5-Alarm Task Force!

Bobby Halton, Editor in Chief of "Fire Engineering Magazine," and Education Director at FDIC (with many more hats!) joins us for a casual, yet very meaningful discussion of some of the most important topics in today's Fire Service.

Unlike our normal podcasts that usually last about an hour, Chief Halton's insight, thoughts and experience, deemed a great deal more time. Yet, when I attempted to edit it, I felt that if I arbitrarily cut, "this" or "that," just for the sake of time, I would do a disservice to both Chief Halton and to you, our listeners.

Whether you listen to the podcast all at once or in small, "bytes," I am sure that there is a great deal to learn from this very humble gentleman, whose wisdom about both life and the fire service, can have meaning from the newest recruit to the most experienced firefighter in our corps.

We've all seen them and perhaps, as we've watched them we've thought, "Hey, I could do that job better!" Really? You think so?

Tom Mitten, a long-time PIO of the Elsmere Vol. Fire Co. in DE, joins us to talk about this very demanding job. (Did he say, "demanding?) Definitely!

Learn about the very important intricacies and the "tightrope" that the Public Information Officer for any First Responder organization, must be able to meet and balance.

I chose Tom not only for his wealth of experience on this topic, but because he is also a very close friend and one of the business partners in Dalmatian Productions, Inc. And even that is another story to tell!

Back in the late 1970's and 1980's, just hearing the fire words in the title of this episode, could result in loud, boisterous arguments even physical altercations.

Today, some 40 years later, while fights about it are few and far between, it is no longer just a topic of discussion. Women serve in the American fire service and do with the same dedication and pride as their male counterparts.

Our guest, Carrie Rydzik has 18 years experience in both a local volunteer fire department, as well as with her local Air National Guard air-base fire department.

Carrie discusses the motivation for choosing to join a male-dominated profession and what her experiences have been; including the good, the bad and the ugly.

Even if you still believe that women should not serve as firefighters, I urge you to listen to what Carrie has to say. She just might just convince you that you're wrong!

We know the fire service is loathe to change. But, overall, change is good. The fire service has improved based on changes we have made. Yet, there are still those who believe the "old" way is the better way. And you'll learn in this episode, that decision could lead to serious illness or death!

Chief Robert Fling, with over 21 years experience in the fire service, discusses this attitude and why we MUST convince all our members that we absolutely cannot make entry or approach too closely, any working fire, be it in a residence, a business, or even outside, without having our "FACEPIECE ON!" While your PPE does protect your overall body, getting a "snootful" of smoke in any of these conditions, just might kill you!

As I say, "DON'T BE THE 1ST DOMINO!" Listen to Chief Fling and learn. It just might save your life!

P.S. PLEASE - "Like" our podcasts and feel free to leave comments here or on our blog at bit.ly/DalmatProdTV

If you're a firefighter, most of us will watch any fire video, at least for a bit. Then we rear it apart; did they do the right stuff? The wrong stuff? Were they AGGRESSIVE enough?

Today, many feel that the word "aggressive" is poisonous. And others see that because of that attitude, many departments are not as aggressive in their firefighting, as they used to be or they could be.

FF Chris Tobin has over 14 years in the fire service, both domestic and foreign, in Iraq. He currently serves on Rescue 2 in St. Louis. And he sees what he calls the "wussification" of firefighting in this country! Listen to what Chris has to say. Then - what do YOU think???

If you're listening to this podcast from our PodOmatic page, feel free to leave a comment and we'll send it on to Chris. Stay safe out there!

Many of us remember playing with dominoes as kids. We'd either play to match them or we'd set them up in a pattern and then knock over thew first one to watch the pattern fall.

Sadly, we can apply the term, "domino" to the fire service. The Fire Service? How? Why?

Listen and learn.

Don't be 'the domino!"

[url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AToppledominos.jpg][img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Toppledominos.jpg/512px-Toppledominos.jpg[/img][/url]

[url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AToppledominos.jpg]Toppledominos[/url] [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], by Enoch Lai at English Wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons.), from Wikimedia Commons

Any LODD (Line of Duty Death) is a tragedy and yes, some are unavoidable. However, others can be avoided with the proper attitude toward one's personal health.

Broward County Sheriff's Office-Fire Rescue Assistant Chief, Todd LeDuc, is a well credentialed and well admired, nation speaker regarding preventable line of duty deaths.

In this Episode, Chief LeDuc talks about the 3 key "legs" that must be addressed for change, Cardiac Health, Cancer and Behavioral Issues.

Every firefighter must realize that he/she never stands alone; they are an important part of an entire effort. If they should be affected by one or more of these issues, there is a perilous domino effect that can result.

Learn to about these three legs and how you can mitigate the dangers and go one to have a long and successful career in firefighting and an enjoyable retirement.

Cindy Ell is a former firefighter/paramedic in Anne Arundel County MD and a founding critical care paramedic at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She has been investigating and studying occupational exposures & their results for over 25 years.

However, after own diagnosis of a line-of-duty cancer, she saw it as the opportunity to serve as a first responder advocate and founded the Fire Fighter Cancer Foundation.

She now works to raise on-the-job cancer awareness to all first responders,but especially to firefighters. The foundation now works in many areas of the country, assisting afflicted first responders and their families.

The facts and figures are real and Cindy and her "crew" are doing everything possible to make sure YOU know all about them.

If you're a first responder, you NEED to listen to Cindy Ell!

In this fun episode I talk with Deputy Richard Bray who has been my best friend for 40 years. We met in 1977 as we both were up for membership in a combination department in the Greensboro NC area. Richard is also one of my business partners and together we founded Dalmatian Productions, Inc. with one purpose in mind: To produce a great television program about, "America's Heroes: The Men & Women of Fire-Rescue."

OK, so we were a couple of goofballs back then, too. Have a listen and a good laugh!

In this episode, we welcome Chief Marc Bashoor, immediate past chief of Prince George County MD Fire & Rescue Department, one of the largest combination departments in the country.

Chief Bashoor discusses the three topics he believes are indispensable when leading any department, Excellent Leadership, Putting your Community First, and DTRT - Doing the Right Thing. Tune in - you just might learn something!