Better Every Shift

The best words San Francisco Assistant Chief Nicol Juratovac heard when she got on the job 27 years ago were “interior offensive aggressive attack” – and she’s still advancing that mindset to her crews and students today. As she explains on this week’s podcast, when it comes to fireground tactics, Juratovac wants to dominate and smash the enemy (aka fire) with so much force that it has no chance of victory – and she does that by being a student of the game day in and day out, honing her skills on everything from incident command and apparatus positioning to forcible entry and roof operations. Juratovac shares tactical tips on all of the above, plus we dig into all this:

• Three fires that produced important lessons learned

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

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“Does the job serve you, or do you serve the work?” Meridian (Idaho) Fire Chief Kris Blume wants us to consider our opportunity to serve the work every day, doing the things that don’t always get noticed because it’s the right thing to do in order to be excellent at the craft. But how do you engrain this mindset in the membership? It all comes back to culture. Blume talks all things culture change: the fire department culture diagnostic, the speed of change (from turning around a battleship to maneuvering a speedboat), and the role of mission-driven culture in empowering members to make smart decisions rooted in reason, not fear of reprimand.

Plus, we dig into all this:

• The book Blume deems the most important for the fire service;

Read more from Chief Blume about adaptive leadership, psychological safety, mentorship, eliminating silos, culture change and much more.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

“It all happened really, really fast,” recalls Eric Linnenburger, who learned while working a 48-hour shift on a Friday that he had been chosen as interim deputy chief of operations, starting Monday. Linnenburger, who had been a battalion chief in Westminster, Colorado, for several years, now finds himself making perhaps the most jarring transition in the fire service – from line to admin. Fortunately, Linnenburger has long focused on career development, helping company and chief officers hone the skills for their current positions with an eye toward the future. We dig into all this, plus:

• Learning to “control the controllable”

Check out these articles we discuss on the show:

• Leadership isn’t easy, but stop making it so complicated

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

“This is one week we’re giving ourselves,” Captain Jim Barnhart of the FDSOA underscores about participating in the Firefighter Safety Stand Down – a unique opportunity for fire and EMS departments to collectively suspend non-emergency activity to focus on this year’s theme, Fire Training: Back to Basics. Joining Barnhart to dig into all the training resources are Deputy Chief Darin Wallentine from the IAFC’s Safety, Health and Survival section and Battalion Chief Grady Valencis from the IAFF, detailing the five daily focus areas for this year’s event and the 12 foundations of fire department training.

Plus, we get into all this:

• The reasoning behind this year’s theme

This year’s Stand Down takes place June 16-22, meaning you have one month to prepare your training activities. Find resources: Firefighter Safety Stand Down + FireRescue1 SSD resource center. The Stand Down is a joint initiative supported by the aforementioned organizations as well as the NFPA and NVFC.

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“I absolutely do have bad days. I just make sure I don’t let myself give up.” EMT Kate Smith, who began her public safety journey as a junior firefighter and EMS explorer at 14, before becoming a below-the-knee amputee at 16, shares how EMS helped reveal an inner strength that propelled her to where she is today – working to complete paramedic school, training for obstacle course races and inspiring others through her Adaptive Kate TikTok videos. Plus, we dig into all this:

• The high school job shadow requirement that drove her love of public safety

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It was a “constant state of readiness” that contributed to the successful rescue of an unconscious victim from a structure fire – an incident that ultimately earned Hilton Head Island (S.C.) Fire Rescue FAO Brendan Horlbeck, Lt. Sean Kavlick and Battalion Chief David Bell the 2023 IAFC Ben Franklin Award of Valor. Bell, Kavlick and Horlbeck detail the incident response, plus get into all this:

How a unique dispatch note was the difference between life and death

The generational impact of a single rescue

The urgent reminder that this type of fire could happen to any crew at any time

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“It’s about bells and whistles, but it’s also about smiles and connecting.” Another FDIC has come and gone, but our cohosts are joined by The Fire Store’s Amanda Keesey to talk conference highlights and which industry innovations garnered the most attention on the exhibit floor. Plus, we dig into all this:

Emerging solutions for electric vehicle fires

How the industry is leaning into health and wellness

The demand for flashlights

Additional resources:

National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer

FireRescue1's FDIC coverage

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

The Better Every Shift team is at FDIC this week, so we’re reaching into the vault to re-release one of our favorite episodes. Battalion Chief Corley Moore talks all things fire service culture, toxic leadership and how to fight your way back from complacency. Chief Moore – founder of Firehouse Vigilance and host of the Weekly Scrap podcast – details his own evolution from struggling with complacency to now serving as a motivational speaker and instructor. Plus, we dig into all of this:

• Moore’s empathy for burned out, complacent members

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“Our mission is to support you in your mission.” Eriks Gabliks, superintendent of the National Fire Academy, joins the show to talk all things NFA programs and goals, and to hear about Zam’s first time visiting the campus and experiencing NFA life.

Gabliks knocks down the top excuses firefighters give for why they can’t attend the academy and details how the program is continually evolving in sync with fire service culture. Plus, we dig into all this:

How the campus experience rejuvenates passion for the fire service

The American history embedded in the NFA campus

Why one of the top NFA-attendee complaints features ice cream sprinkles

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“It’s about crew bonding and laughter in my firehouse – and apparently me being the butt of every joke.” Fairfax Firefighter-Paramedic Stephanie White details how she nurtures her relationship with her crew every shift, not just with laughter, but also by being vulnerable enough to have difficult conversations when needed. Plus, we dig into all this:

• How crews can best support a pregnant firefighter on the job

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.