Biography

    Nicholas J. Higgins is a firefighter with 19 years in the fire service in Piscataway, NJ currently serving as the departments training officer. Nick is a NJ State Fire Instructor, a NJ Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the founder/contributor of The Firehouse Tribune. In addition, Nick is an instructor for the National Volunteer Fire Council and a member of the Board of Directors for the "5-Alarm Task Force Corp". Nick has a Bachelor's Degree from Kean University, an Associates Degree from Middlesex County College and is currently enrolled in a Master Program at Seton Hall University. Nick has had the honor of speaking at various fire service conferences and seminars throughout the country such as the 2017 & 2018 Firehouse Expo as well as numerous fire departments within NJ. He has also been a guest on multiple fire service podcasts such as "5-Alarm Task Force" & "Crew 1st Culture".

Kevin Harvey - Alaska born and raised, a Firefighter in the Interior of Alaska where temperatures range from triple digit highs in the summer to the rare but always bragged about temps -40F and below. Started in the fire service at North Star Volunteer Fire Department in 1987 and have held all positions from recruit to acting Fire Chief during my tenure. I spent some time in the United States Marine Corps 1989-1994 where I was hand picked to serve as a member of the Presidential Helicopter Squadron HMX-1 as a Crew Chief on the Presidents helicopters, serving Presidents Bush Sr. and Clinton. Traveling all over the world with the President made me realize that while I loved the job, I knew that I would return to Alaska when I was finished. While in the Corps I stayed active in the fire service by volunteering in Stafford County Fire at Company 2 working my way from firefighter to Engine Officer and then moving to the Truck working my way through all positions including Tillerman and ending at the Truck Captain position upon my departure for home. Upon returning to Alaska I enrolled in college to pursue a degree in Fire Science and with the hopes of landing a job in the fire service. I accepted an internship at North Star Fire Department which turned into a full time position. I left there in 1996 and made a shift to the DOD Fire Service and went to work at Ft Wainwright Fire and Emergency Services. Trying to decide on a career in municipal or the DOD fire service, I switched teams a couple times but settling in for the long haul in the DOD remaining in the Interior of Alaska. Practicing and honing the craft by teaching at conferences throughout Alaska, attending courses both in resident and local with the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg Maryland, as a guest instructor for the University of Alaska Fire Science Program, State of Alaska Fire Service Training and with my local F.O.O.L.S. Chapter “Farthest North Fools” to which I am proud to say, a founding member.  I hold certifications in Automotive repair from ASE, Airframe and Powerplant Certificate from the FAA, FFI,FFII, Apparatus Operator, Confine Space Rescue Technician, Hazmat Technician and Incident Commander, Health and Safety Officer, Incident Safety Officer, Alaska State EMT III, Fire Officer 4, Instructor 2, Inspector 2, Public Educator Instructor and Water on Wheels instructor. Fluent in both Western Canadian and Eastern Austrailian languages and one helluva guy. Proud father of Madison and Killian Harvey and husband to my Queen, my main support staff, my rock my wife Veronnica. Together, we host a class called Married to the Fire Service where we are lucky enough to help people associated with the fire service and firefighters gain a better understanding of the family aspect of the fire service.

Chief Ed Hartin delivers a high-content talk as a keynote speaker at FIRExTalk PDX '16

What is FIRExTalk?

The FirexTalk one-day firefighter conference is designed to help fire service communities, organizations and individuals spark conversation and connection through a local TEDx-like experience.   At a FIRExTalk event, twenty 20 minute “talks on fire” are given by local presenters.  Each presentation is professionally video recorded and placed on the FIRExTalk YouTube channel and website. This sparks conversation and connection at the local and national level. FIRExTalk events are planned and coordinated by FIRExTalk llc.

About FIRExTalk partnerships

FIRExTalk is a fire service community event that inspires innovation, leadership, and passionate insights. Each FIRExTalk event is not organized for political reasons, monetary reward or personal gain. The FIRExTalk organization believes in the power of ideas to change the fire service world for the better.  FIRExTalk llc is seeking the support of local and national companies who can sponsor FIRExTalk events through cash and offer ways to enhance the experience for our attendees. If you own or represent a company that wants to explore opportunities for partnering with the FIRExTalk event, contact [email protected]

Why become a FIRExTalk partner?   

As a FIRExTalk partner, you will have the opportunity to engage in an authentic dialogue with an elusive, yet valuable audience: passionate, firefighters in the local community. You'll have an opportunity to test your ideas for the future, and you'll be challenged to positively impact the community in new ways.  Becoming a FIRExTalk partner means you share in our vision of spreading ideas that are intended to change the fire service community for the better. It means you’ll be joining our team of thought leaders while benefiting from an individually-tailored partnership.  

The vision of FIRExTalk  

FIRExTalk began as a humble experiment. Our hope is the program will be embraced, with passion and dedication, by hundreds — if not thousands — of fire service communities across the United States. FIRExTalk wants to capture 500 “talks on fire” covering all aspects of the fire service.  Think of FIRExTalk as an incubator for ideas. Partners should come to FIRExTalk events not only to present ideas, but as learners — to learn from the fire service community. FIRExTalks create an opportunity for this community of thinkers, doers, and leaders to engage in a subject that is meaningful to you. From a company's perspective, the FIRExTalk program may seem quite experimental — and, as such, a great opportunity for the partner to experiment. We look forward to hearing from you directly regarding any ideas you might have.

FIRExTalk Coordinator Michael Snodgrass (503)516-6883

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