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This episode is co-hosted by Josh Blum and John Vance.

On this B Shifter our guest Adam Barowy, Research Engineer from UL's Fire Safety Research Institute will talk about fires involving lithium ion batteries.

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The Hazard Zone Conference is back. Register before April 1 and save $100! Register here!

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Below is the link  for public education. It is updated as FDNY develops new and better information that can be translated to safety recommendations, and UL is supporting them with their research.

https://www.fdnysmart.org/be-fdnysmart-when-using-any-devices-powered-by-lithium-ion-batteries/

Here is a link to the Australian group who is keeping tabs on EV fire incidents. Amazingly, their count is at only about 130. As Adam mentioned, that is likely underreported, but gives some impression that EVs are at least not bursting into flames everywhere with what is on the road today.

https://www.evfiresafe.com/

Last but not least, here is the training course FSRI just released on li-ion battery fire and explosion hazards and a link to the tests we ran on e-bike thermal runaways. 

https://fsri.org/research-update/online-training-available-science-fire-and-explosion-hazards-lithium-ion-batteries 

https://fsri.org/research/examining-fire-safety-hazards-lithium-ion-battery-powered-e-mobility-devices-homes

 This episode was recorded on January 25, 2023 in Phoenix, AZ

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This episode is co-hosted by Nick Brunacini, Josh Blum and John Vance.

We talk about continuous improvement on the fireground and the importance of common SOP's and a meaningful way to facilitate feedback for continuous improvement.

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The Hazard Zone Conference is back. Register before April 1 and save $100! Register here!

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We give you the lowdown on what you can expect from us in 2023, including the return of the Hazard Zone Conference, Big Box Workshops and how to tie tactics into Blue Card.

This episode is co-hosted by Josh Blum, & John Vance.

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The full schedule of Blue Card classes and events here.

If you would like a FREE command worksheet template, email us here.

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This episode was recored on January 6, 2023. 

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Nick, Josh, Erik Phillips and Vance are reviewing radio traffic from three different fire grounds in three different states with at least one thing in common - they could all operate together with Blue Card!

It is our first time with Erik Phillips as a guest, but you have heard his size ups from Las Vegas Fire/Rescue. Erik Phillips is a Fire Captain assigned to Engine 4, with Las Vegas Fire and Rescue in Sin City (Las Vegas, Nevada); where he has worked since 2005. He also serves as Fire Chief for Diamond Valley Fire Department (Vol.) in Diamond Valley, Utah where he lives. He started his career with the Fort Mohave Fire Department in 2001 before getting hired with Las Vegas Fire and Rescue. Erik is a proud Blue Card lead instructor where he enjoys teaching Train the Trainer classes.  He says there is no greater joy than teaching new students the Blue Card Incident Command system. He also holds an Associates Degree in Fire Science Technology. Erik has been married for 24 years and has 5 girls and 1 boy. In his free time he is an avid team roper.

This episode is also co-hosted by Nick Brunacini, Josh Blum and John Vance.

Sign up for the 2023 Hazard Zone Workshop  or a Blue Card Train the Trainer  here.

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This was recorded on December 14, 2022 in Phoenix, AZ and Minnetonka, MN. 

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We say a-hole in this episode a lot. So much so that instead of heavy editing we embraced it and let our unfiltered selves fly.

We cover continuing Bruno's work, retirement, "call fatigue", lessons learned as chiefs, how we should behave, second chances and  being nice. Is it nice to call 'em like we see 'em? You be the judge. Welcome to this B Shifter where we call an a-hole an a-hole. Thanks for listening!

This episode features Terry Garrison, Nick Brunacini and John Vance.

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This episode was recored in Phoenix, AZ at the Alan V. Brunacini Command Training Center. 

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We call this "Open Shift", discussing a variety of topics with the crew this time around including health and wellness, wild land fires, communications and out of control IC's.

This episode features Nick Brunacini,  John Vance,  Sean Glaser and Mike Dobesh.

Sean Glaser is currently a lead instructor for the Train the Trainer Blue Card Command Training and Certification program (for Type 4 & 5 Incident types).  He is assigned as Assistant Chief of Operations for the Vandenberg Space Force Fire Department located on the Central Coast of California.  Sean has served 31 years in the fire service as a DOD firefighter.  

Mike Dobesh has been in the fire service since 1996, currently serving as the Fire Chief for the Richfield Fire Department (MN).  He has held the rank of a Chief Officer since 2004.  As an active member of multiple other committees and work groups, Mike is passionate about firefighter health, safety, enhancing training, and expanding leadership within the Fire Service and all of its strategic partners. 

Mike is an Blue Card Lead Instructor , serves on the Minnesota Type III Incident Management team, past-president of the Hennepin Fire Chiefs Association and the Metro Fire Chief Officers Association (MN), and is a co-founder of the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE) https://mnfireinitiative.com/.  

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This episode was recored in Phoenix, AZ at the Alan V. Brunacini Command Training Center. 

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It's Leadership Thursday so we gathered the chief's around the table to talk about stuff on the strategic level and tell a few light hearted stories too. It like having microphones at a support group for chief officers (and you are invited too!). This week we talk about ballistic protection for firefighters, alternative response and taking care of the safety of Firefighters while de-victimizing our customers.

This episode features Terry Garrison, Nick Brunacini and John Vance.

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This episode was recored in Phoenix, AZ at the Alan V. Brunacini Command Training Center. 

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We are talking to Deputy Assistant Chief Frank Leeb of the FDNY (see his bio below) about cancer prevention and work life balance.

The day after we interviewed Chief Leeb, the FDNY performed a heroic rope rescue at on the 20th floor during a working fire. Read all about it here: https://www.firefighterclosecalls.com/from-the-ic-about-the-fdny-rope-rescue-fire/

A free Healthcare Provider’s Guide to Firefighter Physicals is for you to bring to your physician to help them understand the physiological demands of firefighting and the resulting health risks research shows firefighters are most prone to. Download it here: https://www.fstaresearch.org/resource/?FstarId=11591

Age 40 and Above Who Actively (or Did) Respond to Fires
40 Plus Fire is a Fire Service group effort to help you, your family and departments better understand PROSTATE CANCER PREVENTION, RISKS AND SOLUTIONS. It was started because FIREFIGHTERS are generally uneducated about PROSTATE CANCER. https://www.40plusfire.com/

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Frank Leeb is a deputy assistant chief in FDNY. Leeb has been a member of FDNY since 1992 and a member of the East Farmingdale, NY, Fire Department since 1983. He holds a bachelor's degree in fire service administration from the State University of New York and a master’s degree in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security.

Josh Blum, Blue Card Program Manager and has been in the fire service since 1993. He began his service as a volunteer firefighter before accepting a full-time career position. Josh served as the deputy chief of operations for the Loveland Symmes (Ohio) Fire Department, where he measurably increased the department’s training and operational effectiveness. Josh retired from Loveland Symmes in 2020 and now works for Blue Card as the program manager in all aspects of curriculum development and program delivery. Josh continues to work directly with departments throughout Southern Ohio assisting with training and fire department operations. Josh has developed and managed many fire service training programs throughout his career. He is a graduate of the Ohio Fire Executive Program

Contact Josh Blum at [email protected]

Jeff King who is our Professional Development Manager, Lead Instructor and Houston Fire Department member.  Jeffery L. King began his career with the Houston Fire Department in 2001 and currently serves as a safety officer. As a dedicated student of the fire service, Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science in fire science and a Master of Science in emergency services management. He has also earned the professional designations of fire service chief executive officer through the Mays School of Business at Texas A&M University and chief training officer through the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Jeff is a graduate of the City of Houston’s Leadership Institute Program. He lives in Spring, Texas, with his wife, Tracy, and their daughters Savannah and Ma

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It's Leadership Thursday so we gathered the chief's around the table to talk about stuff on the strategic level and tell a few light hearted stories too. It like having microphones at a support group for chief officers (and you are invited too!).

This episode features Terry Garrison, Nick Brunacini and John Vance.

Sign up for our two day command training workshops here.

Shop B Shifter here. 

This episode was recored in Phoenix, AZ at the Alan V. Brunacini Command Training Center. 

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This episode is co-hosted by Josh Blum, John Vance & Doug Wehmeyer.

The guys are talking hazard zone accountability and how proper accountability on the task, tactical and strategic level outperforms any other system 

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This episode was recored in Westbrook, Maine on October 6, 2022. 

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