Andrew Pristach is a 14 year firefighter, currently a Sergeant on a heavy rescue with the City of Spartanburg Fire Department in Upstate South Carolina. He is an instructor with the Mississippi State Fire Academy, a founding member of Dixie Firemanship, the owner of Tradesman Fire & Fabrication, and the co-designer of the Council Tool TD30 halligan bar and FE6 and FE8 axes.

@andrew.tff

@tradesman_fire

@dixiefiremanship

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileygreenfitness

Partnership: @firefighternationhq

Nick Ledin is a Captain with Eau Claire (WI) Fire Department, currently assigned to Truck 8. Ledin has been a student of the job for 18 years and is a contributor to ‘Firefighter Rescue Survey’, was the former president of the Northland FOOLS, and is a board member of FireNuggets. He’s a technical committee member for NFPA 1700, was a former technical panel member for UL FSRI’s PPA/PPV Study, and is a co-host of the FireNuggets Podcast and GRABS Podcast. Nick is also lucky enough to be a small part of UL FSRI’s Public Education Advisory Committee. He can also grow a pretty legit ‘stache.

@nick.ledin

@ulfsri

@firenuggets

@firefighterrescuesurvey

@northlandfools

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileygreenfitness

Partnership: @firefighternationhq

Darren was born and raised in a small town in Saskatchewan. With 25 years of experience in the fire service, he has taught and mentored at various level, always striving to pass on his knowledge and passion for the job. For the Past 16 years, Darren has been a proud member of Oakville Fire. He began as a training Officer, where he helped shape the next generation of firefighters through recruit training, firefighter survival programs, and the development and delivery of technical rescue disciplines. Now serving in Operations, Darren continues to protect the community of Oakville with the same drive and heart that brought him to the service all those years ago.

Darrens love for teaching and mentoring lives on beyond his department. He is an instructor at the South West Fire Academy, where he works hands-on with firefighter boot camps and technical rescue training, and he also teaches technical rescue for the Ontario Fire Marshel’s Office. His mission is simple to give back to the job he loves by preparing others to thrive in it.

Before joining Oakville Fire, Darren spent 18 years in the Canadian Armed Forces first 9 years with the Princess Patrica Canadian Light Infantry (P.P.C.L.I.) and 9 years as a military Firefighter. It was during this time that he discovered his passion for the fire service.

Fitness and performance have always been central to Darren’s dedication. He has proudly represented both the military and Oakville Fire in the Firefighter Combat Challenge, becoming a Muti-time national and world champion. For Darren, its not just about competition, its about pushing limits, leading by example, and showing what’s possible when passion meets purpose.

Outside of work, Darren enjoys spending time with his wife and two beautiful daughters. He is an avid outdoorsman who loves hunting, fishing, and camping, and he keeps active playing hockey in his spare time.

Whether he’s on a call, in the classroom, or out in the woods, Darren lives everyday with heart, grit, and gratitude for the career that has given him so much, and for the opportunity to keep paying it forward.

@dvanzandbergen

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileygreenfitness

Partnership: @firefighternationhq

Born and raised in El Paso Texas, Bobby Reichardt began his fire service journey at West Valley Volunteer Fire Department at the age of 17 and left 14 years later at the rank of Captain. He currently serves as a Logistics Lieutenant with the El Paso Fire Department and is a licensed Paramedic. He holds a Masters degree in Public Safety Administration and Leadership from ASU, a Bachelors of Emergency Management from West Texas A&M University, and is pursuing his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. Bobby is married and the father of two daughters. Being the best husband and father are at the top of his to-do list, followed closely by leaving the fire department better than he found it. He’s the founding President of ChucoTown FOOLS.

@chuco_town_f.o.o.l.s.

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileyfirefit

Partnership: @firefighternationhq

Josh Graham is a second-generation career firefighter with over a decade of experience in a large, fast-growing urban fire department in the Greater Toronto Area. In addition to his firefighting career, he has more than ten years of paramedic experience, having worked in both urban and rural settings.

Josh spent two years in the Training Division as the Technical Rescue lead, where he developed programs across multiple disciplines to support his department’s transition toward mandated certification. His programs focus on NFPA standards while ensuring crews are equipped with the necessary skills, training, and experience to operate effectively. He has also played a key role as a Lead Instructor in several Recruit Academies.

In late 2023, Josh returned to the Operations Division and is currently assigned to a station housing both an Engine and a Technical Rescue apparatus. He continues to contribute to the Training Division as an Acting Training Officer and serves as a Lead Instructor for Rope and Water Rescue, Engine Operations, Search and Rescue, and Firefighter Survival.

A firm believer in the historic culture of the fire service, Josh values camaraderie, craftsmanship, and the traditions that define the profession. While modern shifts emphasize safety culture and individualism, he believes that the strength of the fire service lies in its shared commitment to training, continual skill development, and the mentorship of future generations. His passion for the job is fueled by the enthusiastic passing of knowledge, experience, and tradition.

Outside of work, Josh enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, as well as hunting, fishing, camping, mountain biking, and practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Josh curates a firefighting-focused Instagram page dedicated to sharing relevant training content and fire service culture. His goal is to showcase the confidence and effectiveness of aggressive firefighting, often misunderstood as reckless or dangerous—while highlighting its critical value in saving lives and property.

@dumpdawg_jr

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileyfirefit

Partnership: @firefighternationhq

Rob Thibert is an 18-year member of the Fire Service. Rob is the Deputy Fire Chief with the Minden Hills Fire Department in Ontario, Canada. Rob's leadership style is to lead from the front, aggressively progressing the department's tactics and succession all while keeping the safety of his crew in mind and always striving to leave the job better than he found it. Rob is a legacy firefighter following in his Father’s footsteps. During his down time, he loves spending time with my three sons and two dogs, being outdoors. He has instructed at Lambton College Fire School in the Pre-Service and Fire Science programs. He is the Treasurer and one of the co-founders of True North FOOLS. Rob is a student of the Fire Service and is passionate about sharing his love for the trade by passing on what has worked and what has been passed on to him. Rob founded the Smoke is Showing Conference, which builds a strong Fire Department culture through training, brotherhood, and traditions.

@mfd_deputychief

@truenorthfools

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileyfirefit

Partnership: @firefighternationhq

Joey is 34 years old and a happily married father of two young boys.

After 10 years in the fire service, I was diagnosed with PTSD. My symptoms included panic attacks, disassociation, suicidal ideations, sleep issues, anxiety and depression. As I began my treatment, I found it lacking as the conventional treatment was aimed at giving pharmaceuticals to help my symptoms while failing to address the nervous system and the body. This approach placed me in a victim mindset and has been ineffective for me. After trying the conventional approach, I started to experiment with things outside the mainstream. Ice baths, saunas, breath work, meditation, journaling, TRE, float tanks, EMDR, neurofeedback, plant medicines and many other non-conventional approaches ended up being what gave me relief and allowed me to pull myself out of despair. Fast forward 3 years from my initial treatment and I am now working to give people skills before pills.

Through Conscious Movements, participates are introduced to the language of body and taught how to use their breath and movement to regulate themselves. Conscious Movements works on a physical, mental, emotional, and energetic level and encourages the practitioner to tune into the body and allow the mind to settle back. Through conscious attention, breath and movement we are able to connect to deeper parts of ourselves and encourage healing in a way conventional medicine doesn’t offer. Learning the skill of self-regulation allows you to be the best version of yourself, whether that’s a friend, parent, partner, boss, employee, athlete, or student.

@conscious_movements

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileyfirefit

Partnership: @firefighternationhq

To celebrate, the team comes together to talk all things MCP.

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileyfirefit

Partnered with: @firefighternationhq

Gareth Lockhart is a career Firefighter and Acting Officer with over 14 years of experience in a medium-sized suburban department outside Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Gareth is best known for being a leader in driving successful lobbying of staffing, health & safety issues through political action as a union executive board member. He presents on cognitive priming and deliberate practice to instill foundational skills in firefighters. His passions lie in Operations and Training, ensuring all firefighters can access modern, aggressive strategies and tactics through inclusive, data-driven methodologies, supported by those who actively participate and demonstrate the skills they teach. The battle against complacency starts with a “we” not “me” ethos.

@lockhart63

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileyfirefit

Partnered with: @firefighternationhq

Stephanie White is a 21-year veteran of the fire service. She started her journey as a volunteer and has been a career firefighter/paramedic in Virginia for the past 19 years.

Over her career she’s been actively involved in firefighter health and wellness while being assigned to some pretty great companies. She is currently enjoying the challenge that is spelling and writing while living the shift-work life.

Stephanie is the managing editor of Firefighter Nation.

@thatpaperworkff

@thefiveaftermidnightpodcast

@firefighternationhq

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileyfirefit