Firefighter Podcast

Carl Boasman first appeared on the podcast back in episode #301 Leadership & The Impact we have on others. Since then Carl has come onbaord with the podcast team supporting on our strataegic partnership work and in today episode we are talk about: - Carl joining the podcast - Reflections on the growth and guests from the podcast - A look at the NOW & NEXT that's happening in the secto...

Professor Paul Christensen is a subject matter expert & Consultant on all aspects of lithium-ion battery safety including fire detection and suppression. He is Senior Advisor to the National Fire Chiefs Council & lead for continuing Professional Development on lithium-ion battery safety across the sector covering basic lithium-ion battery science and technology, thermal runaway and consequ...

Ben Levy is a highly experienced senior manager at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. During his 28-year career as a firefighter and officer he has gained significant operational experience. He has held a wide range of leadership positions, with a primary focus on operational command, safety, technical advice, assurance, and research and development. As the strategic lead for Fires in Tal...

Joshua Burchick is a Captain with Howard County (MD) Department of Fire & Rescue Services, and has served with HCFR since early 2004.  Additionally, he has served with the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department in Prince Georges County, MD. He is a trainer for the IAFF’s Fire Ground Survival Program, is an ACE certified Peer Fitness Trainer and nationally accredited CrossFit trainer.  He holds a B...

A round up episode about The British Firefighter Challenge 2024. The event, athletes, sponsors and medal winner. Find out more about the BFC HERE We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast on public platforms so to access our podcast LIBRARY, every Debrief & document CLICK HERE PODCAST GIFT - Get your FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE A big thanks to our...

In today episode we are giving into a long standing request which has become more frequent lately and we have UKFRS serving Watch Commander & member of the podcast team Sarah Bromley Interviewing the founder & Host of the firefighters podcast Pete Wakefield asking about the Who, What, How & Why The Firefighters Podcast got started. We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast...

Today my guests are Joss Gaynor from The Firefighters Charity & Steve Sadler from Re-enkindle specialising in Fire Service Research. We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast on public platforms so to access our podcast LIBRARY, every Debrief & document CLICK HERE PODCAST GIFT - Get your FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE A big thanks to our partners...

Today returning guest and friend of the podcast Mike Stachowicz from the UKFRS as we discuss his recent trip to International Fire Instructor’s Workshop IFIW. The next IFIW in 2025 will be in Denver, Colorado. We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast on public platforms so to access our podcast LIBRARY, every Debrief & document CLICK HERE PODCAST GIFT - Get your FREE subscription...

Today I'm speaking with Louise Diffey from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue service about how we Embrace, Embed and Manage through the ever changing landscape of the First responders working life and also discuss mental models that are useful when thinking about how we manage change in our own lives as well. This episode was recorded at the 22nd annual Woman In The Fire Service...

We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast on public platforms so to access our podcast LIBRARY, every Debrief & document CLICK HERE My guest today is Brent Brooks who is an international speaker and hands on instructor. He teaches High Rise Tactics and large diameter hose movements. Brent is currently a Captain with Toronto Fire Services. His 29 year career with firefighting start...

This is our follow up from #308 - the second part episode with Dave O'Neill MBE. Dave retired from London Fire Brigade as AC of Special Projects in October of 2023 following an incredible career spanning 3 decades in the UK Fire & Rescue Service. In the 2021 New Years Honours he was awarded an MBE for masterminding the fire service support to the Ambulance service and PMART (the multi age...

In the early hours of Thursday 23rd January 1958, local firefighters arrived at the Smithfield Meat Market. By the time the blaze was finally contained, days later, two members of the London Fire Brigade were dead and a further twenty-six firefighters were hospitalised. This incident, which was instrumental in modernising firefighters' breathing apparatus and breathing apparatus procedures, p...

Dave O'Neill MBE retired from London Fire Brigade as AC of Special Projects in October of 2023 following an incredible career spanning 3 decades in the UK Fire & Rescue Service. In the 2021 New Years Honours he was awarded an MBE for masterminding the fire service support to the Ambulance service and PMART (the multi agency response to covid related deaths at home). He finished his career...

This episode was recorded at the 22nd annual Woman In The Fire Service with the Incident command team leading on the multi incident scenarios and developing firefighters and commanders. Women in the Fire Service UK (WFS) was set up in the 1990s with its purpose of Enabling and inspiring confident and successful women to build a more progressive Fire and Rescue Service. You Can find Siobhan on Inst...

10 June to Sunday 16 June is National Diabetes Week - Type 2 diabetes is a national health emergency in the UK. For every 1,000 employees, 82 have diabetes, 20 of these do not know they have the condition – the majority of people have no symptoms when they are diagnosed. Given how much time we spend at work, workplaces are a significant factor in our personal risk of developing type 2 diabetes and...

Siobhan is a 38 year old mother of 2 and more recently a firefighter in London Fire Brigade. Whilst going through her application process she realised there was no one explicitly sharing their journey through the training process in the fire service. This is why she set up thefiremum . She wanted to create a safe space where she can share her journey, any tips along the way and allow others to ask...

Chris Westfield started his Fire service career in 2003 whereby within the same year he was involved in a near death experience operationally at what became known as the TELSTAR HOUSE fire. A 20 Pump High-rise Fire; Telstar House was located on Eastbourne Terrace, Paddington, London. It’s an office building that was constructed during the late 60’s, the building did not have a sprinkler installati...

The Welsh Firefighter Challenge is a regional sporting event run alongside The British Firefighter Challenge. It is for both serving and retired firefighters. Held annually, the Welsh Firefighter Challenge is a set of gruelling physical and mental tests designed to showcase the skills and strength of firefighters. It’s an opportunity to come together as a community, to support and celebrate each o...

 At just after 22:30hrs on Monday 22nd May 2017, a suicide bomber detonated an improvised device at the Manchester Arena in the UK where around 14,000 people, mainly teenagers and family, had travelled from across the UK to attend the concert of Ariana Grande. The bomb killed twenty-two people including many children. Over one hundred were physically injured and many more suffered psychological an...

On this Bonus episode we joined Daisy Byron, Clare Fletcher & 160+ first responders from 31 fire and rescue services across the UK for an adventure in the peak district. hear about how this whole event came about and how to get involved yourself. You can download FREE RESOURCES HERE You can connect with Daisy at womenwanderers999@outlook.com Join the Facebook Page for Women Wanderers 999 We on...

Andy Starnes joined the Fire Service in 1991. Serving 12 years as a firefighter & then Captain on an Engine Company before being assigned to Battalion Chief in a busy Metropolitan area in the United States. He retired in 2023 after 25 years. Andy’s fire behavior and thermal imaging journey began  with the "Kill the Flashover Project" (Applied Science in Fire Behaviour)  which was fou...

This mini series of 6 episodes comes from an event attended by the podcast in 2024 hosted by Lancashire Fire & Rescue and it was an IFE CPD event focussed on Structural firefighting & Tactical Ventilation lead by John McDonough & Karel Lambert. Both well respected international fire behaviour instructors. John McDonough First came on the podcast back in episode #113  and Karel Lambert...

This mini series of 6 episodes comes from an event attended by the podcast in 2024 hosted by Lancashire Fire & Rescue and it was an IFE CPD event focussed on Structural firefighting & Tactical Ventilation lead by John McDonough & Karel Lambert. Both well respected international fire behaviour instructors. John McDonough First came on the podcast back in episode #113  and Karel Lambert...

This mini series of 6 episodes comes from an event attended by the podcast in 2024 hosted by Lancashire Fire & Rescue and it was an IFE CPD event focussed on Structural firefighting & Tactical Ventilation lead by John McDonough & Karel Lambert. Both well respected international fire behaviour instructors. John McDonough First came on the podcast back in episode #113  and Karel Lambert...

Andy Watt is an operational firefighter i the UK and in may of 2024 In aid of Maggie's Cancer Centres and Macmillan, Andy took on his 7th HYROX wearing full firefighter PPE including SCBA set. After weeks of tough training, Watt smashed the course in 2 hours and 9 minutes. Andy is also a professional coach developing athletes to undertake HYROX challenges among other health & fitness goal...