Brian Hutchinson, superintendent of provincial operations at BC Wildfire Service, joins Tom DeSorcy to discuss his experience in various structural firefighting roles, how the second worst wildfire season affected B.C., how BC Wildfire deployed resources out of province to aid others in 2025, what he thinks is in store for 2026, and more.

This episode is brought to you by VFIS of Canada, a division of CVIS Incorporated, Canada’s largest insurers of firefighters since 1991.

Tune in to hear fire Chief Mathew Conte’s harrowing experience fighting the devastating Jasper wildfires of 2024. Conte also touches on how the municipality has pushed past this challenging time, how wildfire fighting is ingrained into his department, and his own start in the fire service.

This episode is brought to you by VFIS of Canada, a division of CVIS Incorporated, Canada’s largest insurer of firefighters since 1991.

Fire Chief Jason Cairney takes you inside Surrey Fire Services’ award-winning cancer prevention efforts. The three-part health initiative involves specialized education, cardiac stress testing, and advanced blood and urine screenings to identify risks early. Chief Cairney emphasizes the shift toward clean cab designs and on-scene decon. A critical component of the program’s success is the partnership with the local union, which ensures member privacy and encourages high participation rates. Tune in for details!

Ken McMullen, president of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC), takes listeners inside their annual "Chiefs on the Hill" initiative, where a large delegate of fire chiefs meet with federal officials in early December to address policy implications for fire, emergency, and life safety across Canada. Tune in to find out this year’s hot topics on the Hill. 

This episode features Fire Chief Greg Jones of the Amherst Fire Department and president of the Fire Service Association of Nova Scotia. Chief Jones discusses the release of the association's governance study, which is a roadmap for modernizing and strengthening fire service delivery. Chiefs will gain critical insights into key recommendations, including introducing consolidated legislation, implementing provincial training and fire service standards to ensure a minimal training level for every firefighter, establishing a better, sustainable funding model, and enhancing coverage for mental health and cancer prevention. 

Fire Chief Clarence Coolen shares his personal battle with cancer and how that experience motivated him to prioritize cancer prevention for the Hubbards District Volunteer Fire Department in Nova Scotia by securing new PFAS-free turnout gear for his entire crew — and securing the $170,000 budget for new safety equipment was no easy feat. This is one of several challenges of being a rural fire chief that Chief Coolen addresses, ultimately advising other small-department chiefs to advocate fiercely for their members' safety.

Former Firefighter Jess Ward, now a dedicated mental health advocate and CEO of Athinka, discusses navigating stress through “mental mapping” to navigate mental states. She touches on the critical difference between stimulus and response and emphasizes the importance of mental fitness and preventative strategies for fire service personnel, contrasting them with reactive approaches to critical incidents and highlighting the need for clear purpose and narrative in fire departments to maintain engagement.

Tune in for an insightful conversation with Brian Hutchinson, a seasoned veteran of the Canadian fire services in both wildland and municipal sectors. The discussion highlights Hutchinson's career trajectory and the evolving relationship between wildland and structural fire fighting, particularly in the context of the WUI and the increasing severity of fires. The conversation also explores the interagency agreement in B.C., which facilitates the deployment of municipal fire resources to provincial wildfire incidents. Finally, the interview touches upon the need for national standards and better integration of municipal resources in wildfire response across Canada.

Join us on this insightful podcast episode as host Ret. Fire Chief Tom DeSorcy sits down with Tim Pley, a former fire chief, past president of the Fire Chiefs Association of BC, and local government CAO, to explore the evolving landscape of the volunteer fire service. Pley offers invaluable insights into the challenges facing volunteerism today, from societal shifts and the 'gig economy' affecting recruitment, to the evolving expectations around compensation and the need for new leadership approaches. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the pivotal changes and future direction of the fire service, emphasizing that 'this is not your father's fire department' and leaders must adapt their methods to lead differently and value the time and contributions of younger generations.

Firefighter Anthony De Benedictis details his personal project, Firefighter Rescues Ontario, where he collected information from public sources to analyze rescue trends within the province. He emphasizes the importance of this data for improving training and operations. The conversation highlights the challenges and potential benefits of collecting and utilizing rescue statistics to enhance firefighter preparedness and public safety.