefighting tool, called Eco-Gel. It sticks to almost any product like wood, plastics, and more. What is important to know is that Eco-Gel is made of all natural products, contains no PFAS/PFOS and actually sticks to the surface and will not allow a re-light of what was burning. 
Kevin Ryan Yeazell is also an expert on firefighting gear. He is deeply involved in the issue of keeping our gear healthy and knows the industry very, very well. 
While the audio version of this podcast is complete, we urge you to visit our YouTube® channel, “5-Alarm Task Force,” where you will hear the entire podcast, BUT…. you will see several videos included how these products work!

You can reach them at their website, www.firegroundsupply.com!
                                   
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Please remember that we need your help especially during this Holiday Season; to raise the important funds we use to financially help our Brothers/Sisters and/or their families, when they are in dire need. Since 2020, we have donated nearly $7,000.00 to our Brothers and Sisters. We can only do that with your help. Please visit our homepage at https://www.5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and scroll down to the photo of the E2QB siren. Select the photo and our donation page will appear. From $1.00 to whatever you can afford, any amount will help us. 
And you can always reach us at [email protected]

How many times have we heard about a friend or relative made his/her annual visit to their doctor. She runs a batch of tests, only to tell you that there is a problem. When the patient is asked, “Why didn’t you come in sooner?” The sad answer is, “I didn’t think it was anything to bother you with.” Sadly, this often results in a serious condition that might have been mitigated with early discovery.
Our guest on this episode of “5-Alarm Task Force,” is an ardent supporter of our podcast and always teaches us important and valuable info to promote healthy habits for the fire service and, more important, early detection!

Over the years, even when still serving as the Executive Assistant Chief of the Broward County Sheriff – Fire/Rescue Division. Even long before he was involved with Lifescan Wellness, he brought them into that very department to evaluate the health of the firefighters, officers, etc. And with every appearance on the podcast, Todd has shared some of the wonderful stories of firefighters, police officers and others who, through the exams through Lifescan Wellness, many folks had early detection of what could have led to that person facing a tough, medical battle. Yet, with early detection, the Lifescan teams have found health issues which, had not been discovered, might have led to a significant issue.

Check out our videocast on our YouTube® channel, “5-Alarm Task Force Corp,” and our audio podcast on all major podcast platforms. 
                                        
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Please remember that we need your help especially during this Holiday Season; to raise the important funds we use to financially help our Brothers/Sisters and/or their families, when they are in dire need. Since 2020, we have donated nearly $7,000.00 to our Brothers and Sisters. We can only do that with your help. Please visit our homepage at https://www.5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and scroll down to the photo of the E2QB siren. Select the photo and our donation page will appear. From $1.00 to whatever you can afford, any amount will help us. 
And you can always reach us at [email protected]

If you are a “student of fire service,” you should know the name of our guest very well! Capt. Daley has over 35 years of experience in the fire service. He is currently a Captain with the town of Monroe, NJ. Capt. Daley is also the president of the Kill the Flashover organization, a 501(c)(3) charitable company that strives to teach to others about how we can indeed, learn the tactics to look for and prevent a flashover from overtaking your team(s). 

He is a staff instructor in two county fire academies and is an Adjunct Professor at two County colleges, developing and delivering FESHE approved curriculum in Fire Behavior and Building Construction.

In this episode, we discuss the reasons behind the formation of “Kill the Flashover,” some of their ideas and goals, as well as tips to help us avoid the danger of a flashover occurring. Capt. Daley also relates some of what he taught on a recent trip to Colorado, as well as an explanation of the different water application devices that should be used in the appropriate type of fires. 
You may reach out to Capt. Daley by visiting the website, www.KillTheFlashover.com. 

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Please remember that we need your help to raise the funds we use to financially help a Brother/Sister and or their families, when they are in dire need. Since 2020, we have donated nearly $7,000.00 to our Brothers and Sisters. We can only do that with your help. Please visit our homepage at https://www.5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and scroll down to the photo of the E2QB siren. Select the photo and our donation page will appear. From $1.00 to whatever you can, any amount will help us. 

And you can always reach us at [email protected]

Photo Courtesy of Kill the Flashover

Like many kids in countries around the world, many want to be firefighters. And many of us fulfill that childhood dream. Our guest on this episode of “5-Alarm Task Force!” is Lt. Michael Stachowicz of he Edinburgh Fire Service in Scotland. Prior to joining the Edinburgh Fire Service, he was a firefighter with the Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue Services in England.

As you view the video and/or listen to the audio podcast, you will see that Michael is a “Student of the Science of Fire.” He lectures at local and regional conferences in the UK and Europe. Subjects? Fire Behavior, High-Rise Firefighting and Technical Rescue, which is one of his specialties. In 2023 and 2024, Michael presented at the IFIW – International Fire Instructors Workshop. 

Michael has as the heart of a warrior, however, he also cares deeply about other fire departments and their personnel. Thus, he has also dedicated himself to assist wherever he can through charitable and humanitarian work in countries like Moldova and Ukraine, as well as delivering fire trucks and firefighting equipment to Ukraine, after the war broke out. 

He is also passionate about simplifying scientific concepts and making them relevant and applicable for firefighters during day-to-day operations.

You can reach Michael at [email protected]! 

Now - Enjoy

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Please remember that we need your help to raise the funds we use to financially help a Brother/Sister and or their families, when they are in dire need. Since 2020, we have donated nearly $7,000.00 to our Brothers and Sisters. We can only do that with your help. Please visit our homepage at https://www.5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and scroll down to the photo of the E2QB siren. Select the photo and our donation page will appear. From $1.00 to whatever you can, any amount will help us. 

And you can always reach us at [email protected]

Photo Courtesy of ALAMY Stock Photos

Often, where we are dispatched to a building that we know has automatic water flow in the event of the fire, we tend to expect that the water is flowing as designed and that all we will be left with is mopping up. Our guest on this episode of “5-Alarm Task Force!” is an engineer who designs water-flow systems, from the FDC outside to the sprinklers inside the facility.

On this episode, E.J. stresses the issue that it is incumbent upon us, whether we serve a career, volunteer, part-pay, or paid-on-call, that we know our districts and what is being built in these districts. We should never assume anything, because there is often a chance that the building under construction three months ago will be the same three months later.

Watch our video interview or listen to the audio podcast. Either way, you will learn about what you could face when you arrive at the building and that may be too late. 

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Please remember that we need your help to raise the funds we use to financially help a Brother/Sister and or their families, when they are in dire need. Since 2020, we have donated nearly $7,000.00 to our Brothers and Sisters. We can only do that with your help. Please visit our homepage at https://www.5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and scroll down to the photo of the E2QB siren. Select the photo and our donation page will appear. From $1.00 to whatever you can, any amount will help us. 

And you can always reach us at [email protected]

Chief Justin Bailey is a 25+ year “student of the Fire Service. He is the Fire Chief with the Oliver Springs (TN) Fire Dept. and a Captain/Medic with the Knoxville (TN) Fire Department, where he has been serving since 2007 and currently assigned to Engine 1. 

His career began in 1999 as a Junior Firefighter/Explorer with the Oliver Springs Fire Dept. He is a part-time fire instructor with the State of Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy, delivering classroom and hands-on instruction in various topics on-campus, at regional fire conferences, and at various local fire departments throughout Tennessee.

He has instructed nationally on the topics of volunteer training program development, professional development and rural fireground management, having presented at both FDIC and Firehouse Expo. 

Chief Bailey has an Associate’s Degree in Allied Health Science from Roane State Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Administration from Columbia Southern University. 

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In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, we have learned that nearly a dozen firefighters lost their lives as they tried to effect rescues and saved pets. In the face of the hurricane, no one waved or had to think twice. They new their duty was to save anyone and everyone they could.  Hurricane Helene has been rated the worst hurricane since Katrina! And we all know how that turned out. 
We are researching the news articles to determine who these brave men and women are and what we can do to help.  
Please remember - these brave firefighters, who worked around the clock in preparation of the storm, know that performing their duties in and after this storm was not going to be easy. PLEASE!!! We need your help!

Please remember that we need your help to raise the funds we use to financially help a Brother/Sister and or their families, when they are in dire need. Since 2020, we have donated nearly $7,000.00 to our Brothers and Sisters. We can only do that with your help. Please visit our homepage at https://www.5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and scroll down to the photo of the E2QB siren. Select the photo and our donation page will appear. From $1.00 to whatever you can, any amount will help us. 

And you can always reach us at [email protected]

Capt. Kory Pearn has over twenty years in the Canadian Fire Service. However, looking at the trades to provide more than photos and fire story articles, he did not find what he was searching for. Kory started thinking that firefighters need more than “hotshot” pics. He wanted to read a trade that would focus on firefighters’ health and wellness. And when he was unable to find a trade like that, he created one of his own, “CRACKYL” Magazine.

Kory is the publisher, Editor-in-Chief and CEO of CRACKYL Media, Inc. He is an industry author and keynote speaker, who acts as an enthusiastic mental health advocate, spreading awareness of what it takes to not only survive, but thrive in the dynamic job of firefighting. 

In this episode, Kory and I discuss two key topics for today’s firefighters, whether in the USA, Canada or almost anywhere else there are firefighters. First, is “Looking at Life’s Challenges,” and “Learning to Learn.”

All too often, we tend to set specific limits on ourselves, i.e., family, finances, perhaps a second job, etc. However, how do our families see us when we tend to focus only on these topics? But how often do you look at yourself and think that all is fine? Sounds right - but it doesn’t feel right. 

Tune in and let’s see if Kory can help you with your focus, for the job, the family, and the community!

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Please remember that we need your help to raise the funds we use to financially help a Brother/Sister and or their families, when they are in dire need. Since 2020, we have donated nearly $7,000.00 to our Brothers and Sisters. We can only do that with your help. Please visit our homepage at https://www.5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and scroll down to the photo of the E2QB siren. Select the photo and our donation page will appear. From $1.00 to whatever you can, any amount will help us. 

And you can always reach us at [email protected]

Chief Dave Robertson has more than 25 years in the Fire Service in five different departments in Canada, from bust urban systems to wildland, and to rural/semi-rural areas. He has instructed with his fire departments, in fire academies, paramedic schools and private fire institutions.

Chief Robertson is fueled by a sincere passion to make the fire service better, which today includes talking to his classes about his own struggles with PTSI or PTSD. He hopes that by being open to recruits right at the front end of their careers and explaining to them the very real threat, that each recruit will be able to have a long and joyful job. 

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Please remember that we need your help to raise the funds we use to financially help a Brother/Sister and or their families, when they are in dire need. Since 2020, we have donated nearly $7,000.00 to our Brothers and Sisters. We can only do that with your help. Please visit our homepage at https://www.5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and scroll down to the photo of the E2QB siren. Select the photo and our donation page will appear. From $1.00 to whatever you can, any amount will help us. 

And you can always reach us at [email protected]