CMC Podcast

In this special, lighting round style, episode of the CMC Podcast Instructors Craig McClure and Justin Wheaton discus not one, but 13 topics. Rapid fire on-the-spot questions with no warning and no rehearsal. Sometimes they agree, sometimes they don't. Where do you land on these questions and why? Favorite gear, most overtrained topics, most undertrained topics, favorite rescue saying, and more, o...

In this episode of the CMC Podcast, CMC Instructors Craig McClure and Justin Wheaton discus the testing process when it comes to new ideas and concepts in Rope Rescue. This conversation ranges from: discussing ITRS, how can you eliminate testing bias to the best of your ability, negative and positive trends at ITRS, how the level of detail put into research can make or break a presentation and Jus...

On this episode of the CMC Podcast, CMC instructor Doug McElmury talks to Rock Thompson from Rock Exotica. Rock Thompson is one of the most innovative and prolific people in any discipline that involves life safety rope equipment. In this podcast, Rock tells the story of the humble beginnings of Rock Exotica and how it has grown into a brand known around the globe. He shares fascinating accounts o...

In this CMC Podcast our school instructors Craig McClure, John McKently, LeRoy Harbach, and Jason Ilowite hold a roundtable a discussion about the books, aside from technical manuals, that have been influential to them in their lives and careers. Books mentioned: "The Mission, The Men, and Me" By Pete Blaber "Up the Organization" by Robert Townsend "Young Men and Fire" by Norman MacLean "Green Egg...

In this CMC Podcast CMC Instructors Wayne Chapman, John McKently, Doug McElmury, and Kelly Byrne hold a roundtable discussion about NFPA General Use vs Technical Use ratings. They explore how the ratings are defined, if there is a requirement to use one over the other, and possible use cases. Overheard this episode: “As long as you are buying good stuff from reputable places you are not in danger...

This week we are joined by Fred Salazar. Fred started his journey into the fire services at a young age when he attended a fire academy through a junior college, followed by paramedic school. Fred's first position out of school was with a fire team working for a petrochemical plant in Southern California where he served as a full time industrial Fire Fighter for 7 years. After his service in the i...

This week we are joined by CMC School Instructor Craig McClure. Craig got his start in rope rescue volunteering for a Search and Rescue team in Bend, OR. Eventually after many years of volunteering and teaching in the rope rescue field Craig started his own training company called The Crackerjack Group, which he ran for nearly 10 years. After selling the Crackerjack Group he returned to his passio...

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ Join us weekly to get to know our CMC instructors. This week we are joined by Kelly Byrne. Kelly Started his fire service career as a Highschool cadet volunteer in 1992. After Highschool Kelly served in the United States Army as an Airborne Infantryman with the 82nd Airborne. Upon completion of his service in 1999 Kelly moved back into th...

Join us weekly to get to know our CMC School instructors. This week we are joined by John McKently. John began working in the rescue industry in 1974, became an instructor with CMC in 1995, and retired as the CMC School Director in 2020. John worked for 47 years on the Montrose Search and Rescue team in Los Angeles County, CA. In this interview, we talk with John about how he transitioned from wor...

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ Join us weekly as we get to know our CMC School instructors. This week we are joined by Derrick Walker. Derrick has a background in the industrial world working in power plants as a certified structural welder and welding inspector. Derrick has been teaching Rope Rescue Tech I / II classes with CMC since 2021. In this interview, we talk w...

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ Join us weekly as we get to know our CMC School instructors. This week we are joined by David Harper. David started his career by taking an EMT class in Highschool and worked his way up from working for a private ambulance company to Fire Bataillon Chief. David has worked with FEMA and managed both a rescue team and squad. David has been...

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ Join us weekly as we get to know our CMC instructors. This week we are joined by Dan Claridge. Dan has been working in Fire Services since 2001 and has been an instructor for the CMC School since 2014. Currently an Engineer Paramedic, City Of Glendale Fire Department (CA), Dan teaches subjects ranging from Low Angle Rope Rescue, Confined...

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ With this CMC Podcast we are kicking off our Instructor Series. Join us weekly as we get to know our CMC instructors. This week we are joined by Alan Baker. Alan started his career as a firefighter in Newport Beach, CA, in 1992 and has been an instructor for the CMC School since 1995. He is a senior instructor teaching subjects ranging fr...

In this CMC GRIMP North America 2022 recap, we are joined by 49th Parallel (@49thparallelrescueteam) a Canadian team composed of Firefighters from all across Canada who are involved with Ronin Rescue (@roninrescue). In this episode Doug talks with the 49th Parallel team about why they decided to compete in GRIMP NA 2022, what they learned from other competitions that helped them prepare, how they...

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ In this CMC GRIMP North America 2022 recap, we are joined by Peak Rescue (@peak_rescue) members Micah Rush, Toph Steinhoff, Eric Christensen, and Tye Herron who all placed first in Grimp NA 2022. Peak Rescue is a team from parts of Wyoming and Utah composed of members who work in Fire Service, Rope Access and Mountain Rescue. In this CMC...

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ In this CMC GRIMP North America 2022 recap, we are joined by Intervention Rescue (@interventionrescue). Intervention Rescue is a UK based technical access and rescue training provider that offerers consulting services for rescue plans and risk assessments. Intervention rescue is comprised of professionals from the rope access industry and...

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ In this CMC GRIMP North America 2022 recap, we are joined by members of the Rose City Ropers: Adam Salvetti, Sam Dougan, Josef Kuehnast, Tyler Hohl, David Mackovjak . The Rose City Ropers are a team comprised of members from Portland Fire & Rescue in Portland, Oregon. In this CMC podcast Doug speaks with the Rose City Ropers on how they p...

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ In this CMC GRIMP North America 2022 recap, we are joined by T'NT Work and Rescue (@tntworknrescue). Coming from Canada with a combined 70 years of experience, T'NT has a diverse background in law enforcement, rope access, and fire rescue. Team captain Wade Going and team members Danny DeHaas, Scott Gibney, and Steve Minarchi speak to how...

In this CMC GRIMP North America 2022 recap, we are joined by the Orange County Fire Rescue Florida team (@ocfirerescue): Ryan Allen (@rope_rescue_guy), Evan Pech, Jeffrey Hansen, and Christopher Ramey. Orange County Fire Rescue Florida was founded in 2015 in response to the ever growing theme park industry. OC Fire Rescue Florida performs rescues on theme park rides and other unique structures in...

In this CMC GRIMP North America 2022 recap, we are joined by Xavier Tournay of the Val De Sambre Team from Sambreville, Belgium. They discuss their experience as a small fire department participating in GRIMP and the unique terrain the Battleship IOWA provided throughout the competition. Overheard from this episode: “To compete on the battleship USS Iowa is an amazing experience.” “For us, a very...

In this CMC GRIMP North America 2022 recap, we are joined by the entire Yes Ma'am team (@yesmaamrescue): Team Captain Lydia Tan (@lydiaai007), Evaluator Kitana Chu, Team Members Saskia Roosen (@saskiaroosen), Alia Koster, Cecilia Gonzales (@womeninrope), and Stephanie Hyatt (@verticalintegrityrescue), and Victim Brid Casey. Yes Ma'am was the first ever all-female team to compete in a GRIMP event....

In this CMC GRIMP North America 2022 recap, we are joined by members of OCFA 91 from Orange County, CA: Team captain, Aaron Creager and team members Dan Blaul, Chris Johns, Chris Linton, Tommy Olvera, and Sebastion Rodreguez. The team reflects on their lessons learned and the variety of confined space scenarios at GRIMP NA, saying: “It shows the range that this competition can have; as complex as...