Fire Engineering Podcast Network

Generation Engine: Lessons on Engine and Truck Officer Roles from Veteran Firefighters   In this episode of Generation Engine, host Anthony Rowett from Mobile (AL) Fire Rescue, and Mickey Farrell, lieutenant, FDNY, dissect the critical but often overlooked roles of engine and truck officers on the fireground. Drawing on decades of combined experience, they emphasize disciplined preparation, compan...

Tailboard Talk: Harvest Hazards, Station Upgrades, and Long-Term Planning in Rural Communities   In this episode of Tailboard Talk, hosts Chris Rasmussen, Craig Nelson, and Jeff Wallin discuss the realities facing rural and suburban fire departments, especially during the intense harvest season. They cover the unique dangers posed by 24-hour beet and corn harvesting operations, including driver fa...

The Command Post: Hiring Challenges and Best Practices with Rick Lasky and John Salka   Rick Lasky and John Salka, hosts of The Command Post, dive into the evolving landscape of firefighter recruitment and hiring, sharing decades of firsthand experience. They discuss how societal shifts, comfort-seeking attitudes, and changing norms impact the quality and commitment of candidates entering the fire...

Two Vollies and a Guest, a new podcast hosted by Jerry Knapp and Tim Pillsworth, is dedicated to practical fireground knowledge. With over 50 years of combined hands-on experience, they focus on technical and tactical skills firefighters need when every second counts. Expect robust discussions about real-world scenarios, including hazardous materials awareness, natural gas emergencies, nozzle reac...

Command Show: Inside Leadership and Lifesaving Strategies with Waco Fire Chief Robby Bergerson In this episode of Command Show, host Anthony Kastros welcomes Robby Bergerson, chief, Waco (TX) Fire Department. With 28 years in Waco and over three decades in the fire service, Chief Bergerson shares his unique journey from recruit to fire chief and the leadership lessons he learned along the way. He...

Mayday Monday: Lessons from the 2019 Atascocita (TX) Fire Department Mayday Monday returns for October as Chief Mike Mulligan, Brian Morgan, and Battalion Chief David Roark of the Atascocita (TX) Fire Department recount a harrowing commercial fire they faced in 2019. The incident reinforced how familiarity, communication gaps, and residential firefighting tactics can create dangerous complications...

Fireground Strategies:  Lessons from Baseball to the Blaze In this edition of Fireground Strategies, Anthony Avillo and Jim Duffy dive into the complexities of decision-making under pressure by drawing parallels between baseball managing and incident command during fires. Using recent Yankees playoff controversies as a starting point, they explore how incident commanders must balance instinct, ana...

Perspectives on Leadership: Transforming Fire Service Culture,  Leadership, Mental Health, and Inclusion   In this episode of Perspectives on Leadership, host Steve Shaw and Eric McCoy, chief, Huntington Beach (CA) Fire Department, explore the crucial role of culture in the fire service. Drawing on experiences from both coasts, they discuss breaking down stigmas by building a positive, mission-dri...

Fire and Training: Company Officers' Evolving Challenges in Fire Service Leadership   In this episode of Fire and Training, Douglas Cline and Christopher Naum assess the mounting challenges company officers face in today’s fire service. The discussion focuses on the many ways the role of the company officer has become increasingly demanding. They look at managing multigenerational crews within inc...

The Larry Conley Show: Cultivating Leadership and Passion in Fire Service Training In this episode of the Larry Conley Show, David Conley and Larry Conley sit down with DJ Stone, division chief of training, South Walton (FL) Fire District. Stone shares his journey into the training officer role, revealing the challenges and profound responsibilities that come with shaping a fire department’s cultu...

Fire Service Data and Tech Talk: The Critical Role of Data, Building Intelligence, and Fire Prevention   In this episode of Fire Service Data and Tech Talk, fire safety experts Jill Cotton and Jack Murphy cover a crucial yet underappreciated aspect of firefighting: leveraging data, building technology, and fire prevention strategies to save lives and property. They discuss why residential sprinkle...

The Backstep Boys: Mastering Command Decisions and Crew Resource Management   In this episode of The Backstep Boys, guests Dennis Rubin and Tom Currao join hosts Ron Kanterman and Tom Aurnhammer to dissect the complexities of fireground decision making. From battling large-scale urban fires to pioneering crew resource management, they draw from decades of frontline and leadership experience to exp...

Point of Origin: NFPA, Code Development & How to Make Your Voice Heard   In this episode of the Point of Origin podcast, hosts Billy Hux and Bobby Drake sit down with Rob Dawson, regional director at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), to demystify how fire service standards are created, updated, and consolidated. Dawson shares his journey from volunteer firefighter to NFPA leader...

n this  Humpday Hangout , guests Frank Ricci and Dave McGlynn join members of the  International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI)  to talk about setting standards in fire training and how that can influence the direction of an organization.  

BuildingsonFire: The Commercial Fireground Facts Update, Part 1   Join host Christopher Naum for the latest episode of BuildingsonFire as he kicks off a new series, The Commercial Fireground Facts Update. Drawing from decades of after-action reports and key line-of-duty incidents—from the 1989 Sunrise Gift Store fire to the 2007 Charleston Sofa Superstore tragedy—this episode highlights evolving c...

Hooks & Hoses: Striking a Balance Between Safety and Realism in Live Fire Training In this episode of Hooks & Hoses, host Eric Dreiman delves into the complexities of live fire training, sharing lessons from his extensive experience across acquired structures and fixed facilities. He emphasizes the critical balance between adhering to NFPA 1403, Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions, a...

This  “Politics and Tactics”  edition of the Humpday Hangout explores the raw realities of wildland firefighting and the urgent push for federal recognition of occupational cancer in first responders. Gabriel Kirkpatrick Mann, filmmaker of the acclaimed documentary Hotshot, talks about his six-year journey embedding with elite hotshot crews in California’s brutal wildfires. He reveals the physical...

Women in Fire: Inside the Fire Service Promotion Process   In this episode of the Women in Fire podcast, host Lisa Baker, Southwest Trustee, Women in Fire, welcomes experts from California and Colorado dissect the realities behind fire service promotions, from driver/operator to captain and beyond. Deputy Chief Heather Mozdean of the Fremont (CA) Fire Department, Lieutenant Heidi Simon of the Sout...

Talkin’ Tactics: Lessons from the Front Lines and Beyond In this episode of Talking Tactics, hosts David Polikoff, Robert “RJ” James, and Sam Villani take a close look at the landscape of fire service leadership. Reflecting on James’s recent training at the Jimmy Ellis Memorial and their own careers, they explore when and why firefighters decide to pursue leadership roles. The conversation highlig...

Mayday Monday: Gas Emergencies   Mayday Monday returns with another review of gas emergencies for September. The recent release of two reports on line-of-duty death in Virginia highlights the need to ensure firefighters are getting the message about practicing good risk management principles when responding to gas emergencies. This month, several firefighter deaths have occurred at these incidents...

In The Books: Water Thievery: Mastering Advanced Fire Service Water Supply and Pump Operations   Veteran firefighter and instructor Andy Soccodato shares his journey from being a teenage volunteer in New Jersey to becoming a key educator at the Tennessee State Fire Academy. Drawing on nearly two decades of hands-on experience, Soccodato reveals the often-overlooked nuances of water supply tactics,...

Generation Engine: Why Firefighters Commit to Growth Beyond the Station Recorded live at the First In Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas, this episode captures the diverse perspectives of firefighters, from new volunteers to seasoned chiefs. Listeners will learn what drives firefighters to attend training away from home. Through honest conversations, these public servants share their motivations:...

Tailboard Talk: Code of Conduct, Financial Integrity, and Modern Accountability   In this episode of Tailboard Talk, fire service leaders Jeff Wallin, Craig Nelson, Chris Rasmussen, and guest Eric Rosoff discuss the pressing issues shaping today’s fire departments. From the critical impact of workplace code-of-conduct violations on careers to the surprising prevalence of financial misconduct invol...

The Command Post: Navigating Certification Challenges and Career Transitions in the Fire Service   In this episode of The Command Post, hosts Rick Lasky and John Salka take a close look at the complexities of firefighter certification across the United States. Drawing on decades of experience—from Illinois and New York to Texas and Florida—they expose the frustrating patchwork of state standards t...

The Professional Volunteer Fire Service: Celebrating the Heart of the Volunteer Fire Service   In this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department, host Tom Merrill sits down with Rick Lasky and John Salka to discuss the enduring strength and value of volunteer firefighters. Despite ongoing challenges and negativity, volunteer fire departments remain a vital part of the firefighting comm...