Fire departments aren’t struggling to find people. They’re struggling to keep them. In this episode of The C.A.N. Report, host Mike Goldstein welcomes guest Lyle McKay, a captain from Ogunquit Fire Department, in Maine. McKay speaks from experience to break down what’s actually pushing firefighters to walk away: weak leadership, ignored voices, and cultures that haven’t kept up with the job.

The problem isn’t pay alone. It’s showing up to a station where no one listens, where feedback goes nowhere, and where leaders stop growing the moment they get promoted. McKay lays out a different approach, built on three pillars: leadership, culture, and development.