We continue what we started in Episode 3 with the discussion of the 1984 Toluene Tank Explosion that took the life of HAZMAT Engineer Ricky Pearce. Engineer Pearce's LODD takes us into analyzing today's newest unknown: lithium ion batteries and their storage facilities. We also touch on how the firefighting industry has evolved in ways (such as the clean cab initiative) that lower our risk to health hazards.

We continue these talks with our panel from Episode 3: Captain Tom Bates (Ricky's Captain that day), Captain Chris Pearce (Ricky's son and current Phoenix FD Captain), Retired Phoenix AC Ron Jamison, Surprise, AZ Fire Chief Tom Abbott, and NFFF's own, Chief John Tippett.

In this episode, we discuss the 1984 toluene tank explosion that resulted in the LODD of Phoenix FD HazMat Engineer Ricky Pearce, we honor his contribution to industry-wide change, and we explore how Phoenix and firefighting as a whole evolved from this unfortunate event.

Joining us is over 150 years of firefighting experience: Captain Tom Bates (Ricky’s Captain that day), Captain Chris Pearce (Ricky’s son and current Phoenix FD Captain), Retired Phoenix AC Ron Jamison, Surprise, AZ Fire Chief, Tom Abbott, and NFFF’s own, Chief John Tippett. Probably our most intimate perspective of an incident to date. Not to be missed!

Captain Joseph Lacouture, and Retired Brockton FD Fire Chief Kenneth Galligan about Captain Lacouture’s 1977 near miss in a 2 1/2 story residential, lessons learned, and Chief Galligan’s class on 2 1/2 story wood frame construction.

Panel discussion of some of The National Fallen Firefighters Life Safety Initiatives, the 1941 Strand Theatre Fire and its 13 line of duty deaths, and lessons learned.