What The Fire

Episode 13: Belonging Over Fitting In with Melinda “Min” McDonald In this episode of What the Fire, I’m joined by Melinda “Min” McDonald CF, Senior Firefighter with Fire and Rescue NSW, President of Women and Firefighting Australasia, Churchill Fellow, and PhD candidate at the University of Technology Sydney. Min’s work sits at the intersection of operational firefighting, organisational culture,...

In Episode 12 of What The Fire , we sit down with Vince Atkinson to unpack what fire suppression really means in high-risk environments, particularly the mining and heavy equipment space. Vince shares a practical, outcomes-driven approach to fire risk: understanding where ignition is most likely to occur, prioritising preventative controls, and using suppression as a mitigating measure to reduce c...

This episode is a little different. It is a solo episode, with Vithyaa unpacking one of the most important topics in the field: the biggest mistakes made in fire investigations. Drawing on her experience across complex losses, Vithyaa shares the common pitfalls that can weaken an investigation, from reaching conclusions too early to misunderstanding fire patterns, overlooking key evidence, and usi...

Jim Kanavy, a fire investigator, instructor and long-time leader in the fire investigation profession with more than 44 years in the fire service. Jim shares how he started as a junior firefighter in Pennsylvania at just 14 years old, built a career across public and private fire investigation, worked with accelerant detection canines for more than two decades, and became deeply involved in traini...

Title: From Engineering to Investigation: The Journey of Doron Levy and Fahrenheit Global Introduction: In the dynamic world of fire safety, few professionals bridge the gap between engineering and investigation like Doron Levy, the founder of Fahrenheit Global. In a recent episode of the podcast "What the Fire," Levy shares his inspiring journey from structural engineering to the intric...

In this episode, we sit down with Sujen, Head of Non-Motor Claims at Zurich Insurance Malaysia, whose career journey spans marine engineering, construction, forensic investigations, and now senior leadership in the insurance sector. Sujen began his career at sea as a marine engineer before transitioning into construction engineering and later forensic engineering, where he investigated complex fir...

In this episode of What the Fire , we sit down with legendary fire investigator and forensic scientist John Lentini to unpack how our understanding of fire behaviour has changed and why so many investigation reports still get it wrong. John explains why “if you’re not a scientist, what are you doing in my profession?” isn’t just a sound bite, it’s a standard. We talk about: Why fire usually burns...

In this episode of What The Fire , we sit down with Frank Mamasioulas , Managing Director of Riverwall Constructions, to explore what 40 years in business, and nearly 30 years on the tools and in leadership – have taught him about communication, responsibility and showing up for people on their worst days. Frank shares how Riverwall has evolved from a handwritten, family-run operation into a corpo...

In this episode of the What The Fire Podcast , host Vithyaa is joined by forensic experts Sophie Parsons and Kirit Kumar for a candid conversation about the realities of modern forensic engineering and disaster response. Drawing on decades of experience across Asia, the UK, and beyond, Sophie and Kirit discuss how recent disasters, including major flooding events, are increasing the demand for for...

Join us in this captivating episode as we sit down with Robert Howarth, a seasoned fire investigator and former battalion chief, to explore the intricate world of fire services and investigations. With over 35 years of experience, Robert shares his journey from a volunteer firefighter to leading complex investigations in both public and private sectors. Discover the evolution of fire service cultu...

What if a childhood fear could become a powerful career? In this episode, Melanie Cairns, P.Eng., CFEI traces her path from being scared of fire to leading investigations powered by engineering rigour. She shows how treating every scene like it’s your last sharpens preparation, why meticulous documentation (across 600+ cases) is non-negotiable, and what the work really looks like, less glamour and...

In the latest episode of the What the Fire podcast, host Vithyaa Thavapalan welcomes Deniz Bekir, a seasoned Australian chartered engineer and CEO of Silver Wolf Projects. With over 25 years of experience in engineering and the insurance sector, Deniz shares his insights on building trust through transparency, professional ethics, and the importance of continuous education in the industry. The Jou...

In the latest episode of the What the Fire podcast, host Vithyaa sits down with Randy Watson, a titan in the fire investigation industry with over 48 years of experience. Their conversation delves deep into the intricacies of fire investigation, the importance of education, and the responsibility to inspire the next generation of investigators. Randy Watson is well-known in the fire investigation...

Unpacking the Flames: A Deep Dive into the World of Forensic Fire Investigation Introduction: Welcome to the fiery world of forensic fire investigation, where every blaze tells a story waiting to be uncovered. In the inaugural episode of the podcast "What the Fire," host Vithya, a seasoned forensic fire investigator, shares insights from over a decade of experience in the field, aiming t...