The Firehouse Logbook Podcast

Greg Cade was a member of Recruit School 1 in Prince Georges County, MD. He went on to become the Fire Chief in Hampton, VA; Fire Chief in Virginia Beach, VA; the US Fire Administrator under President George W. Bush, and to positions with the National Fire Protection Association. Greg's experiences in those positions spans more than 50 years. Support this podcast at https://patreon.com/firehouselo...

Harry Baird went from small town garage band drummer, to CPA student, then he discovered an EMT book. From that point on, his fate was sealed to become the BLS Program Manager for Chesterfield Fire and EMS. He went on to teach literally thousands of students both basic EMT and ongoing CEU classes. Along the way, he became best of friends with Mike Goff (listen to Episode 40 for Mike's full story)....

The fire service and families are both filled with traditions. Sometimes they are one in the same. Weet Baldwin - a frequent co-host - joins me in this episode with his son Caleb. At the the age of 10, Caleb was training to fly helicopters and to be a firefighter thanks to his family connection to aviation and the fire service. Now, after attending the Virginia Military Institute, he's living the...

It seems to have all started at 3 years old when a young New Zealander asked his parents for a fire helmet. After traveling nearly around the world, working in the service industry, turning wrenches on race cars, and doing machine work, Ben will be starting his fire service career with the Henrico County Division of Fire later this month. In this episode we learn how he made his way from New Zeala...

Kaitlyn Batten is one of the absolute newest of recruit firefighters in Chesterfield County. With an official hire date of June 26, she is starting off on her fire service career. In this episode, we explore what started her down this path and her experiences going through the application and testing process. Kaitlyn isn't the only Batten in Chesterfield Fire and EMS. Her dad is a Captain in the d...

Before joining Folly Beach SC Fire Department, Chief Lloyd was part of a family tradition with the Charleston, SC Fire Department that has gone on for five generations. In this episode Keith Brower and I talk with Chief Lloyd about his family history, relieving his own uncle on his last day in the fire station, and one of the worst fires in history that shaped how many departments are organized an...

Episode 55 had some great stories from the 211 years of collective wisdom from CFEMS Retirees. But the stories didn't start or stop there. The record button was pushed and stayed on long after the official end of Episode 55. After some pretty heavy editing, some of those stories can be heard here. Enjoy - Support this podcast at https://patreon.com/firehouselogbookpodcast Comments or suggestions?...

I had the honor of sitting down with eight Chesterfield Fire and EMS legends to share some wisdom, history, and humor in this episode from Plant City, Florida. Some live there, some come for the "winter" weather, but all have collected lessons learned (and some humorous stories) along the way that need to be shared. Enjoy this first episode of 2023 Support this podcast at https://patreon.com/fireh...

A young kid from Ohio moves to the tourist town of Tarpon Springs Florida, joins a church band, goes to a volunteer fire department meeting and the rest is history! Rick Butcher joined the Tarpon Springs Fire Department as an 18 year old volunteer and rose to the rank of Fire Chief serving the community for 38 years. He continues his service to the job through the R.E.T.R.E.A.D.S. and as a respond...

Melvin Stone's 40 year career in the fire service ended with his retirement from the position of Assistant Director of the Florida State Fire Marshals Office. His career began in Tampa, Florida to simply provide for his family after loosing a job, but quickly became a passion with a history of being the first African American to hold many of the positions in which he served. And his service contin...

Julius Halas is a 48 year veteran of the fire service, starting out as a firefighter in Sarasota, FL and working his way up to Fire Chief, then consolidating his way out of a job - one of the most humble, team focused, and mission driven people I have ever had the chance to meet. Ultimately rising the to the position of Director of the State Fire Marshals Office, Julius retired in the same city wh...

Specialization in the fire service isn't anything new, but Crash Fire Rescue, or Aircraft Rescue Firefighting is a specialty all in its own. In this episode, I spoke with Jim Nilo who was instrumental in developing and improving AFFF training in Virginia, all because he washed out of one Marine Corps training program and wanted "the shortest school" on that base. Jim ultimately became the fire chi...

On this special episode, I compiled a few of the past year's guests memories and reflections on the attacks of September 11, 2001. When I started asking that question, I had no idea I would come across some amazing and still emotional stories of our experiences. May we never have to go through that again. Support this podcast at https://patreon.com/firehouselogbookpodcast Comments or suggestions?...

Archibald "Mac" McFarlane started his fire service career before he was legally able to, but has gone on to accomplish some great things and continues to do so today. See all of Mac's work here https://www.facebook.com/belizeheroes.org Support this podcast at https://patreon.com/firehouselogbookpodcast Comments or suggestions? Contact us at: Email - FirehouseLogbook@gmail.com Twitter - @FDLogbook...

Brian Rothell or "Skeletor" as he was known in the department, is a retired Chesterfield Firefighter who probably has more life saves off duty than he did when he was on duty. He also worked as a contract firefighter in Iraq and Afghanistan and he's an avid outdoorsman who enjoys kite surfing and stand up paddle boarding on the river. Support this podcast at https://patreon.com/firehouselogbookpod...

How does a firefighter who never worked in fire prevention or codes end up speaking on behalf of the IAFF at national and international code development hearings? It involves rugby, free beer, and a dare. Sean DeCrane is a retired Cleveland, OH Battalion Chief who shares some stories of the legends of the Cleveland Fire Department and them mentors that helped shape his career, and a little about h...

I am delaying this weeks episode due to the tragic loss of a Chesterfield Fire and EMS Firefighter during swift water rescue class on the Nantahala River in North Carolina. Firefighter Alicia Monahan was an 11 year veteran of the department and active with the Virginia K9 Search and Rescue group. She leaves behind two teenage boys and a fiancé. The Chesterfield Professional Firefighters Charitable...

A few years before Johnny and Roy of EMERGENCY! fame, there was a group of groundbreaking EMS providers delivering ALS care to the Hill District of Pittsburgh, PA. Their story has largely gone untold, but John Moon, retired EMS Assistant Chief from Pittsburgh EMS and Freedom House Paramedic is on a mission to get the stories of these first ALS providers shared. Doctors Nancy Caroline and Peter Saf...

FF/P Bill Crump and FF Terry Newcomb are both retirees of Chesterfield Fire and EMS and are still in amazing shape riding road and mountain bikes, canoeing wild rivers, lifting heavy weights, and still telling stories. Bill, Terry, and I talk about some of the greatest supervisors and firefighters we worked with over the years - some of whom are no longer with us. They also share the secret to bei...

Chief Russ Sanders of the Louisville, KY Fire Department spent 55 years in this business, but it was the influence of his first company officer that put him on a path to success. With his first call a fire fatality within hours of coming on duty with no more training than to "hold on tight" while on the tailboard, to becoming the fire chief and changing the focus of the department, Russ has some g...

A fire breaks out in a theater and kills more than 72 people - including Virginia's Governor, prominent Richmond leaders, farmers, and slaves. Meredith Henne Baker is an independent historian who literally wrote the book on this fire. Visit her website at www.theaterfirebook.com to lean more that we could talk about in this episode. Support this podcast at https://patreon.com/firehouselogbookpodca...

Assistant Chief Nick Dinges is a third generation firefighter/paramedic from the Sublette, IL Fire Protection District who has served urban, rural, and college communities. He's also a successful entrepreneur with the hashtag #GSDT. In this episode he shares a couple of amazing stories of a preemie respiratory arrest with a 4th generation family member and tornado MCI, as well as how his want of a...

March 19, 1982 - A fire in the City of Petersburg, VA results in an explosion that injures dozens and takes the lives of one citizen and one firefighter. Some of those who responded that day were able to share stories of their careers and the story of SGT/FF Mike Goff who was killed that day. So we may we never forget.... Support this podcast at https://patreon.com/firehouselogbookpodcast Comments...

How does an aspiring drummer and band director get into the fire service? A brutally honest music teacher shows the way. Serving in the fire service for more than 59 year - and still serving at his home department, the Plainwell (MI) Department of Public Safety - Ron Farr has been a leader at all levels of local, state, and national organizations. Support this podcast at https://patreon.com/fireho...

How does training Jiu Jitsu make you a better firefighter? Two current firefighters from Henrico and Chesterfield, Virginia along with a Lieutenant from Washington, DC join me to talk about their experience with how this martial art form can improve your ability to remain calm under pressure, reduce stress, and prepare you for failure. All the while in an environment very similar to being in a fir...