Chief Rob Ramirez returns to the show to talk about one of the most unique opportunities in modern firefighting: helping build a brand-new fire department from the ground up. He shares stories of leadership, culture, training, and staying sharp after leaving the fire truck.

Segment Breakdown & Timestamps

[0:00 – 0:07] Intro & Career Leap
Rob returns to the podcast, recounting his jump from 20+ years in operations to a command role in a new department.

[0:07 – 0:14] Why Start Now? The Motivation Behind the Move
Rob explains the rare opportunity to help shape something from scratch and how it aligned with his career goals.

[0:14 – 0:21] Starting from Zero: Gear, Trucks, and Policies
Details about acquiring vehicles, setting SOPs, navigating town bureaucracy, and learning fast.

[0:21 – 0:28] Building the Team: Hiring & Leadership Philosophy
Rob outlines their recruitment strategy, training plans, and what type of people they’re looking for.

[0:28 – 0:35] Laying the Training Foundation
Why training won’t be optional. Rob discusses shift-based training, officer development, and ongoing standards.

[0:35 – 0:42] The Isolation of Leadership
What it feels like to be out of the action, staying connected to fireground competency, and the temptation to slip into admin-only thinking.

[0:42 – 0:49] How Culture is Built: People, Trust, and Accountability
The role of informal leaders, gatekeepers of culture, and using character-first hiring to prevent future problems.

[0:49 – 0:56] Handling Mistakes & Measuring Growth
After-action reviews, creating safe learning environments, and how Rob approaches performance evaluation.

[0:56 – 1:03] Search Urgency, Real-World Fire Talk & Caring About the Job
Rob and the host dissect a recent fireground situation involving victim removal, and what it reveals about urgency and culture.

[1:03 – 1:11] Mentorship, Mastery, and Long-Term Vision
Mentorship models, when to promote, and how the right people and structure create long-term excellence.

Key Moments

• “You can’t read your own label from inside the jar.”

• Rob’s final fire call as a captain, ending with gratitude and fireground clarity.

• The skunk-in-the-parking-lot moment—and what it teaches about perspective.

• “Our people are our greatest ambassadors.”

Resources & Mentions:

Guest Info: Chief Rob Ramirez

• Division Chief of Training, Jupiter Fire Rescue

• Founder of Mayday Mindset

• National fire instructor and speaker