On this episode of Firefighter After Action Review, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation podcast,  listeners are taken on a guided tour of the memorial site honoring the nine firefighters who lost their lives in the tragic Sofa Superstore Fire in Charleston on June 18, 2007. Led by a firefighter who responded to the incident that day, the conversation offers a deeply personal and moving perspective on one of the deadliest firefighter tragedies in recent history.

As the tour unfolds, we walk through the memorial’s carefully designed features, including the recreated footprint of the original structure and the markers identifying where each firefighter was found. Through firsthand accounts and detailed storytelling, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the fire’s progression, the challenges crews faced, and the lasting impact the incident continues to have on the fire service.

This episode serves as both a remembrance of the Charleston 9 and a powerful reflection on sacrifice, service, and the lessons learned from tragedy.

In this third installment of Firefighter After Action Review, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation podcast, firefighters who responded to the Sofa Superstore fire share a candid and deeply personal look at the tragedy and its lasting impact. They reflect on the memorial built at the site and the significant changes within the Charleston Fire Department, including new stations, enhanced technology, and a stronger focus on mental health.

At the heart of the episode is a powerful tribute to the “Charleston Nine,” as firefighters honor their fallen colleagues through personal stories that capture their character and legacy. The conversation also explores the emotional toll of the tragedy, lessons learned, and the ongoing commitment to improving training, safety culture, and leadership across the fire service.

In part 2 of the Firefighter After Action Review: Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire series we examine the personal and psychological toll of the incident, including navigating federal investigations, second-guessing decisions on future calls, and leaning on the strength of peer support from across the fire service—especially from departments like FDNY. At its core, this discussion highlights the profound cultural and operational changes that followed, from critical improvements in equipment, training, staffing, and funding to a renewed focus on leadership and accountability.

Through their stories, the voices in this episode honor the nine fallen firefighters while delivering a powerful message to the fire service: never become complacent, and never stop learning from the past.

In the powerful first episode of our Firefighter After Action Review: Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire series, we sit down with Assistant Chief Joseph Roberts, Assistant Chief David Griffin, and Battalion Chief Thomas Axon. The chiefs share their personal journeys into the fire service and what drew them to serve in Charleston, offering a window into the department’s culture and operations before the tragedy—a department full of heart but stretched thin in staffing and resources.

Listeners will hear candid recollections of their relationships with the fallen firefighters and an unflinching look at the events of that day. From the moment they were notified to their roles on the fireground, the chiefs provide a detailed account of the chaos, challenges, and split-second decisions that defined the response. This conversation highlights not only the bravery of those lost but also the lasting impact that line-of-duty deaths have on a fire department and its community.

In the powerful final episode of our this Firefighter After Action Review series on the Glen Allen Fire of August 20, 1993, we bring together survivors and fire service leaders for a profound conversation about a tragedy that changed the fire service forever. Gabe and Roy reflect on the moment that shaped their lives, sharing why they continue to tell this story—not only as a source of personal healing, but as a way to honor their fallen brothers, Art Ruezga and Chris Herman, and ensure their sacrifices lead to lasting change.

The episode explores how far the fire service has come in the decades since, particularly in its evolving culture around mental health, peer support, and acknowledging the emotional toll of the job. Senior leaders—including Chief Garcia, Chief Gaylor, and retired Chief Tom Harbor—offer candid insight into the organizational and systemic failures that contributed to the incident, from communication gaps to equipment challenges, and discuss how the lessons learned have influenced reforms at every level.

This closing chapter serves as a solemn reminder of the importance of learning from tragedy—so that every firefighter goes home, and no line-of-duty death is ever forgotten.

This episode of the Firefighter After Action Review Podcast honors Los Angeles County wildland firefighters Arthur Ruezga and Christopher Herman, who died in the line of duty while battling the Glen Allen Fire on August 20, 1993. Hosts Michael Preet and Tom Harbor speak with Firefighter Gabe Larios and Engineer Roy Rodriguez, who survived the incident. Assistant Chief Robert Gaylor of the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Fire Chief Robert Garcia of the Angeles National Forest also contribute to the discussion, offering context on incident command and departmental procedures from that time.

Larios and Rodriguez provide a fire line perspective on the events of that day, recalling how their ad-hoc “fly crew” was assembled and deployed, the initial impression that the fire appeared manageable, and the subsequent breakdown in communications. They describe the critical decision to continue cutting a line downhill without visibility of the main fire, the sudden flare-up that overran their crew, and their personal experiences during the burnover and immediate aftermath. Reflecting on that day, they discuss the enduring lessons learned about situational awareness, reassessing tactics, and the life-saving importance of personal protective equipment like fire shelters.

This episode of the Firefighter After Action Review Podcast honors the two Los Angeles County wildland firefighters, Arthur Ruezga and Christopher Herman, who died in the line of duty while battling the Glen Allen Fire on August 20, 1993. The hosts, Michael Preet and Tom Harbor, interviewed Assistant Chief Robert Gaylor of the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Fire Chief Robert Garcia of the Angeles National Forest. The discussion covered the history and close collaboration between the two agencies, a detailed recounting of the Glen Allen incident, and the challenges faced that day, including stretched resources due to other ongoing fires, severe communication breakdowns, and extremely difficult terrain. The interviewees emphasized the critical lessons learned from the tragedy, which led to significant improvements in inter-agency cooperation, unified command structures, communication protocols, and a cultural shift toward proactive risk management in the fire service.

In this episode of the Firefighter After Action Review Podcast, Kansas City Fire Department leaders—including Chief of Department Ross Grunden, Battalion Chief Mike Hopkins, Chief Ted Henry, and Retired Firefighter John Sirna —reflect on the 2015 line-of-duty deaths of firefighters Larry Leggio and John Mesh during a structure fire on Independence Avenue. They discuss the challenges posed by the building’s construction, the difficulty of locating the arson fire, and the tragic wall collapse that claimed the two firefighters’ lives.

The conversation highlights key lessons learned and the departmental changes that followed, including improved collapse zone management, better time tracking on the fireground, and the widespread adoption of thermal imaging cameras. This discussion also delves into the profound emotional impact of the tragedy, the critical importance of clear communication during operations, and the idea of a “25-year cycle,” where major incidents recur as institutional memory fades.

In this episode of the Firefighter After Action Review Podcast, Kansas City Fire Department leaders—including Chief of Department Ross Grunden, Chief Ted Henry, and Battalion Chief Mike Hopkins, and Retired Firefighter John Sirna recall the 1988 Highway 71 explosion that killed 6 firefighters. This discussion covers the details of the 1988 incident, how it impacted the department and led to the creation of the KCFD’s hazmat response capabilities, as well as the lasting legacy of these tragic events.

In this episode of the Firefighter After Action Review Podcast, Kansas City Fire Department leaders—including Chief of Department Ross Grunden, Chief Ted Henry, and Battalion Chief Mike Hopkins—reflect on the 1959 Southwest Boulevard Fire that claimed the lives of five firefighters. Retired Firefighter John Sirna, the grandson of one of the fallen, shares how the tragedy shaped his family, his career, and the deep bonds within the fire service. Together, they explore how the incident led to lasting changes in tactics, equipment, and remembrance.