Chad Costa, Assistant Fire Chief at Petaluma Fire Department, has over 25 years of experience in municipal, rural, and wildland fire operations. In this episode of Hazard Class Podcast, he shares his journey from growing up in rural Sonoma County to becoming a seasoned leader in the fire service. Chief Costa discusses early career challenges, recruitment and retention issues, and the balance between structural and wildland firefighting. With insights on leadership, community involvement, and the evolving fire service, he offers advice for aspiring firefighters and emphasizes the importance of building a strong, well-rounded department.

www.chadcosta.org

[0:00 - 2:00] – Introduction
Introduction to Chief Chad Costa and his role. Overview of his career and background.

[2:01 - 7:26] – Why the Fire Service?
Chief Costa talks about his rural upbringing and how a friend’s encouragement led him to pursue firefighting, despite having no prior connection to the field.

[7:26 - 8:55] – Early Career Challenges
His first volunteer experience and the challenges he faced in gaining acceptance and building his skills.

[8:56 - 9:56] – Lessons from Early Days
The importance of hard work, reliability, and building relationships in the fire service.

[9:57 - 12:22] – Instilling Values in New Firefighters
Chief Costa discusses how he imparts core values like dedication and reliability to new recruits and the challenges of hiring firefighter-paramedics.

[12:23 - 15:30] – Recruitment Challenges
The evolving challenges in attracting and retaining qualified firefighter-paramedics in today’s job market.

[15:30 - 16:16] – The Changing Landscape
How the fire service has evolved, with new generations of recruits leaning more towards tech roles than traditional blue-collar jobs.

[16:16 - 20:27] – Becoming a Firefighter
The path to becoming a firefighter, emphasizing education, certification, and gaining experience. Chief Costa stresses the importance of mentorship and decision-making.

[20:27 - 24:16] – Balancing Wildland & Structural Firefighting
The difficulty in excelling at both wildland and structural firefighting and how departments balance these two critical disciplines.

[24:17 - 31:39] – Transition from Volunteer to Career Firefighter
Chief Costa reflects on his transition from volunteer to career firefighter and the steps required to build a successful career.

[31:40 - 38:37] – Promotion and Career Growth
How Chief Costa knew it was time for promotion and the role of the organization in making these decisions.

[38:39 - 41:35] – Leadership and Feedback
The challenges of staying connected with frontline firefighters and how Chief Costa seeks feedback to refine his leadership.

[41:36 - 42:36] – Handling Criticism
How Chief Costa processes both positive and negative feedback and adjusts his leadership style accordingly.

[42:36 - 46:03] – Department Morale
Chief Costa discusses how morale is managed at various levels of the department and strategies for fixing morale issues within a fire service organization.

[46:04 - 49:00] – Balancing Service and Budget
The challenge of maintaining high-quality service while managing a department’s budget, especially with dual-role firefighter paramedics.

[49:00 - 57:11] – Dual Role vs. Single Role EMS
A discussion on the pros and cons of dual-role firefighter paramedics and the push towards single-role EMS services as a solution to firefighter burnout.

[57:12 - 1:00:21] – Career Reflections and Legacy
Chief Costa reflects on his proudest achievements, including creating a career camp for high school students interested in the fire service.

[1:00:21 - End] – Closing Thoughts
Chief Costa shares his future plans and final advice for those entering the fire service.