The Forward Firefighter

In Episode 48 of The Forward Firefighter Podcast, Paul Cummings joins me to explore the power of music, mentorship, and what it truly takes to protect the heart of the volunteer fire service.

Together, Paul and I discuss the evolving reality of small town rural firefighting, including the critical challenges of daytime coverage and the everyday sacrifices first responder families make. We dive into modern strategies to solve the recruitment crisis, focusing on how personal mentorship and incremental training can lower the intimidation barrier for prospective members. Paul also shares how writing The Firefighter Song and launching his podcast, Heart of the Volunteer, helped him process trauma, translate the firefighter experience into relatable stories, and inspire everyday people to step up for their neighbors.

Paul J. Cummings is a singer-songwriter, storyteller, and longtime volunteer firefighter Captain from Western New York. His music blends modern country and Americana, focusing on everyday life, family, relationships, and the experiences that connect us. With more than 25 years in the volunteer fire service, a passion for coaching youth sports, and his work on The American Firehouse, Paul draws much of his creative inspiration from the people and experiences around him. Above all, he enjoys telling stories through music that people can see themselves in. 

In Episode 47 of The Forward Firefighter Podcast, host of The Fireman Kenny Podcast, Kenny Asselin, joins Dan for an in-depth conversation on public safety and education. Kenny is a fire service and EMS veteran who brings decades of front-line experience directly to the microphone.

In this episode, Kenny shares his journey from starting out as a volunteer in the small village of Butler, Wisconsin, to becoming a dedicated paramedic, captain of fire prevention, and statewide leader in Community Risk Reduction (CRR). He reflects on how early mentors, hands-on building inspections, and working with burn camp survivors shifted his perspective from traditional fire suppression to a passion for fire and trauma prevention

Kenny Asselin is a 36-year fire service and EMS veteran, dedicated paramedic, firefighting instructor, and public safety educator. Having started his career as a volunteer firefighter, he developed an early foundation in community service that shapes his work to this day. Known across the fire service community as Fireman Kenny, he brings decades of front-line experience and passion for Community Risk Reduction (CRR) directly to the microphone. 

When a call came in for a farmer buried up to his chin in 20,000 bushels of grain, the Gibbon Fire and Rescue Department faced an extraordinary challenge. With only four initial responders on scene, an unconscious victim, and a foot tangled in an auger below the surface, this rural volunteer team executed a life-saving response, marking the only successful grain bin rescue in Minnesota that year.

In this episode, Dan sits down with guest Nate Firle to deconstruct the October 2019 grain bin entrapment that fundamentally changed how his department approaches agricultural rescues. Nate breaks down the critical tactical decisions made under extreme pressure, including leveraging a grain vac to gain control of the scene. They also dive into vital safety lessons, rising entrapment statistics from Purdue University, and how this emergency inspired Nate to design the Rural Rescue Response (R3) trailer, turning one life-saving call into a movement to equip rural fire departments across the Corn Belt.

Nate Firle, born and raised in rural Minnesota, is a farmer, entrepreneur, and Captain with the Gibbon Fire & Rescue Department, where he has served for eight years.

Following the successful 2019 grain bin rescue, Nate envisioned a specialized trailer unit equipped with essential tools and a mounted Grain Rescue Vac. That idea led to the first-of-its-kind Rural Rescue Response apparatus, delivered to the Gibbon Fire Department in 2023. Building on that success, Nate officially launched R3 Rescue, LLC in December 2025 to provide rural fire departments nationwide with the equipment and confidence needed for complex agricultural emergencies.

Nate resides in rural Gibbon, MN, with his wife and young son, balancing his time between farming and traveling with R3.

Operational speed on the fireground does not start when the tones drop. It is built long before the alarm sounds. This episode explores the direct link between a department's internal culture and its operational performance. JD breaks down strategies for eliminating critical delays from turnout to fire suppression, showing how small crew efficiency and rapid, concurrent task execution depend entirely on mutual trust and clear communication.

We pull back the curtain on how that level of fireground trust is earned. JD details the blueprint for a resilient, family oriented department culture. This includes structured mentorship, transparent communication, incorporating families into department life, and empowering newer members through acting officer programs. You will learn how scenario based training and accountability eliminate hesitation on scene, allowing firefighters to execute their roles instinctively when seconds matter most.

JD DuCharme is a 13 year student of the fire service. He shares life's moments with five children and his wife, Danielle, and currently resides in Oconomowoc, WI. JD graduated Summa Cum Laude from UW Whitewater in 2006 with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology, and served as a Special Agent for the US Government from 2007 to 2013 before entering the Fire Service.

JD started as a volunteer firefighter in rural WI before becoming a career firefighter. JD was promoted in 2023 after 10 years in the fire service, and is currently a career Fire Lieutenant on Truck Company 53 at Western Lakes Fire District. He is currently a Lead of the Western Lakes Dive Team, and assists with training and development at the department. He previously served with the City of Beaver Dam and City of Oshkosh Fire Departments.

In this episode, Dan sits down with Chief Ron Wegner of the Jefferson, Wisconsin Fire Department. Chief Wegner is the latest recipient of the Wisconsin State Firefighters Association Firefighter of the Year award.

Chief Wegner pulls back the curtain on what it takes to lead a combination department that serves 53 square miles, including the protection of heavy industries. But behind the state of the art equipment and the department's deeply preserved historical artifacts lies a 16 year leadership journey forged by legacy, humility, and near misses.

Tune in as Chief Wegner candidly shares the moments that fundamentally reshaped his perspective on the fireground, from surviving a terrifying methane flash fire inside a 200 foot industrial grain silo to a close call on a residential fire. It is a powerful conversation about respect for the timeline, checking complacency at the door, and why leadership in the volunteer service is always a team effort.

Remembering Your "Why": Mastering the Basics, the Crucial Role of the Company Officer, and Building a High Performance Culture with Chief David Rhodes

When your department faces budget cuts, station politics, or staffing shortages, how do you keep your crew focused and ready?

In this episode of The Forward Firefighter, Dan sits down with Chief David Rhodes. Chief Rhodes is a former Atlanta Fire Battalion Chief, the Chief Elder of the Georgia Smoke Diver Program, and the Editor-in-Chief of Fire Engineering Magazine. In this conversation, he gets straight to the heart of what drives firehouse excellence: Remembering Your "Why."

Dan and Chief Rhodes break down why it is vital to master the basics and maintain high standards. They discuss the critical role of the company officer, who acts as the glue holding the unit together. You will learn how frontline leaders can protect their crews from department politics, solve problems creatively when resources are low, and build a high-performance culture through tough, shared training. Whether you are a new recruit or a veteran officer, this episode offers a clear blueprint for leadership on and off the fireground.

Beyond the Pump Panel: Mastering the Role of the Motor Pump Operator

In this episode, Dan chats with Chief Eric Johnson, a 40 year veteran of the Wisconsin fire service and founder of First Due Fire Training, to dissect the often overlooked complexities of the motor pump operator. Moving far beyond "pulling levers," Eric explains why the engineer is the most critical link in fireground safety and rescue effectiveness. The conversation covers the technical "street science" of firefighting, from the dangers of hose kinks and the myths of inherited pump charts to the vital importance of flow testing your equipment. Whether you are a career or volunteer operator, Eric’s practical fireground focused training philosophy offers a masterclass in ensuring that when the nozzle opens, the water and the pressure are exactly where they need to be.

Eric has been in the fire service since 1984, starting with the Oconomowoc Fire Department.  He worked for the Green Bay Metro Fire Department from 1993 to 2019, retiring as station captain and paramedic.  He was also the Assistant Chief of Training for the De Pere Fire & Rescue from 2018-2021. Eric is the owner of First Due Fire Training, LLC, a training and consulting company. He also is a contributing author for the Wisconsin Fire Journal Magazine since 2012. In addition to having many fire certifications, Eric has an Associate Degree in Fire Science Technology, a Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management, and has a Master’s Degree in Leadership with an emphasis in Disaster Preparedness and Executive Fire Leadership.

In this episode of The Forward Firefighter, I sit down with Adam Vapnar, a 19-year-old who is rapidly bridging the gap between being a high school cadet and a high-caliber fire service professional. Adam shares his journey from four years of rural cadet service in Northern Wisconsin to the rigorous Fire Protection Technician Program at Fox Valley Tech. We dive deep into the "student-firefighter" lifestyle, exploring how Adam balances the academic demands of fire science with the real-world operational realities of serving in a volunteer department. It is a masterclass for any young recruit looking to turn a passion into a career while still sitting in a classroom.

Beyond the textbooks and certifications, Adam explains why true growth happens in the "extra credit" of the fire service. From launching the Backseat Wisdom podcast to learn from industry giants, to surviving a grueling storage facility fire that redefined his view on functional fitness, Adam’s story is about the relentless pursuit of the "victim-first" mindset. We discuss why the next generation of the fire service must be willing to go above and beyond the minimum requirements to truly move the mission forward.

What happens when 6,000 gallons of gasoline vanish into a river, or a common garage spill leads to a house demolition? This week, Dan sits down with Beth McCormick, President of WAMR and co-owner of Valley Environmental Response.

Beth shares her experiences responding to HAZMAT cleanup operations. We dive deep into the legalities of spill ownership, the "stick test" for identifying bio-sheens, and why a wax toilet ring might be the most important tool in your kit.

In this episode, we’re diving deep into the modern fireground with Paul Shoemaker, founder of the Next Level Training Network, to build your EV Fire Playbook. As electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries become permanent fixtures on our roadways, the old tactics no longer apply. Paul breaks down the science, the safety, and the "street-smart" strategies every department needs to stay ahead of the game.

Paul Shoemaker is an 18-year veteran of the fire service and a Lieutenant in Colorado with over 13 years of experience as a Tech Rescue and Haz-Mat Technician. As a recognized subject matter expert in lithium-ion battery hazards, Paul serves on advisory committees for UL, FSRI, NFPA, and SAE International, working to bridge the gap between automotive manufacturers and the fire service.

Through his company, Next Level Training Network, Paul travels the country delivering masterclasses on EV extrication and lithium-ion fire tactics. His mission is to provide firefighters with a "combat playbook" for the modern fireground, ensuring they are equipped to handle everything from micro-mobility fires to large-scale Energy Storage Systems.