In this episode of the International Fire Instructors Workshop Australia mini series, Steve De Blauwe, Station Officer and CFBT instructor from Belgium takes you inside the reality of interior firefighting and why so much of what we’ve been taught simply doesn’t hold up when it matters. 

This is a raw, honest look at broken training systems, the gap between the academy and the fireground and how that turns into frustration, poor performance and risk for crews. Steve walks through how they rebuilt everything from the ground up, creating a simple, repeatable system for staying low, moving efficiently with hose lines, building real muscle memory for gas cooling and creating clear expectations under pressure so firefighters actually do what they need to do inside a burning building. 

Recorded live at IFIW, this is gritty, practical and immediately usable. You’ll also find downloadable content linked below so you can take this learning back to your own crews and start applying it straight away.

You can also download the full presentation using the link HERE

For those undertaking professional development, CPD is available for listening to this episode through the Institute of Fire Engineers - email [email protected]

PROTECT YOURSELF IN LIVE FIRE WITH ENDURO PROTECT & DE-WIPE 

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In this episode I sit down with Brad Dicks, FireFit world record holder and Firefighter Challenge World Champion to explore what it really takes to perform at the highest level.

On paper Brad is operating at the top of the game. But this conversation goes far beyond medals and titles. We get into the reality behind elite performance including setbacks, pressure, and the moments that don’t go to plan. Brad shares how he adapted, learned and ultimately climbed to become the best in the world.

We also dive into the mindset and environment that underpin long term performance. The discipline, the people around you and the culture that allows you to push hard without burning out.

A key takeaway from this episode is that there is more than one way to be high performance and its not always about doing more. It is about being calm, controlled and intentional in your approach. Less hurry, more purpose.

This is a conversation for firefighters and anyone striving to improve, lead, and sustain performance over time.

Follow Brad here

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This episode takes you into a side of investigation most people never even realise exists. I sat down with forensic botanist Dr Mark Spencer who has spent over a decade supporting police forces and forensic teams by using plants, pollen, soil and environmental evidence to interpret crime scenes, locate missing persons and uncover what has happened in complex cases. From disturbed vegetation to microscopic trace evidence Mark explains how the natural world can reveal movement, timelines and human activity in ways that traditional forensics alone cannot.

What makes this conversation so powerful is how relevant it is to anyone working in the blue light sector. It is a reminder that evidence is not always obvious and that what we overlook can matter most. Recorded in collaboration with the Blue Light Show this episode highlights the value of specialist knowledge, professional curiosity and continuous learning. It will change how you see scenes, landscapes and the world around you.

Guest Links – Dr Mark Spencer

Website - https://markspencerbotanist.com/
Watch Mark’s Work in Action - Forensic Botany Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlODapBDU9o

LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/mark-spencer-96a33762

Contact - Email: [email protected]

Blue Light Show 2026 - Olympia London - 1st and 2nd July 2026

Free to attend - Register and find out more:
https://www.bluelight.show/

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A fire involving a single vehicle at Luton Airport’s multi storey car park rapidly escalated and spread through closely parked cars leading to the full structural collapse of a large section of the building. In this episode we walk through the timeline of events from initial ignition to rapid fire spread highlighting the role of modern vehicle construction fuel load and fire behaviour in open car park environments. We explore how the incident developed into a major fire involving over a thousand vehicles the challenges crews faced on arrival and the wider impact on airport operations and infrastructure.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD DEBRIEF DOCUMENT

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This conversation cuts straight to one of the most uncomfortable truths in emergency services: the biggest risk to our people is not always the job, it is what we tolerate around each other. Graham Goulden is a former police officer with Police Scotland who has stepped away from frontline service to focus on something bigger by helping organisations rethink culture, behaviour and responsibility. Now an international violence prevention and leadership trainer Graham works across sectors from emergency services to elite sport, prisons, education and healthcare specialising in active bystandership and the power of peer intervention. As a consultant with global programmes like ABLE through Georgetown University and Heroes Intervene he is at the forefront of changing how people step in before harm is done.

What you will take from this episode is practical, not theoretical. From redefining loyalty to building what Graham calls a true “circle of trust”, this is about equipping firefighters with the mindset and tools to act early, speak up, and support each other when it matters most. We explore how relationships sit at the heart of everything, how culture is shaped in the small moments, and why silence is never neutral. This is a conversation that challenges you to look at your own standards, your own influence, and your willingness to act because in the end, better people build better teams and one person stepping in can genuinely change everything.

connect with Graham HERE

Grahams Website HERE

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High-rise firefighting has a problem we don’t talk about enough… getting water onto the fire floor fast enough when it really matters.

From delayed internal attacks to compromised stairwells and unreliable rising mains, crews are often fighting to catch up with a fire that’s already developing ahead of them. And when the building height starts working against you, that gap only gets bigger.

In this episode we explore the Fire Spyder, a new concept designed to tackle that exact challenge. A rapid deploy externally mounted system that allows firefighters to deliver water directly onto upper floors from the outside of the building beyonf the reach of most ALP's or TL's.

We break down where current high-rise tactics struggle how this system works in the real world and where it could fit alongside existing approaches.

The buildings are getting taller. The fires are getting more complex. The question is… are our tactics keeping up?

find out more about FIRE SPYDER HERE

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Humour has always been part of emergency service culture. It builds connection, relieves pressure, and helps people process some of the most difficult situations imaginable. But in a modern environment shaped by increased scrutiny, policy, and public visibility, that same humour is now being questioned. Where is the line between coping and causing harm? And what do we risk losing if we get it wrong?

In this episode, Sonia Pawson brings a unique perspective shaped by senior leadership experience across government and fire and rescue, alongside research into workplace humour. We explore why dark humour exists, the different types of humour that show up in teams, and how leaders can better understand its role in culture, trust, and psychological safety. This is not about removing humour. It is about understanding it, so we can protect both people and professionalism at the same time.

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 In this incident debrief, we break down the 2022 Twin Parks high-rise fire in the Bronx, where a single apartment fire escalated into a mass casualty event that claimed 17 lives, all due to smoke inhalation. 

This episode explores how the failure of compartmentation, open doors, and an unprotected stairwell allowed smoke to spread rapidly throughout the building, turning a place of safety into a hazard. 

Through a structured timeline and evidence-based analysis, we examine the fire dynamics, building design, and human factors that shaped the outcome, while challenging firefighters to think differently about smoke movement, stairwell protection, and their role in influencing conditions on arrival. 

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Phil is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Pre-Hospital Care, with over two decades of experience and a background that spans ambulance services, air ambulance, and national-level major incident response. He’s currently a Medical Director at South Western Ambulance Service and has provided expert evidence to major public inquiries including Manchester Arena and Bondi Junction.

This episode is brought to you in collaboration with the Blue Light Show 2026, taking place on the 1st and 2nd of July in London. It brings together leaders and frontline professionals from across policing, fire, ambulance and public safety to learn from real incidents and improve how we work together moving forward.

Phil educates us about the care gap, what happens when patients aren’t reached quickly enough, how decision-making under pressure really works, and why the first few minutes, sometimes even seconds, can determine who lives and who dies.

We also challenge whether we’ve overcomplicated our response systems, and whether in trying to make things safer, we’re actually creating delays that cost lives.

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If you’re a firefighter and you’ve experienced a challenging incident, particularly involving search and rescue, you can take part by contacting Dr Catherine Thompson directly via email at [email protected]

The only requirement for participation is that a firefighter can remember the incident they choose to describe and that they were working as an operational firefighter during the incident. We welcome participation from anyone who is interested and are keen to gain as many varied perspectives as possible. 

To express your interest; the research involves a one hour interview, either in person at your station or online via Zoom, where you’ll be asked to talk through a real incident from your career with a focus on your thought processes, all information will be anonymised, and as a thank you for your time you’ll receive a £15 shopping voucher.

Find phase one of the research HERE

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