Firefighter Podcast

In this episode, we head straight to the heart of the 2025 National Breathing Apparatus Challenge where teams of operational UK firefighters went head-to-head in a simulated high-pressure incident: smoke issuing from a rented property, three persons unaccounted for, and two seats of fire to tackle within thirty minutes. Armed with one fire truck & five firefighters each crew faced the same scenario but delivered different results.

I sat down with the crews for some for raw, unfiltered hot debriefs with firefighters from Buckinghamshire, Norfolk, London Fire Brigade, West Yorkshire, Kent, Shropshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Tyne and Wear, Scotland, and Gloucestershire. Together they explore how variations in kit, tactics, and service procedures shaped their outcomes and what those differences reveal about firefighting in the UK today. This is not just about competition; it’s about collaboration, reflection, and professional growth.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

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 A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

• GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
• MSA The Safety Company
• IDEX
• FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 
• HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
• Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
• Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

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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

Today we’re back with someone whose name carries serious weight in UK tactical firefighting. Dave Berry, Tactical Firefighting Training Lead at Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service.

With over 25 years on the front line, Dave has trained operational crews across Lancashire, Manchester, Macedonia and Montenegro. He’s a fire behaviour specialist, an educator’s educator, and a lifelong student of the craft learning shoulder to shoulder with many of the experts you’ve already heard on this podcast. 

He’s also one of the founding voices behind Tactical Firefighting UK a collaborative group driving the conversation on how we bring operational tactics and firefighter knowledge into the 21st century. And beyond the job, he’s a good mate, someone I’ve already shared hard lessons, long days, and a few wild adventures with.

If you caught Episode 389 - Part One of this conversation you’ll know where this started go back after this and line them up  as they work best as a pair.

Because in Part Two, we’re digging deeper. We talk:

• Anti-ventilation and search-first tactics 
• BA team leadership and competence 
• Flow rates and water mapping 
• The “BA shuffle” debate
• And we go wider: building construction, ventilation, and career sustainability.

This episode is built for firefighters, instructors, and incident commanders who want to think deeply about the craft. It’s one to pick apart, replay, and bring to the drill yard or the mess room — because this is how the job gets better.

contact Dave at - [email protected]

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

 A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

• GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
• MSA The Safety Company
• IDEX
• FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 
• HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
• Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
• Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

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

In this special Emergency services show Collaboration 2025 episode, we explore how human factors shape the way emergency services deliver care under pressure. 

Im Joined by Andy Youngson, Advanced Paramedic in Pre-Hospital Care with East Midlands Ambulance Service, and Simon Nevitt, Market Access Manager at Galen Pharma, we unpack the realities of high-stakes decision-making, communication breakdowns, and the cultural shifts needed to strengthen collaboration across healthcare and emergency response. 

From the lessons of Martin and Elaine Bromley’s story to the growing challenge of bariatric care in the UK, this discussion goes beyond theory—examining how realistic training, open communication, and cross-service understanding can help teams perform better together and keep patient care truly human in a system that’s constantly under strain. 

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

 A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

• GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
• MSA The Safety Company
• IDEX
• FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 
• HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
• Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
• Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

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

Today we’re digging into the roots of firefighter fitness. How we got from local “beep test and vibes” to nationally validated standards built from actual job tasks and science.

Joining me is Dr. Phil Turner one of the key architects behind the NFCC FireFit framework. Phil’s spent the last two decades co-designing the drill ground assessments and publishing the data that define what fit for duty really means in the UK fire service.

We’ll unpack where those numbers came from, the VO₂ cutoffs, the strength benchmarks that mirror ladder lifts and rescues and why being “fit enough” is about more than a stopwatch or a treadmill. We’ll talk about how age, body composition, and even sleep all factor into real operational safety.

This conversation goes beyond testing. it’s about health, culture, and what’s next for the fire service as we face an aging workforce, rising chronic disease, and new challenges like climate-driven incidents.

So buckle in, this one’s part history lesson, part health science, and a look forward at what the next 20 years of firefighter fitness might need to be.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

 A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

• GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
• MSA The Safety Company
• IDEX
• FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 
• HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
• Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
• Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

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

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Daniel Higuera a human performance coach, researcher, and Associate Professor at Santa Ana College. Dan’s worked with over two thousand firefighters across the U.S., studying how call volume, sleep loss, and stress reshape our bodies, readiness, and mental health. He’s one of the few people turning hard data into real-world change for the fire service.

We dive into the truth about performance, recovery, and longevity in this job. From VO₂ max and heart rate variability to burnout culture and the ethics of wearable tech, this chat blends science with lived experience. It’s not a scare story it’s a roadmap for firefighters who want to perform at their best today and still be strong enough to enjoy life long after the job.

Find Dr Dan on Instagram HERE 

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

 A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

• GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
• MSA The Safety Company
• IDEX
• FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 
• HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
• Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
• Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

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

The History of the Fire Service - From the bucket brigades of ancient Rome and the Great Fire of London to the rise of professional brigades and modern scientific firefighting, this story traces how courage, community, and innovation shaped the fire service we know today. Packed with real events, legends, and lessons from centuries of evolution, it’s a deep dive into the roots of our traditions and the people who turned fire suppression from survival into a profession built on knowledge, bravery, and service. 

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

 A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

• GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
• MSA The Safety Company
• IDEX
• FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 
• HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
• Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
• Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

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

Endurance sports have never been bigger—running, triathlon, Hyrox, cycling, and now the rise of firefighter challenge events are pulling more and more people into the world of testing limits. At the heart of these challenges lies a key performance barrier: lactate threshold and that familiar muscle burn that can shut you down when intensity peaks. It’s about finding ways to go further without hitting the wall.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dan Peskett from Xendurance and my good friend Martin Boyce from the UK Fire and Rescue Service to explore how athletes and tactical professionals can push harder for longer. We dive into lactate and muscle acidosis, creatine’s role in both strength and cognitive performance, fuelling strategies for sustained energy, and why recovery and immune support are essential when training load is high.

This conversation is all about connecting endurance science to real-world performance—whether you’re racing, taking on a firefighter challenge, training for a marathon, or responding to the unexpected, it’s about fueling what matters and staying sharp for the long run.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

 A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

• GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
• MSA The Safety Company
• IDEX
• FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 
• HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
• Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
• Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

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

Welcome back to our Emergency Service Show 2025 collaboration series. In this episode, we shine a light on Women in the Fire Service and not as a separate chapter, but as a vital force shaping the fire service of today and tomorrow.

I’m joined by two brilliant guests. Siobhan, better known as Shiv, or The Fire Mum—a London Fire Brigade firefighter who’s been blazing a trail with honesty, advocacy, and a whole lot of passion for leaving breadcrumbs for the next generation. Alongside her is Ellie, a Norfolk firefighter and national representative for Women in the Fire Service UK, whose story shows just how powerful this movement is in creating support, confidence, and belonging in a role that can still feel isolating at times.

We talk about why WFS feels different to everyday fire service life, how confidence and imposter syndrome play out in our sector, the realities of menopause, maternity, and balance on the watch, and why inclusion isn’t about lowering standards—it’s about raising the whole game.

This one’s real, raw, and packed with insight. Let’s get into it.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

 A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

• GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
• MSA The Safety Company
• IDEX
• FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 
• HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
• Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
• Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

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

In this Denrief episode, we step back to October 1871 and relive the night Chicago became a city on fire. What began as a small barn blaze on DeKoven Street turned into a chain of wind-driven infernos that destroyed over 17,000 buildings, left a third of the city homeless, and claimed hundreds of lives. We break down the fire’s mysterious origins, the tactical failures that let it spiral out of control, and the human cost of one of history’s most infamous urban disasters.

But this story isn’t just about destruction — it’s about resilience, innovation, and legacy. Out of the ashes came modern fire codes, architectural revolutions, and a stronger Chicago Fire Department that today responds to nearly 900,000 calls a year. Join us as we debrief the Great Chicago Fire, separating myth from fact, uncovering lessons for firefighters, and exploring how this tragedy shaped the city and the fire service as we know it.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

 A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

• GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
• MSA The Safety Company
• IDEX
• FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 
• HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
• Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
• Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

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

Over the next week we’ll be rolling out a special mini-series recorded live at the Emergency Services Show a collaboration with Catherine and the ESS team. 

The show is one of Europe’s leading gathering for the blue light community: over 16,000+ professionals from fire, police, ambulance, search & rescue and support sectors. ESS showcases 500+ leading exhibitors, thousands of response innovations, live demonstrations, immersive training zones, and CPD-accredited content. 

Emergency Services Show 2025 If you want to dive deeper into all things ESS — who’s exhibiting, the content programme, or how to get involved — head over to emergencyuk.com. 

Today’s episode features two remarkable leaders. First is Phil Garrigan OBE, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council. After 35 years at Merseyside Fire & Rescue, Phil transitions into a national role where he’ll advise government, steer strategic direction, and work with bodies like HMICFRS. Joining Phil is Air Vice-Marshal Dr. Fin Monahan OBE, DFC, PhD — Chief Fire Officer of South Wales. Fin brings a decorated RAF career (Harrier pilot, command roles, aerospace strategy) plus deep thinking on leadership, culture, and resilience. Over our conversation we explore leadership in turbulent times, evolving public expectation, how we support our people — and what a modern, future-fit fire service looks like. 

This is the first of our ESS special episodes. 

Let’s dive in 

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Join me on the United for 9/11: Memorial Stair Climb – Atlanta 2026 HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

PODCAST GIFT - FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

 A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.

• GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
• MSA The Safety Company
• IDEX
• FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD 
• HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
• Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
• Lyfe Linez -  Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar  for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated

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