Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Podcast

Nick Wilbur, Win Slauch, and Alex Moody do a deep dive on heavy rescues including single vs. tandem axles, walk-in vs. nonwalk-in, equipment to carry, questions to ask to help shape the vehicle, and what to look at BEFORE purchasing this type of fire apparatus.

Technology touched every aspect of FDIC International 2025, and Kevin Sofen had a front row seat for it as part of the NextGen Fire Rescue Tech Summit and the Lucas Oil Experience's NextGen Fire Tech section. Sofen had several takeaways and insights on how technology is being evaluated and used in the fire service today, and just how openminded the fire service is to these innovations.

Thermal imagers (TIs) are for more than firefighting applications. On the fireground, they have allowed firefighters to perform various tasks more efficiently. But, the same can be said for the technical rescue scene, where TIs are used for a variety of technical rescue disciplines. Learn all about them in this episode of TIC Talk.

In this episode, Chris Mc Loone comments on FDIC International 2025 and how the rigs on display fit the broader context of the current fire apparatus purchasing environment. In addition, he questions whether we are designing rigs for today's younger operators given the host of technologies available to us, for example, electronic pump controls.

In this episode of the Apparatus Workshop, Nick Wilbur, Win Slauch, and guest Steve Crothers of TractorDrawnAerial.com do a deeper dive into specifying tiller trucks including maneuverability and wheelbase, compartment design and access, technology integration, and training.

Chris Mc Loone and Andy Soccodato discuss FDIC 2025, common threads that emerge at Andy's classes, heavy hookups for hydrants, the takeaway Andy wants all his students to have at the end of his classes, and more.

In this episode of our Water Delivery Podcast, Bill Adkins and Andy Soccodato join Chris Mc Loone to discuss getting the maximum flows to your fireground and how your supply line choice (5", 4", 3", etc.) can impact the gpm you receive at the scene of a fire. They'll discuss the topic from both rural and urban/suburban perspectives and will also delve into some of the designs behind the pump panel...

FAMA representatives sit down with Chris Mc Loone to discuss the current state of fire apparatus purchasing, including a brief history of how we've gotten to where we are, lead time updates, solutions from apparatus manufacturers, and more. Brought to you by our friends at The Fire Store .

Chris Mc Loone and Ricky Riley discuss how the PGFD was able to reduce the OAL of two of its newest tillers as well as front bumper considerations. Brought to you by our friends at The Fire Store .

Chris Mc Loone provides some pointers for navigating FDIC International, the potential emergence of stock rigs, and some tips for timing the planning for your next rig. Brought to you by our fiends at The Fire Store .

Apparatus Workshop hosts Nick Wilbur and Win Slauch discuss best practices for budgeting in today's apparatus purchasing environment. This podcast episode sheds light on best practices, safety requirements, budgeting challenges, and the often-overlooked long-term costs associated with fire truck procurement. Brought to you by our friends at The Fire Store .

Thermal imagers (TIs) have allowed firefighters to perform their tasks on the fireground more efficiently. However, there are many other applications or TIs than just structure fires. Join Chris Mc Loone and Brad Harvey, Global Product Manager for Thermal Imaging at Bullard, to learn more about how TIs can be best used in Urban Search & Rescue, how handheld TIs can be used in conjunction with...

Are your pump gauges giving you accurate pressure measurements? Do you gate down valves? Join Dennis LeGear, Kyle Thon, and Chris Mc Loone as they discuss how to ensure the gauges on your next rig accurately reflect the actual pressure at your discharges with just a few tweaks when designing the rig and pump module.

This detailed discussion involves Oran McNabb, president of ISG, and Zach Summers, design coordinator at FMI, to provide insights into compartment management and how the evolution of ISG and FMI’s relationship. Learn more about ISG, FMI, and FMI's Compartment Configurator that helps departments manage their compartment design and layout.

Besides cheering for the Philadelphia Eagles to win Super Bowl 59, Chris Mc Loone offers a few thoughts on a recent article making its way around the Internet regarding the recent California fires' severity and the status of a fire department's fleet and why the fleet is in the state that it's in.

Ricky Riley and Win Slauch join Chris Mc Loone for this deep dive into fire apparatus cabs. What are some of the cab options that impact other areas of the rig? Cab design pitfalls. Is Clean Cab still a thing? These questions and more answered in this episode.

In Part 1, we gave an update on many of the changes at Snap-tite during 2024. In Part 2, Chris Mc Loone and Brian Carson, director of quality at Snap-tite, discuss the manufacturing end of Snap-tite, particularly ISO 9001:2015 certification and why it is important to fire hose purchasers.

Chris Mc Loone shares some thoughts on the start to 2025, including the rig vs. train story that went viral just as 2024 ended.

In this episode of The Apparatus Workshop, Nick Wilbur and Win Slauch are joined by Tim Kern and John Morris of the Baltimore (MD) Fire Department to tackle tiller truck training and operations.

Rescue Squad 820 was delivered to the Prince Georges County (MD) Fire/EMS Department in August 2024. With tool mounting complete, personnel are now training to drive and operate the new rig. Chris Mc Loone and Ricky Riley discuss features of the rig, how it is designed to keep it in service, and the pride and craftsmanship that went into mounting the rig's equipment.

When it comes to purchasing in 2025, there are a few things to keep in mind especially starting early and being patient. Apparatus crashes continued to be prevalent during 2024, but of particular concern were the number of apparatus vs. apparatus crashes. Finally, don't forget the trades in 2025. Brought to you by our friends at  TheFireStore  and  USSC Group .

Andy Biron, frequent contributor to The Rig (www.rigspot.com), joins Chris Mc Loone to talk about pump maintenance from the perspective of the EVT and makes recommendations for what end users can do to keep their rigs out of the shop with pump issues as well as PM fire departments can and should perform and more.

Andy Soccodato and Bill Adkins take a look back at various training evolutions from 2024 through numerous photos and share teaching points from each one. Brought to you by our friends at TheFireStore and USSC Group .

In Part 1 of this deep dive into Tiller Trucks, Nick Wilbur and Win Slauch speak with Chief AJ McCarthy, Longwood (PA) Fire Company and Assistant Chief AJ McCarthy, Arlington County (VA) Fire Department, about the how's and why's involved with getting a tiller truck into your station and navigating one through your first due. Brought to you by our friends at TheFireStore and USSC .

As it turns out, the topic of blacked-out rigs can often become as emotional as rear- or mid-mount aerials or smooth bore vs. combination fog nozzles. Rest assured, our panel of Ricky Riley, Nick Wilbur, and Robert Tutterow stay calm as they discuss this trend. Brought to you by our friends at TheFireStore and USSC .