5-Alarm Task Force!

The word, “leadership,” especially in the ranks of first responders, is bandied about by many. And for all those that participate in this conversation, there are probably at least, twice or three times the number of definitions of what leadership is in emergency services.

In this podcast, our guest, Asst. Chief John Luca of Boca Raton Fire-Rescue Services, provides us with a new and deeper definition of the term and strongly encourages us to look inward first, before we even think of leading others. Chief Luca guides us on a path through what he calls, an introspective analysis; meaning that before we can even think of leading others, what type of leadership skills do we have in leading our individual self?

With over 27 years in the fire service, Chief Luca makes no claims that he was a great self-leader throughout his career. He is quite open in his self-critique, through which he guides us in the hope of assisting us in finding our “way;” not just through a long career, but also through a long, enjoyable and healthy retirement once we complete our duty.

I urge you to listen to this surprisingly frank discussion with Chief Luca. I can guaranty you that this is not another “routine” podcast on being a good leader on the fireground and in the firehouse. This episode proceeds down roads many of us have barely thought of, yet it will have a great deal of meaning or meanings to every listeners.

One of the most important tools that the modern fire service is the T.I.C. or thermal imaging camera. While it’s first use that resulted in the saving of a human life is traced back to 1985 in London, due to cost and development factors, it is believe that the first U.S. fire department to purchase one for regular use was Seattle in 1997. Just over 20 years later, the tool is ubiquitous in the fire service, with most, but the smallest, having at least one camera for the department. And why not? It is a tool that has multiple uses for us! However, as the owner of a successful South Florida floor covering company says in his TV ads, “Would you call a neurosurgeon to fill a cavity?” meaning, the camera user must know the capabilities (and lack thereof) damn well!
Our guest on this podcast, Capt. Andy Starnes, might not be a neurosurgeon, but he knows most fire service TICs inside and out. As a captain and group leader with a major North Carolina fire department, not only does he use a TIC frequently, he has studied their manufacturing process and is involved in testing models on a regular basis, for he is considered one of the leading experts in the use of the TIC, teaching across the U.S., Canada and Germany.
In today’s episode, Capt. Starnes addresses three critical areas of TIC use:
A.Is it an advantage or a detriment?
B.Enhancing fire attack & search methodologies
C.What are we really seeing; usefulness and common terminologies
At the end of the podcast, Capt. Starnes provides some of his contact information and we have it all on his Guest Page at our website, www.dalmatianproductions.tv. Capt. Starnes invites anyone with TIC questions or concerns to feel free to reach out to him for assistance or training.

In Part II of of our interview with retired Battalion Chief, John Cagno of the N. Providence RI Fire Department, we hear how the young, injured, "firefighter" Cagno, had to fight against the odds of getting his old job back.
While recovering from his severe injuries, he never took his eyes of the bullseye - coming back to the job he had idolized since he was a child. However, his wants and desires did not necessarily meet with those of the Town of North Providence.
It was only after a meeting with the Chief, where his request for reinstatement was declined due to the results of his injuries, that John felt he had to prove both his abilities and himself to the Chief. While he probably should not have done it, it did get John back on the job.
Yet his journey through this next chapter of his life was not free of further adversity. He describes the serious problem he faced and how he struggled to climb over another stumbling block.
Whether you're currently a firefighter, EMT/Paramedic or law enforcement officer, we all have to deal with problems and difficulties that the public very rarely sees. And Chief Cagno shows that when we are dedicated to our goal, we can come back and overcome the trials we face, if we remain dedicated to the task.

Many of us are pretty damn excited when the dreams of little kids to be firefighters comes to fruition in our usually, young adult lives. We are usually in our late teens or early twenties. We may have had some experience by “buffing” until we were old enough to ride the apparatus. We’ve watched the experienced members do so many tactics, that we feel we’ll know exactly what to do when that special day arrives. As our guest today explains in Part I of his interview, (the first time in our history to create a two-part interview), “we don’t know what we don’t know!”

N. Providence RI retired Battalion Chief was like so many of the rest of us. He joined his then, on-call department at age 16 and ate up all the knowledge he could. At 18, he was allowed to ride the apparatus and actively participate in drills. On a Saturday morning, he was a “truckee,” participating at an old mill, no longer in operation. The aerial was set against the building at a fourth-floor window. Additionally, out-of-reach, above the aerial, were high-voltage transmission lines with 40,000 volts.

Colleagues had stretched an empty 2-1/2” line up the ladder, but a coupling became lodged between the rungs of the main body and the fly. Young John placed his tools down and raised his hand to signal his comrades to stop pulling on the hose. As he did, he was caught in an induction zone of the lines, allowing an estimated 14,000 volts to course in and then out of his body, changing his life in the blink of an eye.

Join us, for this gritty, enthralling and emotional story about one of America’s truly bravest, on Part 1 of our interview with Chief John Cagno.

Forget what you've seen in movies or those driving long, sleek, fancy limousines. In the fire service a chauffeur is the person who drives a fire apparatus, usually the engine, tanker, or one of the various types of ladder apparatus, the tiller, tower ladder or elevated platform. While the name "chauffeur" is most often used in the northeast area of the U.S., it aptly describes the unique services this firefighter provides.
And to tell us all about this vital position is Capt. John Hayowyk, Jr. a Captain with a NJ fire department and a long time ladder firefighter, driver and officer. His many years of personal experience bring a clear and concise description of the duties of the firefighters whose only news photos are usually taken from behind!
Additionally, Capt. Hayowyk, also discusses some of the changes the fire service is going through and how the chauffeurs, who are often those with a great deal of experience and seniority, are integral in passing on the knowledge they have accrued, to the new and younger members in a practical manner.
Finally, we spend a few minutes chatting about some of the wonderful benefits of the job, that have nothing to do with paychecks, contracts or insurance. Just people talking with like-minded people.
There's a lot to learn in this episode! Time to tune in!

While some firefighters take fitness-for-duty seriously, they often run into the "hard wall" of those who either don't think it's necessary of afraid of punitive actions if the do participate.
Well-known fire officers and fitness "gurus," Dan Kerrigan and Jim Moss return to "5-Alarm Task Force" with a concise summary of their successful class taught at this year's FDIC 2018: "10 Steps to Cultivate a Culture of Firefighter Fitness in Your Department." This podcast only runs about 1 hour, but Dan & Jim give it their all to explain the "why" and how" to achieve this goal in your station and/or department.
Maybe the single most important lesson everyone should take away from this podcast is that it does not require a "second-mortgage" on your station to fund a great fitness program for every firefighter.
Tune in to this podcast to learn the 10 steps to help change the mindset of your comrades and officers!

While shiny new pumpers, ladders and rescues grab most of the headlines, the Shift Commander's Buggy, looks almost like another SUV. However, the person driving this vehicle has paid his/her "dues" and has been promoted to the position of Shift Commander.
This interview with Dep. Chief (ret) Kevin Burns of the City of Framingham MA, is special to me, because I grew up in Framingham. And it was my exposure to the wonderful firefighters in my community as a child that planted the seed of my lifelong admiration for them.
In this in-depth interview, Chief Burns takes us through the responsibilities of the Shift Commander at the three key levels on a major incident; before, during and after a fire. As you listen to Chief Burns, not only will you learn tactics, but he coaches us on how to think and act as a Commander; the highs from the job and the lows that creep in.
If you have any notion of rising through the ranks to become a Shift Commander, Battalion Chief, etc., this is the podcast for YOU! My personal thanks to Chief Burns for his preparation for and dedication to making this podcast as informative and enjoyable as possible!

On his website, BrotherhoodCoaching.com, our guest, Capt. John Lovato, Jr poses this question: Do you want to work in a fire station or do you want to work in FIREHOUSE!?!" Almost seems that there's no real question there.
However, Capt. Lovato sees quite a difference and he explains the differences in this podcast. In this context, the word "brotherhood" has nothing to do with gender. Instead, it deal with how firefighters, no matter their gender, work together, working as a well-practiced team. Each member know what his/her responsibilities are, where to be and where to go.
Capt. Lovato brings a refreshing view of how a crew can and should know each others abilities and how to put them best to use when the house-bells rings.
We hope you'll enjoy this podcast and will share it with the members of your crew and with others in your department, as well!

An excellent friend and supporter of "5-Alarm Task Force," Executive Asst. Chief Todd LeDuc of the Broward County Sheriff's Office - Fire/Rescue Division, joins us to explain the work of this important group of the IAFC and his recent trip to the Kingdom of Bahrain for a first-ever SHS conference there!
The acronym SHS stands for "Safety, Health and Survival," all issues that are playing a major role in the lives of firefighters today. We are all aware of the major focus being placed on reducing our workplace and situation injuries, our health, wellness and fitness for duty and the Cancer Initiative.
A great deal of the effort comes from this important and hard-working group of command officers who, besides their duties and responsibilities in their home departments, put in an inordinate amount of time to focus on these key issues for the rest of the 1.2 million firefighters in this country.

There's no denying that being a firefighter or EMT/Paramedic is a challenging job or avocation. We see folks, (some that we know) on one of the worst days in their life. Add to that some of the additional stressors that we have to deal with, e.g., lack of sleep, family problems, money, etc., sometimes make us wonder if can really do this job!
Our guests for this podcast are Chief James Tornabene, a fire chief/paramedic with a Master's degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Lance Walker, MD of SiteMed, a medical practice based in GA and NC, who provide firefighter medical exams and assessments in a five-state area.
Chief Tornabene's focuses on the formula PERSON ->JOB ->FIT. Through various evaluations, making sure that departments, including career, combination and volunteer, are bringing in the men and women who can handle everything that this type of work can demand.
Dr. Walker, who helped in the creation of the IAFF "Firefighter ID for Physician" form, along with Chief Tornabene, address a new tool under development that will assist in the evaluation of, not only new hires, but those who have been on the job for almost any period of time, to see how they are physically, emotionally and psychologically dealing with the day-to-day demands of the job.
Take a listen - you just may be surprised by what you hear and you may find it helpful as well as informational!
Stay safe out there!