Rob highlights a must-read article by Peter Matthews, Editor-in-Chief of Firehouse Magazine, titled "Getting Involved Locally with Politics for National Impact." It’s a wake-up call to firefighters everywhere—career and volunteer—about the critical need to engage in politics to secure funding, gear, staffing, and safety.

With programs like AFG and SAFER in limbo, the National Fire Academy canceling classes, and dangerous building trends like single-stairwell construction on the rise, the fire service is falling behind. Meanwhile, other countries are acting, and we’re still debating basics like sprinkler systems.

The bottom line: If we don’t show up and speak up, we don’t get heard or funded—and that costs lives.

Rob urges listeners to read the article, visit CFSI.org, and start advocating for the future of the job.