Summary

In this engaging conversation, David Polikoff and Rob Policht discuss the evolution of the fire service, emphasizing the importance of education, critical thinking, and collaboration in training. They explore the challenges of budgeting and apparatus costs, the need for better retention strategies for volunteers, and the significance of bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical experience. The discussion highlights the changing dynamics of the fire service, particularly with the new generation of firefighters who seek to understand the reasoning behind their training and operations.

In this episode of Side Alpha Leadership, host David Polikoff speaks with Anthony Rowett, a captain in the Mobile Fire Rescue Department. They discuss Anthony's journey from a volunteer firefighter in New Jersey to his current role in Alabama, the unique challenges of firefighting in a port city, and the importance of mentorship and leadership in the fire service. The conversation also touches on recruitment challenges, the significance of training, and empowering junior firefighters to take initiative. In this conversation, David Polikoff and Anthony Rowett discuss the importance of training, leadership, and mentorship in the firefighting community. They emphasize the need for senior staff to participate in training exercises, the significance of preparing future leaders, and the development of policies and standards within fire departments. The discussion also highlights the value of tradition and history in the fire service, as well as current initiatives aimed at providing accessible training opportunities for firefighters.

This month I had the honor to speak with FDNY Chief John Norman (ret). Take what you learned and pay it forward. Make the fire service better than you found it. Cherish the kitchen table talks and strive to learn something new every day. This is the best job in the world, and it is a blessing to be part of it.

This month I welcome Dr. Shelley Wheeler back to the show. This show is all about making decision on the fire ground. We offer advice to the new officer on making critical decisions with little information.

We discussed Recognition Prime Decision model. This model is what firefighters use on the scene when we have little information. This model is rooted in knowledge, skills and experience.

This month i talk with Capt. Mike Burkett. Mike is a Captain with the Baltimore City Fire Department assigned to Truck 5 and an instructor with Capitol Fire Training.

Mike and I discuss being the Truck boss.

• Crew expectations
• Operating in commercial and residential structures
• Searching vacant
• training to keep your crew sharp

Sleep deprived, anxiety and inflammation ,CBD is helping first responders as well as nurses and doctors cope with the stresses our work hands us. Jon Vought and I discuss the stresses our job has. John is the owner of Rescue 1 CBD. His product is 100% THC free. Jon and I dig deep into what his product is, what it does and how it is helping. Feel free to contact Jon on:

Instagram @rescue_1_cbd

YouTube @rescue1CBD

Web site rescue1cbd.com

This month i sit down with Stephanie White. We discuss CBD in the fire service, the kitchen table, keeping a heathy shift and changing the culture by looking at the past.

We are firefighters, our job is to go into burning buildings and put fires out. It seems we have steered away from our past culture of being aggressive firefighters and morphed into a culture of safety. We need to steer the fire service back to the 70's and 80's and be the firefighters the public counts on us to be.

Our newest rookies are coming into this job ready to be aggressive, we must teach them and drill it into their heads, we are firefighters our job has inherent risk, and we accept that risk to get the job done. Teach them right make them firefighters.

Tactical Considerations for Garden Apartment Fires

One of the more complex fires we are faced with is fires in garden apartments. This month I welcome back Capt. Bobby Eckert of the Camden New Jersey Fire Department. Bobby and I dig deep into the subject.

Garden Apartments are in all areas of the country. Firefighters must be proactive and preplan these structures before the alarm is ever answered. Take advantage of running non fire calls in these buildings and get the layout of the complex and the individual apartment units. This preplan will pay dividends when you pull up to a job at 3am.

Bobby and I discuss:

• · Pulling long lines
• · Laddering the building
• · Apparatus placement
• · Command considerations
• · Building construction
• · Fire spread

Small fire can grow and spread quickly if engine and truck companies are not aggressive with their tactics.

This month I ask the questions, why are people reluctant to make decisions? How do we overcome the fear of making a decision on the fireground? what tools can we use to help people to make quick decisions with less than perfect information. I enlist the help of Deputy Chief Shane Darwick. Shane is a longtime friend, mentor, and teacher. Shane can keep calm, filter out the external noise and distraction on chaotic emergency incident and instill command presence. Shane offers over 40 years of experiences in the fire service to answer my questions on the art of decision making.

This month I sit down with my boys RJ and Sam. we talk tactics, learning new things, keeping your emotions in check and dealing with the dreaded word, change! It was great to just freestyle the conversation.