Smart Firefighting

Education EN ↓ 329 episodes

Smart Firefighting Podcast covers real-world deployments of smart technologies through conversations with technologists, innovators, companies, and forward-thinking public safety and government agencies. Learn from interviews with leaders as they share their insights and offer their expertise every week! Host Kevin Sofen is a co-founding member of the Smart First Responder Community who loves to explore change management and technology in public safety.

Author

Smart Firefighting

Episodes

Episode 297: From Beavers to Buybacks: How Nature Shapes Disaster Preparedness with Andrew Gissing 13.11.2025 19:02

What does it really mean to build disaster resilience in a changing world? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy. Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC...

Episode 296: From Vibe Coding to Real Change, Fireant’s Vision for Smarter Solutions with Thomas Mynott 06.11.2025 18:46

How can technology rebuild trust and reduce admin burdens for volunteers in fire and emergency services? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy. Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025...

Episode 295: Hydrogen and the Future of Decarbonization in Public Safety with Paul Medwell 29.10.2025 15:36

Hydrogen is often called the fuel of the future, but what does it really mean for public safety? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy. Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Confere...

Episode 294: How Firestory Helps Agencies Predict, Prepare, and Protect with Olivia Breed 23.10.2025 12:56

How do we turn overwhelming data into meaningful, life-saving action? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy. Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAF...

Episode 293: How LA Fought Twelve Fires in Fifteen Days with Chief Tony Marrone 15.10.2025 23:43

Wind picks up, embers are flying...what stands between you and loss? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy. Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA...

Episode 292: Turning Climate Data into Safer Cities with Peter Thompson & Barry Evans 10.10.2025 16:19

What if we could predict the next wildfire before it started? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy. Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA, and A...

Episode 291: Driving Change and Innovation in Fire Service Training with Casey Grant 18.09.2025 23:43

What are measurable, standardized ways to evaluate training across departments? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: How immersive learning can draw from military, medical, and other ind...

Episode 290: Volunteer Fire Service, Training Barriers, and the Future of Recruitment with Brittany Hollerbach 11.09.2025 22:21

What are the essential factors for firefighter readiness and retention? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: What are the biggest challenges for recruiting volunteer firefighters? How to...

Episode 289: Enhancing Firefighter Training and Exploring AI with John Oates 04.09.2025 23:14

How can we strengthen firefighter training without replacing traditional methods? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: What immersive learning’s role should be in firefighter training Ho...

Episode 288: Standardizing Immersive Learning for the Fire Service with Dr. Kate Kapalo 02.09.2025 19:17

What is the future of fire service training? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: What must immersive learning focus on for greater impact? What tools help fire instructors measure perfo...

Episode 287: Building the Fire Academy of the Future with Ken Willette 27.08.2025 19:38

What are essential elements of the fire academy of the future? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: What should immersive learning focus on? Measurable ways to evaluate training effectiv...

Episode 286: Building Simple, Scalable Tech for Firefighters and Warfighters with Paul Couston 21.08.2025 39:40

Here’s why technology must fit seamlessly into firefighter operations: Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: Why simpler technology drives better adoption Proof that science alone isn’t e...

Episode 285: TAK for First Responders with Brian Alligood from Draper Labs 31.07.2025 16:09

Why does the TAK ecosystem work? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: How can partnerships close the tech adoption gap How Draper Labs builds tools for firefighters, EMS, and law enforce...

Episode 284: Using TAK to Navigate Crisis Zones with Free Burma Rangers with Miles Vining 24.07.2025 21:00

How can open-source tools make a real difference when traditional systems are failing? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: How is TAK filling a critical gap in humanitarian coordination...

Episode 283: CoTAK and the Push for Real-Time Emergency Coordination with Ben Miller 17.07.2025 13:59

How can you focus on the mission, not the noise? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: How did Colorado build a shared infrastructure for all public safety agencies? What’s the next evolu...

Episode 282: How TAK Started and Where It’s Going with Ralph Kohler 10.07.2025 27:46

How did TAK become a widespread, indispensable tool for military and civilian first responders? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: How TAK got started and its evolution Insights on the...

Episode 281: Action Demonstrates Priority in the Fire Service with Erin McGruder 03.07.2025 44:33

Let’s talk about practical, hands-on firefighter training: Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: What is durable learning, and why is it essential for firefighters? How to create a cultur...

Episode 280: The Hottest Issue in Firefighting with Ryan Darley 26.06.2025 27:35

What kind of fires burn hotter and faster than anything firefighters have faced before? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: Why battery fires require new tactics and tools Why departmen...

Episode 279: Law Enforcement Embraces Tech-Driven Drone Support with Zach Finfrock 19.06.2025 26:50

Is technology a part of the job now? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: How drones are a low-cost, high-impact alternative to traditional air support The real-time collaboration tools...

Episode 278: Harnessing Tech for Real-World Firefighting Challenges with Kevin Swat 13.06.2025 49:42

Tech isn’t just a toy. Tech helps save lives. Here’s how: Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: Why drones and ROVs are critical tools that provide real-time eyes in otherwise inaccessibl...

Episode 277: Space-Based Forest Fire Monitoring with OroraTech with Thomas Grübler 05.06.2025 13:21

How is forest fire monitoring changing for the better? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: How space-based technology is changing forest fire monitoring How OroraTech 's shoebox-sized s...

Episode 276: Utilizing Technology in Fire Service Training with Steve Kaiser 29.05.2025 16:20

Here’s why you gotta be more curious: Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: The value of training in the fire service How technology like virtual reality and gas props is transforming fir...

Episode 275: Using IoT and AI for Fire Detection with Rob Vernon 22.05.2025 10:20

Let’s talk about the importance of measuring what matters in the fight against climate change… Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: Leveraging IoT, computer vision, and AI for wildfire d...

Episode 274: Striving to Be 1% Better Every Day with Sirena Allen-de Guzman 15.05.2025 13:55

A new firefighter’s journey into the fire service: Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: Why diversity and inclusivity matter in serving diverse communities effectively How AI and drones...

Episode 273: Accelerating Technologies for Global Problems with Satellites with Preetham Akula 08.05.2025 13:14

How are intelligent satellites revolutionizing wildfire response? Hello Smart Firefighting Community! Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy! In this episode: How Akula Tech ’s use of 3D printing makes satellites faster, lighter, and more aff...