Combustible

For this episode’s meandering discussion, we begin with Hatch and Bill discussing the differences any emergency scene can have when viewed through the eyes of someone who isn’t as “seasoned.”

On December 29, 2025, four firefighters were seriously injured when a floor collapsed during interior operations in an abandoned residential structure fire.

In previous episodes, we’ve discussed planning, preparation, and the fact that we don’t do Plan B: we adjust Plan A. But when do you pivot? How do you recognize that moment? And how do you communicate it to others involved with the plan?

On September 8, 2025, a master firefighter died after becoming disoriented while trying to evacuate a warehouse at a commercial structure fire.

Everybody likes to have fun. But what happens when the allure of having fun gets in the way of personal growth? Or for the growth of the organization?

We’ve talked before about leadership in movies like Moneyball and Saving Private Ryan. But what happens when there’s great leadership in a movie no one wants to see? Who talks about those moments?

On September 4, 2024, Greene County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Chris Eddy was tragically killed at a tractor trailer fire. In this episode, Fire Chief Rodney Wiggins, who was at the fire when the trailer exploded, sits down with us to talk about his theories on why the trailer suddenly exploded, and what he thinks has changed about fighting fires in refrigerated containers.

Antarctic Explorers, the British Prime Minister, and a recruit that wouldn’t give up.

One word to describe Fire Chief (Ret.) Pat Kenny’s story is heartbreaking. But you could also describe it as raw, honest, inspirational, optimistic, and most of all…a call to action.

In this episode, we talk to Pat about his son’s mental illness, Sean’s suicide, and the helplessness that he and his wife felt trying to save their son. We also talk about how he balanced (or didn’t) his family life and work life as a fire chief. It’s an emotional discussion in which Pat admits that his “firefighter” mindset failed him many times; both at home and at work. This isn’t an easy episode to listen to as you can hear in his voice that Pat continues to struggle with the grief of losing his son to mental illness and then his wife to cancer. But we think this episode is also one of our most important for you to hear. Listen for Sean.

For this episode, we sit down with Chris Welchel, co-owner of the Towing and Recovery company Welchel Enterprises, to talk about leadership; specifically the concept of “extreme ownership.” What it is, how to walk the walk, and how to get your followers on board. But along the way we also end up finding out that the towing and recovery industry is a lot closer to being like the fire service than we had ever realized.