Fire Engineering Podcast

On this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department, Dave Denniston, fire commissioner, Virgil (NY) Fire District, and past chief of department, Cortlandville (NY) Fire Department, joins host Tom Merrill to discuss driving with due regard and embracing the mindset that just because the pager activates or the rooftop siren sounds does not mean members need to respond with lights and sirens. The two practical solutions and ideas for ensuring all members drive with due regard.

In this episode of Generation Engine, Mike Rumsey reflects on his 34-year firefighting career spanning Georgia's Cherokee County and the city of Atlanta. He contrasts “the good old days,” shaped by smaller crews and blue-collar roots, with today’s fast-paced, data-driven fire service. The discussion explores the ways evolving safety protocols like rapid intervention team drills have enhanced firefighter training without dampening their aggressive spirit. Growing call volumes, skyrocketing housing costs, and shifting priorities around work-life balance pose new challenges in recruitment and retention. Rumsey also emphasizes the necessity of strong, positive leadership to combat workplace toxicity and support firefighters’ personal goals. Communication, accountability, and genuine care stand out as critical to maintaining morale and performance. While technology and social media expose firefighters to more knowledge than ever, the core of the job remains teamwork and adapting culture to meet today’s realities on the fireground and in life.

This podcast is brought to you by TheFireStore. https://www.TheFireStore.com

In this episode of The Command Post, hosts Rick Lasky and John Salka explore what it truly takes to create outstanding fire service teams. Drawing on decades of firsthand experience from iconic departments like FDNY and emerging leaders in Texas, they discuss how disciplined training at the academy lays the groundwork for transforming new recruits into confident, competent firefighters. 

The conversation highlights the importance of strong leadership, mentoring, and tailored coaching, balancing toughness with care, to move individuals from weakness through strength to greatness. They examine the diversity of leadership styles and personalities that contribute to a resilient, high-performing firehouse culture.  

Mayday Monday marks its 50th episode with a closeup look into a harrowing gas explosion incident in Loudoun County, Virginia. Fairfax County (VA) Battalion Chief Matt Burns, who directed crews from Loudoun County (VA) Rescue 635 and Fairfax County Rescue 493 along with other responding units, shares his frontline experience responding to this catastrophic event. 

Burns details the challenges of hazardous conditions, communication breakdowns, and rapid decision-making under pressure. The discussion reveals the complexity of coordinating volunteer and career firefighters, highlights the critical importance of knowing your teams and areas, and underscores how practiced radio protocols can save lives. Burns recounts the intense efforts to rescue trapped firefighters amid collapsed structures and thick smoke, illustrating the resilience and adaptability demanded by such emergencies.

In this episode of Fireground Strategies, hosts Anthony Avillo and Jim Duffy talk about journeys transitioning into leadership roles within new fire departments. They welcome guests Jim Trzaski, chief of the Middletown South (CT) Fire District, and Jim Buck, chief of the Wallingford (CT) Fire Department. During their discussion, the guests reveal the realities of stepping into established cultures, managing both operational and political challenges, and earning trust from seasoned personnel. Their experiences highlight the importance of listening, building authentic relationships, and embracing collaboration across ranks to drive meaningful change. Trzaski and Buck also discuss succession planning, adapting to differing department sizes, and the critical balance between authority and responsibility. 

In this episode of Perspectives on Leadership, host Steve Shaw sits down with Mark Rossi to explore what truly makes a firehouse crew great. With 20 years in the fire service, Rossi shares lessons on fostering trust, empowering team members, and creating a culture where every role, from rookie to seasoned firefighter, matters. He emphasizes the power of genuine connection, ongoing training, and leading by example to build resilient, motivated teams that rise to any challenge. Rossi also reflects on the importance of honoring tradition through his volunteer work with the Black Pearl Pipes and Drums, and offers candid thoughts on preparing for retirement. 

In this episode of The Larry Conley Show, host Larry Conley sits down with his son Joshua to explore the unique challenges firefighters face in balancing family life and the demands of their profession. Reflecting on over a decade of fire service experience and recent personal losses, Larry emphasizes the importance of not letting the firefighting family overshadow family at home. Joshua shares his perspective on growing up with a firefighter dad, revealing the complexities that come with irregular shifts, missed holidays, and the emotional distance that sometimes follows. 

With candid, unpolished conversation and mutual respect, they discuss how personal leadership starts at home, and how nurturing those relationships strengthens one’s ability to lead effectively in the field. 

During this episode of Fire Service Data and Tech Talk, host Eddie Buchanan welcomes Mike Cox, director of Fire & EMS Solutions, Esri; Baylie Scott, research scientist for UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute; and Jason Orellana, community risk reduction specialist for the Cape Coral (FL) Fire Department. 

During this discussion on leveraging data for community risk reduction in the age of NERIS, the panel experts talk about what to expect from the new NERIS platform and how fire departments can make the most of this new system. No matter the size of your department or if don't have a formal CRR function yet, you can learn how to leverage these new data capabilities.

In this episode of The Training Officer, host Dave McGlynn welcomes Billy Hux, the chief state fire marshal in Virginia. Hux brings nearly three decades of fire service experience to the conversation, which explores the critical role of fire marshals, including code enforcement, fire prevention, arson investigation, and public education. During the discussion, Hux sheds light on the complexity of code adoption and enforcement, the evolving nature of fire service training, and the vital need for ongoing education in the face of new hazards like energy storage systems. The conversation also addresses leadership challenges, including succession planning and bridging generational gaps within the fire service. 

On this episode of Hooks & Hoses, host Eric Dreiman welcomes Assistant Chief Brandon Roark from the South Bend (IN) Fire Department. They discuss Roark's program, “The High-Functioning Dysfunctional Fire Department," and Roark reflects on personal experiences from his life and career as he explains the process of developing high-functioning teams.

This podcast is brought to you by TheFireStore. https://www.TheFireStore.com