Firehouse Talk: Tales from the Fire Service

Send us Fan Mail The year is 1978. A young kid from the projects rides his bicycle for miles. Parched, he stops at a fire station in search of a drink of water and his life is forever changed.  Mark Berry is now a battalion chief with the Dallas Fire Department and our story starts with a fatal house fire he responded to just hours before our interview.  Other topics covered: Mark's backstory...

Send us Fan Mail This is part 2 of a kitchen table discussion about Dallas Fire Department history, Local 58, riding on open cab trucks, the 1936 Texas Centennial Expedition, a fatal accident, and making a big difference in the life of a young man who wandered into the fire station one day.  Guests include Captain Don Howard, Captain Reuben Millsaps, Lieutenant Mike McLemore and Lieutenant Terry M...

Send us Fan Mail This is part 1 of 2 and is a conversation with Captain Reuben Millsaps, Captain Don Howard and Lieutenant Mike McLemore of the Dallas Fire Department.  All three have been officers in the Dallas Firefighters Association, also known as Local 58.   Some of the things we talk about are working at the old downtown stations (especially Station 18), fire station life, fire station chara...

Send us Fan Mail Nearly 3 years ago I interviewed the longest serving uniformed member of the Dallas Fire Department, Battalion Chief Mike Jones   You’d be hard pressed to find anyone in the fire service anywhere who fought as many battles, both on and off the fireground as Chief Mike Jones who was a tireless advocate for his troops, the department and the citizens.  In the conversation that follo...

Send us Fan Mail A fatal fire in 1981 left two Dallas firefighters dead.  In this episode (part 2), we look at the immediate aftermath, developments and long term consequences and also learn the cause of the fire. Visit www.firehousetalk.com for more information

Send us Fan Mail On August 21, 1981,  an early morning fire breaks out in a large Dallas home.  This is the story of the men who fought the fire and the tragic consequences of that incident. This episode takes us through the day before and the day of the fire.  A future episode will delve into the aftermath of the fire, lessons learned, and changes that have been made since that time.  Visit www.f...

Send us Fan Mail Following their long careers as firefighters  with the Dallas Fire Department, Byron Temple and Creston Whitaker join me, Mike Otto and Rett Blankenship to talk about their experiences. Visit www.firehousetalk.com for more information

Send us Fan Mail Pat Murphy worked for the Dallas Fire Department for 40 years before retiring as a Captain.  A gregarious character, he is well known and loved by all.  My co-host Mike Otto, museum docent Mike Hoskins and I sat down with Pat to discuss his career over a cup of coffee at the Dallas Firefighters Museum.  Pat mentions many firefighters in this episode, one of whom passed away recent...

Send us Fan Mail Chief Steve Abraira cut his teeth in Miami, Florida where he rose through the ranks to be the Assistant Chief of Operations. He then served as Chief of the Department in three different cities including Dallas Texas, Palm Bay Florida and Boston Massachusetts.  This is his story. Visit www.firehousetalk.com for more information

Send us Fan Mail A brief history of the Dallas Chapter of the Knife and Gun Club.  The story begins with historical 19th century shootings, then skips forward to a few more recent incidents.  Visit www.firehousetalk.com for more information

Send us Fan Mail The year is 1963. Bud Massie and Joe Jones are both Dallas firefighters and both they, and their wives Marsha and Betty, are close friends. On Monday, August 26, Bud and Joe are riding Truck 15 in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas while Marsha and Betty are spending the day together.  This is a story of tragedy told from a different perspective, not a firefighter perspective, bu...

Send us Fan Mail The Burris brothers travel to Dallas and join the fire department, but this choice leads  to a date with destiny years later at the Texas Wheel and Body Company fire in 1923.  We talk to a surviving relative about the brothers and the fire.  We also learn about Assistant Chief E.O. "Charlie" Jones and unravel a photographic mystery in the Dallas Firefighters Museum archi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we speak with Lieutenant Mike Otto, Dallas Fire Department, Retired.  We discuss his fire department career before delving into his near death experience in a house fire in 2006. Music by Scott Buckley - www.scottbuckley.com.au Visit www.firehousetalk.com for more information

Send us Fan Mail A while back I was looking through some of our items at the Dallas Firefighter’s Museum and came across what appeared to be a strap of some sort mounted on red velvet in a beautiful wooden shadow box.  In this episode we learn the backstory behind this important piece of history at the museum. After the episode, visit the firefightinglegends.com website to see accompanying photogr...

Send us Fan Mail A podcast  dedicated to preserving the stories of firefighters and the fire service.  Episodes available wherever you get your podcast, and also on the website firefightinglegends.com Music by Scott Buckley - scottbuckley.com/au Visit www.firehousetalk.com for more information