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We are putting B Shifter on hold this week to preview a new podcast for you, the Chief's Challenge. We will talk about leadership and administrative issues that chief officers deal with and to give you an outlet to share with us as well. To subscribe please check us out here:

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This episode features Murrey Loflin, Nick Brunacini, Josh Blum, Jeff King and John Vance. 

Murrey E. Loflin began his fire service career with the Beckley Fire Department in Beckley West Virginia on June 1, 1979.  He was hired by the Virginia Beach Fire Department in February 16, 1983 as a fire fighter/EMT.  He was assigned as the fire department safety officer as of January 1, 1986.  Effective July 16, 1988, he was promoted to the rank of Captain continuing to serve as health and safety officer, safety officer, and infection control officer for the fire department.  Murrey was transferred to Operations Division and assigned as a company officer effective October 1, 1997.   Murrey was promoted to battalion chief effective June 1, 2001, serving as an operational battalion chief.  He retired from the Virginia Beach Fire Department effective August 1, 2006.   

As of September 1, 2006, Murrey was hired by West Virginia University Extension Services located in Morgantown, West Virginia. He served as the Director of Fire Service Extension and the Director of the State Fire Academy in Jackson’s Mill, West Virginia. Murrey resigned effective December 15, 2010 to accept a position with the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program located in Morgantown, WV. He serves as an investigator for line-of-duty deaths and significant injury incidents. 

Murrey has served as Chairman and Past Chairman of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Service Section Executive Board.  Murrey is Secretary of the NFPA Fire Service Occupational Safety Technical Committee and a principal member of the Fundamentals of Fire Control Within a Structure Utilizing Fire Dynamics Technical Committee. He has also served as a member of the NFPA Incident Management Functional Position Professional Qualifications Technical Committee. Murrey is an adjunct faculty member and a course developer for the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD.    

Mr. Loflin is the co-author of the book entitled Emergency Incident Risk Management.  He is also contributing author for NFPA Fire Department Occupational Health and Safety Standards Handbook, Managing Fire and Rescue Services (International City/County Management Association) and the 2008 NFPA Fire Protection Handbook.  

Murrey has a Master of Science in Occupational Health and Safety, B.A., and A.A.S. from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.

Contact Jeff King at [email protected]

Contact Josh Blum at [email protected]

We are also joined by Nick Brunacini. Contact Nick at [email protected]

Hosted and produced by John Vance

Production Assistant is Katie Brunacini 

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On this episode of B Shifter Josh Blum and John Vance play and breakdown some more outstanding radio traffic from Las Vegas Fire & Rescue. This includes;

-Initial Radio Report
-Assigning Units
-CAN's
-Command Transfer
-Strategic Shift

If you are looking for some real world examples of Blue Card in use, look no further than this episode!

Also we feature a Timeless Tactical Truth discussing IC's who play favorites or manage their scenes as political events.

Contact Josh Blum at [email protected]

Hosted and produced by John Vance

Production Assistance by Katie Brunacini 

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For the sake of continuous improvement, we owe to ourselves to critique or review our incidents. On this episode we talk about the kind of reviews we do and the benefits for our organizations and even the mental health of our members that come with the After Action Review!

Nick Brunacini is the leader of B Shifter and Blue Card. He joined the Phoenix Fire Department (PFD) in 1980. He served seven years as a firefighter on different engine companies before promoting to captain and working nine years on a ladder company. Nick served as a battalion chief for five years, and in 2001, he was promoted to shift commander. He then spent the next five years developing and teaching the Blue Card curriculum at the PFD’s Command Training Center. His last assignment with the PFD was south shift commander; he retired from the department in 2009. Nick is the author of “B-Shifter—A Firefighter’s Memoir.” He also co-wrote “Command Safety.”

Contact Nick Brunacini at [email protected]

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]

This episode is produced and edited by John Vance at [email protected]

Production Assistant, Katie Brunacini

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Pour a cup of nog and settle in to this Holiday Classic from Nick Brunacini detailing his "first fire" after he and his brother John were given the task of disposing of the Brunacini family Christmas tree.

The full story is here.... http://tinyurl.com/bshifterchristmastree

Have a happy and safe holiday season from B Shifter!

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What is a CAN report, status change or priority traffic? What is the anatomy of a good roof report? We answer those questions plus tackle a Timeless Tactical Truth on this B Shifter!

Nick Brunacini is the leader of B Shifter and Blue Card. He joined the Phoenix Fire Department (PFD) in 1980. He served seven years as a firefighter on different engine companies before promoting to captain and working nine years on a ladder company. Nick served as a battalion chief for five years, and in 2001, he was promoted to shift commander. He then spent the next five years developing and teaching the Blue Card curriculum at the PFD’s Command Training Center. His last assignment with the PFD was south shift commander; he retired from the department in 2009. Nick is the author of “B-Shifter—A Firefighter’s Memoir.” He also co-wrote “Command Safety.”

Contact Nick Brunacini at [email protected]

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]

This episode is produced and edited by John Vance at [email protected]

Production Assistant, Katie Brunacini

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This episode features Nick Brunacini and Josh Blum.

Does Blue Card only work if there are palm trees in front of the structure? Do we demand 5 Engines and 2 Trucks on the scene for Blue Card to really be effective? Do you get your Blue Card status suspended if you cut a hole in the roof? Is Blue Card pro combination nozzle? Find out the answer to these questions and more as we explore just what is this Blue Card?

At the end of the episode we draw a card from Bruno's Timeless Tactical Truth's and discuss it.

Nick Brunacini is the leader of B Shifter and Blue Card. He joined the Phoenix Fire Department (PFD) in 1980. He served seven years as a firefighter on different engine companies before promoting to captain and working nine years on a ladder company. Nick served as a battalion chief for five years, and in 2001, he was promoted to shift commander. He then spent the next five years developing and teaching the Blue Card curriculum at the PFD’s Command Training Center. His last assignment with the PFD was south shift commander; he retired from the department in 2009. Nick is the author of “B-Shifter—A Firefighter’s Memoir.” He also co-wrote “Command Safety.”

Contact Nick Brunacini at [email protected]

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]

This episode is produced and edited by John Vance at [email protected]

Production Assistant, Katie Brunacini

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This episode features Nick Brunacini and Josh Blum.

We break down the Initial Radio Report (IRR), follow up and command transfer from some great examples and application from the street. First we go to Colerain Township, Ohio  for an excellent IRR and some great dispatcher interaction too. Then we check out an IRR, follow up and command transfer from the Las Vegas, Nevada FD.

At the end of the episode we draw a card from Bruno's Timeless Tactical Truth's and discuss it.

Nick Brunacini is the leader of B Shifter and Blue Card. He joined the Phoenix Fire Department (PFD) in 1980. He served seven years as a firefighter on different engine companies before promoting to captain and working nine years on a ladder company. Nick served as a battalion chief for five years, and in 2001, he was promoted to shift commander. He then spent the next five years developing and teaching the Blue Card curriculum at the PFD’s Command Training Center. His last assignment with the PFD was south shift commander; he retired from the department in 2009. Nick is the author of “B-Shifter—A Firefighter’s Memoir.” He also co-wrote “Command Safety.”

Contact Nick Brunacini at [email protected]

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]

This episode is produced and edited by John Vance at [email protected]

Production Assistant, Katie Brunacini

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Four years ago today, we lost our leader and friend, Alan Brunacini. 

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This episode features Nick Brunacini , Josh Blum and  John Vance.

We talk about the new Alan V. Brunacini Command Training Center in Phoenix, Arizona, the evolution of Blue Card having its own "home" and the future planned training.

Here is the KTAR story that talks about the mural here.

The FOX 10 (PHX) story about the mural here.

For information on upcoming events check out www.bshifter.com 

Contact Nick Brunacini at [email protected]

Contact Josh Blum at [email protected]

Contact John Vance at [email protected]

Associate Producer Katie Brunacini