Fire Engineering Podcast

Hooks and Hoses: The Nontraditional Truck Company

Generation Engine: Lessons from Conferences and Instructor Insights

The Command Post: Tools, Tradition, and the Firefighter's Mindset

In this episode of The Command Post, Hosts Rick Lasky and John Salka take a meaningful look at the essential tools of firefighting, their care, and the knowledge behind them. From the iconic halligan’s origins in the FDNY to evolving equipment like hydraulic “rabbit” tools, they discuss how tradition meets innovation in emergency response.

The Professional Volunteer Fire Department: Turning a Volunteer Fire Department Around

In this episode of the Professional Volunteer Fire Department, host Tom Merrill welcomes Chief John Buchan of the Florissant (CO) Fire Protection District. Buchan shares how he turned a struggling volunteer fire department around in just one year—doubling membership while restoring community trust and morale. Facing low numbers, fractured leadership, and financial mismanagement, Buchan focused on realigning the department’s priorities around its volunteers and the community.

In this episode of The Backstep Boys, Ron Kanterman, Tom Aurnhammer, and fire protection expert Jack Murphy explore the critical role fire codes and standards play in firefighter safety and building resilience. From the origins of the International Fire Code to the political challenges of code updates, they unpack why these regulations matter beyond just paperwork. Murphy emphasizes how knowledge of building construction, apparatus access, and emergency planning can save lives during an incident. The hosts also discuss the disconnect between suppression crews and fire prevention, and why more firefighters need to engage with code-making bodies to influence smarter, safer rules. Featuring real-world examples—from flammable refrigerants to gas meter identification—and stressing the importance of preincident planning, this episode offers insight into the invisible backbone of fireground safety.

Fireground Strategies: Insights on Division Supervision, Training, and Fire Dynamics

In this episode of Fireground Strategies episode, Battalion Chief Patrick Wirkus, of the Elizabeth (NJ) Fire Department, shares practical strategies for improving fireground command through effective division supervision. Drawing on 13 years of frontline experience and his family’s firefighting legacy, Wirkus discusses how decentralizing command at larger incidents enhances communication, reduces span of control, and improves firefighter safety. He explains the unique dynamics of mutual aid coordination in New Jersey’s densely populated Union County and the importance of continual training across career and volunteer departments. Wirkus emphasizes understanding fire behavior and dynamics, referencing new Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes, and NIST research, to prevent deadly surprises like flashovers. Wirkus advocates for integrating technology like thermal imaging cameras into command post operations to boost situational awareness.

Perspectives on Leadership: Leadership, Trust, and the Power of “Why”

In this episode of Perspectives on Leadership, host Stephen Shaw sits down with leadership expert Frank Viscuso to explore the foundations of teamwork within the fire service. Drawing on decades of experience, they discuss how a shared sense of purpose, clear standards, and authentic communication create the winning teams that firefighters rely on. They discuss why motivation ebbs and flows with life’s seasons and why leaders must be both disciplinarians and empathetic supporters—addressing challenges from burnout to social media’s impact on authority. They emphasize the power of delegation with development in mind, the significance of one-minute conversations, and the importance of showing up for each other during personal crises.

Fire Service Court: Religious Rights, OSHA Rules, and Operational Realities

This episode of Fire Service Court covers several topics that may have your department talking. The conversation addresses the complex and often contentious issue of facial hair policies in fire departments. The discussion centers around a recent case involving a veteran firefighter whose religious beliefs require him to maintain a beard, conflicting with his city’s clean-shaven rule tied to SCBA safety standards. Experts Brad Pinsky, Curt Varone, and Chip Comstock tackle tough questions relevant to volunteer departments, EMS personnel, and accommodation challenges without compromising safety. The panel calls for updated scientific research to better inform facial hair restrictions rather than ongoing litigation. This episode offers critical insights for fire service leaders grappling with policy development, religious accommodation, and operational integrity in an evolving legal landscape.

Welcome to the June 2025 edition of Mayday Monday. This month we review a fire from St. Mary’s County, Maryland. On June 27, 2023, several departments were dispatched for a fire in a two-story, single-family dwelling. The chief of the first-due fire company was first to arrive on scene and found heavy fire conditions on the first and second floors of the house. He established command and completed a 360o survey of the building. He confirmed fire on the first and second floors and no obvious fire in the basement. 

As units arrived, crews stretched and operated attack lines from Side A into the main entrance. Firefighters were able to make it into the first floor, but the fire had control of the interior. Firefighter Brice Trossbach, acting officer of the second-arriving engine, Engine 132, had the line when a collapse occurred. Members scrambled for the exit, but Trossbach dropped into the basement.