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You can find information on the FSRI study here.

This three-year Research and Development Project examines fireground size-up measures and search and rescue operations as part of a coordinated fire attack on a residential structure.

Our guest is Craig Weinschenk, Research Engineer.

Craig is a Research Engineer with UL's Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI). He holds a Master of Science and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from The University of Texas-Austin. During his graduate studies, Craig worked with the Austin Fire Department on analyzing firefighter compliance to changes in standard operating guidelines and on characterizing the impact of forced ventilation on room-scale fires. Since graduation, he has conducted full-scale residential fire experiments designed to characterize the thermal environment within the structure as well as exposed firefighter personal protective equipment. Craig is also a developer of NIST's Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) Version 6. He has used FDS to study the fire dynamics and thermal environment of fires that resulted in line-of-duty deaths and injuries to firefighters.

Nick Brunacini is the leader of B Shifter and Blue Card. He joined the Phoenix Fire Department (PFD) in 1980. He served seven years as a firefighter on different engine companies before promoting to captain and working nine years on a ladder company. Nick served as a battalion chief for five years, and in 2001, he was promoted to shift commander. He then spent the next five years developing and teaching the Blue Card curriculum at the PFD’s Command Training Center. His last assignment with the PFD was south shift commander; he retired from the department in 2009. Nick is the author of “B-Shifter—A Firefighter’s Memoir.” He also co-wrote “Command Safety.”

Contact Nick Brunacini at [email protected]

Josh Blum, Blue Card Program Manager and has been in the fire service since 1993. He began his service as a volunteer firefighter before accepting a full-time career position. Josh served as the deputy chief of operations for the Loveland Symmes (Ohio) Fire Department, where he measurably increased the department’s training and operational effectiveness. Josh retired from Loveland Symmes in 2020 and now works for Blue Card as the program manager in all aspects of curriculum development and program delivery. Josh continues to work directly with departments throughout Southern Ohio assisting with training and fire department operations. Josh has developed and managed many fire service training programs throughout his career. He is a graduate of the Ohio Fire Executive Program

Contact Josh Blum at [email protected]

Jeff King who is our Professional Development Manager, Lead Instructor and Houston Fire Department member.  
Jeffery L. King began his career with the Houston Fire Department in 2001 and currently serves as a safety officer. As a dedicated student of the fire service, Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science in fire science and a Master of Science in emergency services management. He has also earned the professional designations of fire service chief executive officer through the Mays School of Business at Texas A&M University and chief training officer through the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Jeff is a graduate of the City of Houston’s Leadership Institute Program. He lives in Spring, Texas, with his wife, Tracy, and their daughters Savannah and Madigan.

You can contact Jeff at [email protected]