Fire Engineering Podcast

Indianapolis (IN) Battalion Chief Candace Ashby joins host Billy Hux to discuss her career in the fire service and private fire investigation. Ashby shares how she launched her own investigation firm in 1999 and developed a practice focused on complex civil insurance and legal cases.

The conversation explores the differences between criminal and civil fire investigations, the role of the scientific method in determining fire cause, and how overhaul practices can affect evidence. Ashby also discusses the importance of acknowledging uncertainty and presenting defensible findings in court.

This episode offers practical insight into evidence preservation, fire investigation methodology, and the pursuit of accurate, evidence based conclusions.

This episode is brought to you by The Fire Store: TheFireStore.com

What creates a strong fire department culture, and how can leaders build trust and accountability across their organization? Walt W. White, a fire service veteran with four decades of experience and nearly 12 years as a fire chief in two states, discusses the leadership practices that shape department culture.

Drawing on his book, The Cultural Architect, White explains the influence frontline supervisors have on member attitudes and department performance. He shares practical lessons on setting clear expectations, providing resources, developing leaders, and treating accountability as an opportunity to teach rather than punish.

The conversation examines how fire chiefs and company officers can build trust, reinforce organizational values, and maintain standards while supporting the people they lead.

This episode is brought to you by The Fire Store: TheFireStore.com

What should firefighters expect from an assessment center, and how can they prepare for promotion? Host Lisa Baker, Women in Fire's Southwest trustee, welcomes retired Lieutenant Heidi Simon of South Metro Fire Rescue in Colorado, to explain the fire service assessment center process.

They discuss how assessment centers evaluate leadership, communication, conflict management, incident command, and decision making through practical exercises and simulations. The conversation also covers building a study plan, developing leadership skills before promotion, practicing active listening, and using feedback to improve performance.

For firefighters pursuing promotion, this episode offers practical guidance on preparing for an assessment center and demonstrating the skills needed to succeed as an officer.

This episode is brought to you by The Fire Store: TheFireStore.com

Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, former FDNY Chief of Department Sal Cassano and retired Chief Tommy Richardson reflect on Ground Zero, firefighter health, leadership, training, and the brotherhood that defines the fire service.

Cassano and Richardson share memories from the World Trade Center site and discuss the lasting impact of 9/11 on the fire service. They examine how fire academy training has evolved, the growing role of EMS integration, and why company commanders remain essential to effective fireground operations and leadership.

The conversation also explores the lives saved by first responders, the ongoing health consequences faced by those who worked at Ground Zero, and lessons the next generation of firefighters can carry forward.

This episode is brought to you by The Fire Store: TheFireStore.com

Christopher Naum examines why understanding building construction remains essential to firefighter safety and effective fireground operations. From changes in building design and engineered materials, to mass timber and podium construction, today's structures present challenges that demand more than outdated tactical knowledge.

Firefighters, company officers, and incident commanders must understand a building's construction, age, structural systems, and potential failure points to make informed decisions under fire conditions. Naum emphasizes the need for hands-on building familiarization, continued study, and practical training that connects construction knowledge to real world operations. He also recommends resources such as Francis D.K. Ching's Building Construction Illustrated to help firefighters strengthen their understanding of the structures they may encounter on the fireground.

This episode is brought to you by The Fire Store: TheFireStore.com

When a structure fire is growing rapidly, delivering a high volume of water can make a critical difference. In this episode, Eric Dreiman examines the importance of big water tactics, including the use of deck guns and portable monitors to knock down large fires quickly.

Dreiman explains why firefighters need to train on these tactics, understand what a high volume fire stream can accomplish, and recognize how quickly it can affect fire conditions. He also discusses the value of big water for departments operating with limited staffing.

From understanding fire stream effectiveness to building the skills needed to deploy deck guns and portable monitors with confidence, this episode challenges firefighters to train beyond their usual routines and consider the full range of tools available for fire attack.

Listen to Fire Engineering podcasts for practical fireground tactics, engine company operations, training, and lessons for today’s fire service.

This episode is brought to you by The Fire Store: TheFireStore.com

David Rhodes sits down with Battalion Chief Ian Bennett of the Seattle Fire Department, founder of West Coast Fire Training and author of Learning to Burn: Live Fire Training for the Modern Fire Environment, published by Fire Engineering Books.

With 20 years in the fire service and 14 in live fire instruction, Bennett explains why much of today’s live fire training doesn’t reflect the modern fire environment, and how instructors can fix it. He makes the case for quality over quantity: fewer, more realistic burns with larger fuel loads and limited ventilation, rather than high-rep evolutions that build retained heat and teach little.

Topics include:

• Using live fire to teach when and how to apply skills, not just to repeat them.
• Fuel loads, ventilation control, and fixed-facility design.
• Common instructor mistakes and why instructor education matters most.
• The OSB debate, exposure reduction, and decon.
• Why realistic training makes modern fires more predictable.
• Advice for aspiring live fire instructors.

Get your copy of Learning to Burn: Live Fire Training for the Modern Fire Environment at https://fireengineeringbooks.com/new-products/learning-to-burn-live-fire-training-for-the-modern-fire-environment/?utm_medium=podcast_episode&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=in_the_books&utm_content=learning_to_burn and catch Ian’s live fire class at FDIC 2027.

As the first line goes, so goes the fire. The first arrival report sets the tone for everything communicated afterward.

On this episode of Tactical Impact, Chandler Moore, FDIC Advisory Board member, and captain with Martin County Fire and Rescue (FL) breaks down the three essentials of an effective fireground arrival report: content, flow, and tone.

What should officers communicate in their initial radio report? How should they organize the information? And how does their delivery affect communication on the fireground? Moore explores how officers can sharpen these skills to provide clear, effective arrival reports and establish a solid foundation for the incident communications that follow.

Engine company operations, hose management, and firefighter training take center stage in this discussion of fireground tactics, equipment testing, and fire service research.

Lt. Shane Furuta of Federal Fire in Hawaii joins the show to discuss why mastering the fundamentals remains essential to effective firefighting.

The conversation explores hands-on training, hose management, low-pressure hose systems, equipment evaluation, and the role of research and data in improving fireground performance. They also examine resources such as the Firefighter Rescue Survey and explain why departments must apply research findings to their own staffing, resources, and operational needs.

Listen for practical insights on engine company operations, firefighter training, fireground decision making, and using data to improve tactical performance.

Firefighter Rescue Survey: FIREFIGHTER RESCUE SURVEY - For Them

This episode is brought to you by The Fire Store: TheFireStore.com

What will determine the future of the volunteer fire service? Guest Mike Ledford joins Tom Merrill to challenge the excuses, outdated practices, and resistance to change that can hold volunteer departments back.

Drawing on lessons from the Wilmore (KY) Fire Department, Assistant Chief Ledford discusses practical ways to strengthen recruitment and retention, from improving how prospective members connect with a department to establishing structured duty crews and maintaining high training standards.

The conversation also examines the role of leadership, accountability, mentorship, and station culture in building a volunteer fire service that can meet the needs of its members and communities.

Volunteer departments cannot afford to rely on the way things have always been done. The future depends on leaders who are willing to identify problems, develop solutions, and take action.

This episode is brought to you by The Fire Store: TheFireStore.com