The Firehouse Logbook Podcast

A remembrance Re-Post from September 11, 2022. On this special episode, I compiled a few of the past year's guests memories and reflections on the attacks of September 11, 2001. When I started asking that question, I had no idea I would come across some amazing and still emotional stories of our experiences. May we never have to go through that again. Support this podcast at https://patreon.com/fi...

Charles City County, VA is a rural community between the City of Richmond and Williamsburg. Their first and only Fire Chief started his fire service career at 35 years of age and went from Firefighter to Fire Chief in the blink of an eye. How did he manage a new career fire department and the COVID Pandemic? He shares those stories and more in this episode. Comments or suggestions? Contact us at:...

In this third episode, I'm joined by three paramedics who watched EMERGENCY! either growing up or in the station and watched EMS evolve into what Johnny and Roy were doing weekly in LA County. Comments or suggestions? Contact us at: Email - FirehouseLogbook@gmail.com Twitter - @FDLogbook Instagram - @FDLogbookPodcast Facebook - www.facebook.com/FDLogbookPodcast Website - www.firehouselogbook.capti...

In part two of the EMERGENCY! Series of episodes, I got t reconnect with a few of my old Chesterfield Firefighter/Medics to discuss how the show influenced them on the job and how they used the show as a type of training tool. Comments or suggestions? Contact us at: Email - FirehouseLogbook@gmail.com Twitter - @FDLogbook Instagram - @FDLogbookPodcast Facebook - www.facebook.com/FDLogbookPodcast We...

On July 10, 2026, Randolph Mantooth - aka Johnny Gage - passed away. For anyone who grew up or worked in fire and EMS in the 70's, this dramatic television series probably impacted your career in some way, and even if you didn't, it clearly influenced the service as it exists today. In this first of a series of episodes, I got to speak with two fire chiefs - one who was a fire chief in the 70's an...

There were more stories than this to tell, but these are the only ones that can be let out into the wild. Enjoy this short one with a word of caution - there are some graphic descriptions of real life incidents in here. Comments or suggestions? Contact us at: Email - FirehouseLogbook@gmail.com Twitter - @FDLogbook Instagram - @FDLogbookPodcast Facebook - www.facebook.com/FDLogbookPodcast Website -...

Derrick Sawyer got out of the Air Force never wanting to see a fire truck again, but the path showed itself. From Firefighter to Fire Commissioner in the Philadelphia Fire Department. Contact Derrick for speaking opportunities at DSOne@verizon dot net. Comments or suggestions? Contact us at: Email - FirehouseLogbook@gmail.com Twitter - @FDLogbook Instagram - @FDLogbookPodcast Facebook - www.facebo...

Paul Mauger started out as a volunteer firefighter and volunteered to be a fire dispatcher, and ultimately became the Fire Chief of Chesterfield Fire and EMS. He overcame some diversity in that journey, but I am glad to have worked for him in a couple of different positions - even when I almost wore an orange helmet. Comments or suggestions? Contact us at: Email - FirehouseLogbook@gmail.com Twitte...

"Ozzie" Azarang Mirkhah came to the US as a college student and has worked on protecting firefighters with fire protection systems for years with the Las Vegas Fire Department. Now, he's honoring the memory of a firefighter from his homeland, Hamid Mahdavi - killed in the line of duty in Iran. Comments or suggestions? Contact us at: Email - FirehouseLogbook@gmail.com Twitter - @FDLogbook Instagram...

Mike Williams will be retiring January 1, but not from serving his community. He will continue his volunteer service at his local FD and service to his family at home. Mike's stories of working alongside the DEA, bumping into a congressman then testifying on "The Hill", and responding to hurricanes could have gone on for hours more. Email - FirehouseLogbook@gmail.com Twitter - @FDLogbook Instagram...

This is the second part of the conversation with retired Captain Jerry Pruden. His career spanned 44 plus years and he's not done yet. His ongoing work withe Burn Foundation, Burn Camps, and The Chesterfield Professional Firefighters Foundation continues to show how his selfless service is an inspiration to everyone he's ever worked with. Comments or suggestions? Contact us at: Email - FirehouseLo...

This is part one of a great conversation with 44+ year veteran of the Chesterfield Fire and EMS Department. Subscribe to make sure you get part 2 next week. Comments or suggestions? Contact us at: Email - FirehouseLogbook@gmail.com Twitter - @FDLogbook Instagram - @FDLogbookPodcast Facebook - www.facebook.com/FDLogbookPodcast

Joel Kanasky was a volunteer firefighter in New York and went on to be a US Marine and firefighter in Virginia before returning to the Big Apple and serving on FDNY Rescue 1. Now living in Bon Aire in the Caribbean, he stays connected to the fire service through Training Days, a nonprofit organization focusing on supporting the entire fire service family. Check them out at www.trainingdays.org. Co...

Mark and Eddie Berry are both retired Battalion Chief/Paramedics from Chesterfield, VA Fire and EMS who started out as fire station brats, farmers, and volunteer firefighters. With a combined 70+ years of fire service experience, we could have talked for another few hours. Comments or suggestions? Contact us at: Email - FirehouseLogbook@gmail.com Twitter - @FDLogbook Instagram - @FDLogbookPodcast...

Al Thompson and Ben Gary are two of the original EMS Med-Flight Paramedics that started the program in 1984. The are also the longest serving medics with more than 55 combined years, let's just say they have a few stories to tell. Comments or suggestions? Contact us at: Email - FirehouseLogbook@gmail.com Twitter - @FDLogbook Instagram - @FDLogbookPodcast Facebook - www.facebook.com/FDLogbookPodcas...

More than 40 years ago, a two state agencies approached a local fire chief about partnering to provide helicopter based EMS service to Central Virginia. They joined forces with a medical teaching hospital and what emerged is a long standing multi-purpose EMS Provider that has set a standard for cooperation. Captain David Tollett was the Virginia State Police Aviation Unit Commander, and along with...

Bill Niemann retired from Prince William, VA Fire Department with so stories so interesting, he had to write them down in a book titled, "Heavy Fire Showing". Officially a novel, the stories here are excellent examples of the comradery and shenanigans that made firehouse life and the family of the fire service so unique. You can find his book on Amazon. Comments or suggestions? Contact us at: Emai...

Guy Santelli is a retire Chief Officer from the City of Kenosha, WI Fire Department and a long time friend I've worked with on Community Risk Reduction and code geek stuff for many years. In this episode, Henry and I were lucky enough to be doing a balloon event in Wisconsin and Guy and his son came along to help, and I brough the microphone to capture some of Guy's history and stories. Comments o...

Thirty years ago, Keith Bryant was a firefighter in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma when the Alfred P. Murrah building was blown up. Today, he serves as the State Fire Marshal in Oklahoma but not before service as the US Fire Administrator. Comments or suggestions? Contact us at: Email - FirehouseLogbook@gmail.com Twitter - @FDLogbook Instagram - @FDLogbookPodcast Facebook - www.facebook.com/FDLogbookPodc...

Tonya Hoover started her fire service career as a cadet firefighter in Shippensburg, PA and rose to serve as the Deputy Administrator for the US Fire Administration. She was a local and state fire marshal along the way and believes in staying connected to the people who are doing the job day in and day out. After an eight month stint of being retired, she's gotten the spark for service once again....

We did a series of "next generation" episodes a few years ago and it's a good time to revisit the state of the future of the fire service. And if these two ladies are any indication, the profession is in great hands. Their paths to the fire service are different, but their passion and love for the job is identical. I can't wait to see where they will go next. Comments or suggestions? Contact us at...

Henry and I have been involved in hot air ballooning for quite a while now, and it has literally shaped what we are doing today, including starting a new business venture, Old Dominion Air-Ventures. Check us out a www.olddominionair-ventures.com . This episode tells the stories behind two of the balloons we fly - the American Football and Tiny the Fire Dog. Email - FirehouseLogbook@gmail.com Twitt...

Kailyn Batten joined me for a conversation 18 months ago just days before she started Recruit School 67 with Chesterfield County. Today, fully qualified and off probation she joined me again to talk about her six month recruit academy and her first year on the job. Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Questions or comments, email firehouselogbookpodcast@gmail.com

It's been a while, but now with a new Podcast Studio and a new year, here we go! It was great catching back up and getting John Crosby and Henry Rosenbaum back behind the microphones, but ended the day with some sad news. It was a bit surreal given some of the topics we touched on in this episode. Donate to support the Talbott Family by visiting the Chesterfield Professional Firefighters Charitabl...

After serving in the US Airforce and working two jobs in near his hometown of Petersburg, VA, Roland Stokes didn't want to make the move further south with his company so he took the test to become a Chesterfield Firefighter. He was the first African American to become a career firefighter and one of the first career members to be assigned to a truck company. Today Roland is trying to document mor...