B Shifter

Send us Fan Mail U.S.  fire departments respond to an average of 125,000 residential natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas leaks annually , an increase of about 25 percent compared to 2007.  Do you have a plan for how your department will respond and mitigate these incidents? According to the NFPA, every year more than 50,000 fires start as the result of flammable gas while more than 160,000 fire...

Send us Fan Mail Discover what's new and what's next with the Blue Card Program as Josh Blum and John Vance provide an essential update on the evolution of our training system for incident commanders. Tune in to find out how we've conquered the challenges since the old system's shutdown, from swiftly resurrecting the learning management system to fixing pesky bugs. Get the insi...

Send us Fan Mail Today commemorates the 23rd anniversary of the Southwest Supermarket Fire in Phoenix AZ.  While this incident resulted in the death of Firefighter Bret Tarver, 13 total Maydays, and deep scars for many working in the Phoenix Fire Department, it also resulted in transformative changes to the American fire service.  Through unparalleled leadership and vision, a 5 year examination of...

Send us Fan Mail Our latest podcast episode pulls back the curtain on the crucial role of the senior advisor in incident command, focusing on their support to the Incident Commander (IC) and their ability to seamlessly liaise with external agencies and how the senior advisor ensure the IC's attention remains undivided on the crisis while they handle the intricacies of public information overs...

Send us Fan Mail Embrace the spirit of Silverback Leadership as we reunite with seasoned pros John Vance, Terry Garrison, and Nick Brunacini, honoring the late Chief Brunacini's legacy. As we dissect his profound wisdom, you'll be welcomed into a heartfelt dialogue on the Kindness Conspiracy, revealing how it's reshaped the culture of firefighting. This episode is a masterclass in l...

Send us Fan Mail Discover a new dimension to firefighting tactics as Josh Blum and Chris Stewart join us for a robust conversation on the Blue Card Decision Making workshop's game-changing impact on hazard zone management. We zero in on how this program is revolutionizing strategy and decision-making from the chief officer to the firefighters in the hazard zone. This episode promises to leave...

Send us Fan Mail When life seems to cruise along, that's often a signal as the perfect moment to shake things up.  Our latest episode shares these personal revolutions about when it is time to move on and also serves as a guide for spotting the often-subtle cues for change in personal and professional spheres. Bringing in stories from the fire service, we explore the impact of adept training...

Send us Fan Mail This episode peels back the layers of safe fireground operations while utilizing the imbedded safety officer. We talk about how this approach transforms the safety landscape, providing immediate support and enhancing accountability where it's needed most. This episode features Nick Brunacini, Josh Blum and John Vance. We want your helmet (for the AVB CTC)! Check this out to f...

Send us Fan Mail This episode feature incident audio from Bernalillo County (NM), Harrison (OH) & Las Vegas (NV). We want your helmet (for the AVB CTC)! Check this out to find out more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg5_ZwoCZo0 Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.mys...

Send us Fan Mail We want your helmet (for the AVB CTC)! Check this out to find out more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg5_ZwoCZo0 Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com Register for the 2024 Hazard Zone Conference here: http://hazardzonebc.com/ All of our lin...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how to build a values-driven professional development program in a fire department? Ponder no more, as we venture into the heart of this topic, highlighting the importance of creating a holistic training approach that values members for their entire persona, not just their ranks. You'll hear Jeffrey's perspective on the essential role of a training officer...

Send us Fan Mail Ever felt that the rumor mill beats the actual communication speed in your organization? Are you tired of lengthy, unproductive meetings?  John Vance, Nick Brunacini, and Terry Garrison, tackle the intricacies of effective communication strategies within fire departments. We unwrap our experiences in streamlining administrative needs and implementing new policies. We want your hel...

Send us Fan Mail We define what IC "task saturation" is and Blue Card News including a recap of 2023 and more important, what is coming up for 2024! This episode features Josh Blum and John Vance. Sign up for the free Decision Making Webinar on December 6, 2023 here: https://streamyard.com/watch/wvmht9qGt4bp The link to the latest NIOSH Report is here: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/repo...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we bring you an engaging conversation with Fire Chief Greg Timinsky from Star/ Middleton, Idaho. (Greg is also a Blue Card Lead Instructor). He shares his journey of uniting two fire departments, a task that took over two years, but resulted in a more efficient and effective service for his community. Now, they're all one big family with identical uniforms, and a unani...

Send us Fan Mail We dive into the recent renovations to the Blue Card system, unpack the enhancements to the learning management system and the ARFF module, and provide a glimpse into our collaboration with the National Fire Sprinkler Association. We also reveal our plans for new CE modules and share the positive feedback garnered from the Silverback Leadership presentation. But it doesn't st...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how the values and behaviors of individuals can reflect an entire organization? Or how the actions of our upbringing can follow us into our professional and personal lives? Join us, as we navigate these intriguing questions and much more in a captivating discussion centered around leadership dynamics, especially in emergency services. We delve into the critical role...

Send us Fan Mail This is a live recording of the last session at the 2023 Blue Card Hazard Zone Conference in Sharonville, Ohio. This episode summarizes some of the emerging topics discussed at this year's Hazard Zone Conference. This episode features Josh Blum ,  Nick Brunacini , Dan Madrzykowski, Frank Leeb, Chris Stewart, Jeffery King, and John Vance. Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, ou...

Send us Fan Mail We review audio from Las Vegas Fire/Rescue with a fire in a vacant building that's known to house the homeless. Crews are challenge with holes in the floor and other structural hazards during the 2nd alarm incident. We'll walk you through their response, from the arrival of the BC on scene first to  task assignments and the ensuing operations.  We'll also discuss th...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to navigate air management in firefighting? How do you ensure compliance with NFPA 1404? We are here to take a deeper dive into NFPA 1404 and SOG's to help your department achieve compliance. We look at operations of different fire departments, drawing vital lessons from each, and leaving you with practical tips for your own department.  We are publishing a new SOG each...

Send us Fan Mail This episode features the wise insights of Battalion Chief Steve Lester of the Cobb County Fire Department. Steve brilliantly decodes the role of competence, confidence, and control in successful fireground operations, emphasizing the indispensable role of practice and experience. Hear about how the Blue Card system has been instrumental in sculpting proficient incident commanders...

Send us Fan Mail We are recored live from the floor of FRI in Kansas City, Missouri! We tackle the importance of Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs) aimed at refining fire service operations. By tailoring these SOGs to fit your organization's needs, you can streamline your workflow and boost effectiveness. To help us navigate this topic, we have Shane Ray from the National Fire Sprinkler Ass...

Send us Fan Mail Are you eager to learn from experts in the field, like Chief Gary Fleischer from the Worcester Fire Department and Shane Ray from the National Fire Sprinkler Association? If yes, then you're gonna love this episode! We'll be talking all about the upcoming Blue Card Hazard Zone Conference in Cincinnati and the invaluable lessons you can draw from it. This isn't just...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder why the fire department has such high turnover rates? Or why the young guns seem more loyal to the job than the city they serve? Join us as we torch through these questions, exploring the intricacies of job contentment, application deficiencies, and the scarcity of good applicants. We'll crack open one listener's query on managing turnover while maintaining t...

Send us Fan Mail Our popular segment "Ask The Fire Chief" has a new companion, "Ask The Ops Chief"! We tackle issues that you sent us that Josh Blum (our resident Ops Chief) takes the lead on.  If we use your question, you get an "OG IC" t-shirt. We then finish this episode with a "Timeless Tactical Truth". This episode features Josh Blum ,  Nick Brunacini ,...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode we take your questions and have a little fun (we can't be all business all the time because that is not good for our mental well being)! Ever wondered how first responders maintain mental wellness and peak performance in high-pressure situations? Join us as we share our personal experiences with meditation, yoga, and other methods to strengthen mental health a...