Firefighter Podcast

By Pete WakefieldHealth & Fitness Education Self-Improvement Fitness Courses

Firefighter Podcast episodes

November 02 #521 The Job Takes Enough Keep, Your Health | Alex Gapper | Former Firefighter & Pumps and Plates Coach
The job takes enough. What are you doing to protect your health?
Former firefighter Alex Gapper, the coach behind Pumps and Plates Coaching, joins Pete Wakefield for an honest conversation about firefighter fitness, disrupted routines and building a life you have the health to enjoy.
Busy tours, broken sleep, convenience food and missed workouts can knock anyone off course. Alex explains why trying to fix everything overnight often leads straight back to square one, and how to build a routine around the life you actually lead.
We also explore his decision to leave operational firefighting, the friction he experienced between his coaching content and his former service, and why he still wants to support the firefighting community.
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1 hr 15 min
October 29 #520 DEBRIEF: FIVE MINUTES TO COLLAPSE | The Stricker Street Fire | Baltimore, Maryland 2022
Five minutes from first arrival to collapse.
On 24 January 2022, Baltimore firefighters responded to a fire at 205 South Stricker Street. Lieutenant Paul Butrim, Kelsey Sadler and Kenneth “Kenny” Lacayo lost their lives. John McMaster was seriously injured.
In this episode of The Firefighters Podcast, we examine the incident through the decisions facing crews and commanders: the information available on arrival, the condition of the building, the assessment of risk and the transition into firefighter rescue.
The discussion explores building intelligence, structural collapse, command and the challenge of reassessing a developing incident. It also asks what firefighters, instructors and watch managers can take back to their own stations.
The purpose is to learn with respect for the people involved and to examine the systems that support operational decisions.
Use this episode to start a watch discussion: how would critical information about a dangerous building reach your first-arriving crew?
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Sources and further reading:
NIOSH investigation F2022-01: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/257783
NIOSH investigation slides: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/257804
USFA memorial record: https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/details?id=5190
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***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***
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50 min
October 26 #519 HELP IS ALREADY NEARBY: GOODSAM | One Link | Live Video | Before the blue lights arrive - Mark Wilson
What happens between someone calling 999 and the emergency services arriving and how much more could we do in that time?

Professor Mark Wilson OBE, consultant neurosurgeon, pre-hospital emergency medicine doctor and co-founder of GoodSAM, joins me to explore a system built around connecting people who need help with people capable of providing it.

Mark explains how the original idea grew from trauma care: could someone nearby reach an injured person quickly enough to open their airway? That thinking developed into cardiac arrest alerting, connecting nearby responders with opportunities to provide CPR and use a defibrillator while the ambulance is on its way.

The conversation then moves into live video, caller location and sharing information between control rooms and responders. Mark demonstrates how a simple link can connect a caller’s smartphone camera and location without requiring them to download an app.
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***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***
Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew
53 min
October 22#518 DEBRIEF: Six Firefighters Trapped | Mendocino Complex 2018
Six firefighters. A rapidly advancing wildfire. And an escape route that suddenly disappeared.
On 19 August 2018, firefighters working on California's Mendocino Complex were conducting a tactical firing operation designed to stop the spread of a major wildfire.
But as conditions deteriorated, a sudden wind shift and explosive fire development cut off their planned escape routes.
We explore:
The background to the Mendocino Complex wildfire and the challenges facing responding crews.
The tactical firing operation and the events leading to the entrapment.
How rapidly changing fire behaviour compromised escape routes.
Operational urgency, leadership and the pressure to complete an assignment.
The importance of communication, clear briefings and shared situational awareness.
Why firefighters need the confidence to challenge a plan when conditions change.
Lessons that apply beyond wildfire incidents, including structural firefighting and incident command.
Further reading and original investigation DOWNLOAD HERE
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William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website
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***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***
Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew
35 min
October 19 #517 Are We Making Firefighters Safer or Less Capable? | Chris Gott & Justin Brunner
Are We Training Firefighters Wrong? | Chris Gott & Justin Brunner
Are we genuinely developing better firefighters, or are we simply getting better at ticking boxes, completing assessments and documenting competence?
In this episode of The Firefighters Podcast, I sit down with Chris Gott and Justin Brunner for a fascinating conversation about the future of firefighter training, operational competence, leadership, artificial intelligence and how we can develop better decision-makers.
Connect with our guest here | Chris Gott | Justin Brunner
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William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website
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***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***
Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew
2 hr 7 min
October 15 #516 Culture on Fire: We Know the Problem - So Why Is Change So Hard
Why does meaningful change remain so difficult when decades of research, inspections and cultural reviews have already identified so many of the problems? In this episode, Im joined by Janette Morris, former senior fire and rescue leader and HMICFRS inspector; Dave Baigent, former firefighter and long-standing researcher of firefighter culture; and Leanne Allen, operational firefighter and researcher with experience internationally. Together, they challenge assumptions around leadership, inclusion, recruitment, accountability and the traditions that shape our profession, exploring what it might actually take to create lasting cultural change.
Leanne's presentation to Women and Firefighting Australasia https://youtu.be/JfLtwzoXbuo?feature=shared
Link to Leanne's research award -https://www.massey.ac.nz/about/news/firefighters-research-into-workplace-gender-disparities-earns-prestigious-kate-sheppard-award/
Website - www.cultureonfire.org
Dave's research/reports/resouces website - www.fitting-in.com
LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/company/culture-on-fire/
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Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are
William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website
PBI high-performance fabrics
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
JAFCO
DELTA FIRE

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***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***
Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew
1 hr 36 min
October 12 #515 Beyond National Best Practice: Why Firefighting Needs Global Thinking with Dr Lori Moore-Merrell & Phil Garrigan
Recorded at the World Fire Congress 2026 in London, I sat down with Dr Lori Moore-Merrell, former US Fire Administrator and founding Chair of the World Fire Congress, and Phil Garrigan, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), to explore some of the biggest challenges facing fire and rescue services around the world.
We discuss the growing threats of wildfire, extreme weather, operational pressures and funding challenges, alongside the importance of international collaboration and learning from major incidents. Lori shares why we must never waste the lessons of tragedy, while Phil reflects on the UK's changing risk profile and the need to influence meaningful change. We also explore the human impact of major disasters and the extraordinary challenges facing firefighters in conflict-affected nations.
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Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are
William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website
PBI high-performance fabrics
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
JAFCO
DELTA FIRE
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***
Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew
29 min
October 09 #514 Lithium-Ion Battery Fires: What Every Firefighter Needs to Know | Dr Stephen Kerber
Lithium-ion batteries are now embedded in almost every part of modern life, from mobile phones and power tools to electric vehicles, public transport and large-scale energy storage systems. But as this technology becomes more widespread, are fire and rescue services keeping pace with the risks?
Recorded live at the World Fire Congress 2026 in London, this episode of The Firefighters Podcast features Dr Stephen Kerber of UL Research Institutes and the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), one of the leading voices in research-led firefighter safety.
Stephen explores the increasing operational challenges associated with lithium-ion batteries, the hazards that can emerge throughout their lifecycle and the diverse environments in which firefighters are now encountering them.
Of particular concern is the potential for flammable battery gases to accumulate within enclosed compartments, creating conditions for deflagration.
But this conversation is about more than understanding the hazards. It's about translating scientific research into better education, improved standards, more effective operational preparation and greater public awareness.
As lithium-ion technology continues to evolve, our understanding, training and response must evolve alongside it.
An important listen for firefighters, incident commanders, trainers, fire safety professionals and anyone involved in preparing our services for emerging risks.
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Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are
William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website
PBI high-performance fabrics
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
JAFCO
DELTA FIRE
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***
Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew
15 min
October 07 #513 Wildfire, AI & the Future of the UK Fire Service | London Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith
Recorded at the 2026 World Fire Congress in Westminster, I sat down with London Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith for a conversation about some of the biggest challenges facing the modern Fire and Rescue Service. We talk about what London learned after being caught out by the 2022 wildfires, how training and capability have changed since then, the need for greater national consistency and a future College of Fire, and how artificial intelligence could support operational decision-making without replacing the critical human element of incident command. We also look internationally at high-rise firefighting, robotics, smart buildings and specialist teams, and discuss why learning from fire and rescue services around the world is becoming increasingly important as the risks we face continue to evolve.
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***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***
Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew
22 min
October 05 #512 The Future of Firefighter Health & Wellbeing | Professor Rowena Hill | World Fire Congress 2026
Recorded at the 2026 World Fire Congress in Westminster, I caught up with my friend Professor Rowena Hill from Nottingham Trent University, who also chairs the NFCC Academic Collaboration, Evaluation and Research Board. In this conversation, we explore firefighter health and wellbeing through a much wider lens than physical fitness alone, looking at psychological and social health, resilience, moral injury, retirement and identity, and why I believe we need to become far better at preventing problems rather than simply responding once somebody reaches crisis. We also look at research from the UK and internationally, and talk about the wider role the modern Fire and Rescue Service can play in early intervention, problem-solving and supporting the communities we serve.
Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE
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Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are
William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website
PBI high-performance fabrics
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
JAFCO
DELTA FIRE
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***
Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew
30 min

About Firefighter Podcast

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Bringing together voices from across the global fire and emergency services community to share experience, challenge thinking and help firefighters grow.

Hosted by serving UK firefighter and…