Fire Engineering Podcast Network

Want to learn how to close the generational gap in the fire service? In this week's Humpday Hangout, the panel welcomes Creston Ludlow to unpack the hidden curriculum in the fire service. They detail how unspoken expectations, traditions, and communication styles often leave new firefighters confused and create generational fiction. The panel offers advice on how to have honest conversations, appoint humble leadership, and build trust faster than trial-by-fire criticism. They emphasize the importance of closing the gap between generations while keeping firefighters safe, competent, and committed.

In this episode of Two Vollies and a Guest, hosts Jerry Knapp and Tim Pillsworth welcome veteran firefighter Jeff Shupe to discuss the importance of "senior man." They explore how experienced firefighters preserve departmental knowledge, enforce the chain of command, and mentor younger crew members. They cover practical culture-building steps: story time on drill night, after-action reviews, standardized SOGs, engine and hoseline fundamentals, and tapping trade expert volunteers. 

For this episode of The Backstep Boys, hosts Ron Kanterman and Tom Aurnhammer welcome fire service veterans Doug Cline and Stephen Shaw. Together they assess a troubling trend: healthy, capable captains and chiefs retiring after just 20 years. While many blame the younger generation, they argue that the real culprits are administrative fatigue, shifting community politics, and the relentless mental load of hypervigilance. The panel highlights a widespread lack of transition planning for life outside of the station. 

Hosts Todd Edwards and Anthony Rowett welcome Candace Ashby to this episode of Generation Engine. Ashby discusses her 36-year career, breaking down how standard certifications fail to train actual officers, and arguing that the push for agreeable leadership undermines necessary accountability. They discuss confronting administrative disconnects to ditching formal paperwork for honest, face-to-face discipline, challenging conventional fire service culture.

For this episode of Fire Service Court, John K. Murphy breaks down critical legal issues facing the fire service: 

1. Discrimination in hiring and promotion.

2. Wage compliance.

3. Disability.

4. Medical fitness drug policy.

5. First Amendment limits on free speech.

6. Off-duty conduct. 

He provides practical steps and encourages taking a proactive approach in matters of legal protection.

Hosts Rick Lasky and John Salka talk search on this episode of The Command Post. The hosts debate and weigh the risks, arguing that while fires have dropped, civilian home-fire deaths have risen. They dismantle safety as an excuse, telling others to search. And they remind chiefs to balance risk with the mission. Lasky and Salka explore tactics such as crawl low, check smoke, close doors, expect victims, and encourage first responders to make search a practiced skill.

Host Tom Merrill welcomes Rob Reardon to lay out practical social media strategies every fire department needs on this episode of Professional Volunteer Fire Department. Reardon, a former TV reporter turned fire chief, explains how departments use social platforms to build trust, recruit personnel, defend budgets, and control the narrative during incidents. They give concrete advice about how to engage your audience, what makes a good photo, and what tagging is all about. 

Host Anthony Kastros welcomes members of the Redwood City (CA) Fire Department to walk through a complex, heavily involved apartment fire on Memorial Day. They detail arriving on scene of a three-story occupancy with fire extended over the roofline, establishing a transitional attack off a hydrant located within 100 feet, coordinating interior searches, and completing multiple rescues. 

Guests include: 

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In this episode of In the Books, David Rhodes sits down with retired Fire Chief Jerry Streich to talk about a critical but often overlooked challenge in the fire service: managing difficult people.

Drawing from decades of leadership—and a powerful personal experience that shaped his perspective—Streich shares insights on toxic behavior, workplace culture, and the people skills every firefighter and officer need but rarely gets trained on.

🔥 In this episode:

Paul Watlington, assistant chief of the Burlington (NC) Fire Department, joins hosts Anthony Avillo and Jim Duffy on this episode of Fireground Strategies to break down the pump operator’s job. They discuss topics including getting the rig to the scene safely, placement, water supply, and advanced pump troubleshooting. Listeners will gain an understanding of the pump operator's responsibilities in the context of scenario-based testing, pump charts, hose/nozzle testing, drafting and manifold tactics, and practical preplanning tips.

In this episode of Perspectives on Leadership, Chief Mike Nugent of Broward County (FL) Fire Rescue sits down with Stephen Shaw to outline his 45-year career in fire and special operations. Nugent shares the story of a childhood moment in Brighton that sparked this lifelong calling. He discusses technical rescue teams, building regional hazmat and urban search and rescue capabilities, and training around the world. They share practical lessons: Teach the why, demonstrate how to use tools, train hard scenarios, and mentor young firefighters joining the force. Nugent stresses the importance of both mental and physical health, detailing his ca...

Firefighter location tracking is emerging as the next major leap in firefighter survival, following SCBA adoption and thermal imaging. In this episode of Fire Service Data and Tech Talk, Eddie Buchanan welcomes Peter Burke and Mike Cox to discuss the next wave in firefighter survival: location, indoor mapping, and connected telemetry. The panel highlights the promise of this new technology and the standards, policy, and work still needed to bring it to every firefighter.

This podcast is brought to you by Esri: https://www.esri.com/en-us/home

Dave McGlynn sits down with Mike Nasti to explore the layers of safety culture in the fire service on this episode of The Training Officer. They cover why competent training creates real protection, how social media and inexperience skew safety messaging, and why ownership and humility matter when things go wrong. Nasti shares lessons from 19 years in operations and the realities of working in the gray area where judgment matters. 

On this episode of The Larry Conley Show, host Larry Conley welcomes Dave Conley to discuss turning the digital frustration of spam into a clear, practical framework for personal leadership. They share some laughs as they define "personal spam" as anything that demands access but delivers negative value. The two stress the use of proactive language, taking time to recharge, and the importance of disciplined boundaries with family and team members.

On this episode of the Women in Fire podcast, host Lisa Baker sits down with Reda Bigler and Brian Mike Saylor of the Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department. They tackle the misconceptions surrounding organizations like the Valley Women's Firefighter Society and FireVet, emphasizing that these groups don't alter standards, they provide the essential mentorship, structure, and insight candidates need to navigate the profession. 

Captain Ryan Harris, a Marine veteran with more than 20 years in the fire service, joins this week's Humpday Hangout to explain Fireground Analytics. He built the cloud-based tool to make fireground events measurable and teachable. Designed to keep departments in control of their data, support national reporting workflows, and drive consistent, objective after‑action reviews, the system targets repeat errors that contribute to civilian and firefighter line‑of‑duty deaths. Harris discusses real-world use cases, integration options, and his plans to publish sample incident reviews.

Hosts Ron Kanterman and Tom Aurnhammer discuss why communications repeatedly appear as contributing factors in line-of-duty deaths (LODDs) on this episode of The Backstep Boys. They take a look at national LODD reports and field stories, showing where command often fails, along with ways to fix it. 

Host Eric Dreiman reflects on FDIC, survivability profiling, and practical victim-centered search tactics on this episode of Hooks & Hoses. Drieman discusses recent research and explains why first responders must favor targeted, split searches, saturating structures to prioritize bedrooms, and avoid premature survivability judgments. He details practical, experience-based guidance for company officers and firefighters and the importance of balancing safety with rescue intent

On this episode of Tailboard Talk, hosts Jeff Wallin, Craig Nelson, and Chris Rasmussen welcome Eric Rosoff, executive manager of the Career Survival Group to discuss how AI and other nonoperational behaviors are ending firefighter careers. Rosoff explains why AI‑generated content, like deepfakes and altered images, has already led to terminations, and why frontline supervisors must be able to spot and stop risky conduct at the kitchen‑table level. They also explore how administrative safety violations are the root of most firefighter personnel actions, terminations, and workplace lawsuits. 

Hosts Rick Lasky and John Salka recap this year's FDIC, practical seasonal changes, and the upcoming 25th anniversary of 9/11 on this episode of The Command Post. They detail standing-room-only classes at FDIC, honoring Andrew Fredericks, and supporting the Tunnels to Towers Foundation. The hosts also take a close look at operational readiness for spring and summer, for families, departments, and chiefs.

Want to learn how to keep communities safe during special events? On this episode of Two Vollies and a Guest, hosts Jerry Knapp and Tim Pillsworth speak with Fire Department of New York Captain (Ret.) Christopher Flatley about planning, executing, and evaluating special events. They focus on the importance of after-action reviews (AARs) and improvement plans: conducting hotwashes, drafting actionable AARs, assigning owners with deadlines, and using the issue‑discussion‑recommendation format. Flatley walks through special event planning and execution—Times Square New Year’s Eve, local Fourth of July fireworks, hospital bio‑containment exercises—and stresses data‑driven threat assessme...

Across the volunteer fire service, conversations about mergers and consolidations are becoming impossible to ignore. Departments are facing increasing demands, shrinking membership, and rising expectations from the communities they serve—forcing leaders to take a hard look at how they operate and whether working together might be the path forward. But these decisions are about more than budgets and efficiency; they involve tradition, identity, and the future of the fire service itself. On this episode of Professional Volunteer Fire Department, Brad Pinsky takes an honest look at what mergers and consolidations really mean for volunteer departments, the challenges they bri...

On this episode of Command Show, the panel breaks down how a three-man crew used vent-enter-isolate-search (VEIS) to pull a woman from her bedroom with seconds to spare. While the adrenaline was high, the execution was clinical. The panel shares raw, play-by-play details of the Porterville (CA) Fire Department's overnight response to a house "fully engulfed" with a confirmed victim trapped inside. They talk about the save, the friction of the job, and the critical decision to clear an egress point rather than just blindly dragging a victim. 

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This episode explores why fire service professionals must step outside their own jurisdictions to maintain their edge. Hosted by Todd Edwards, this episode's panel includes:

The discussion covers national-level instructors going to regional settings. They discuss massive events like FDIC, smaller "microconferences," and how these events provide unique spaces for involvement. The panel shares their experience with outside training and departmental stagnation, offering fresh eyes on familiar tactics.

Want to learn how to build fire service culture? Combat veteran and NAS Fort Worth (FL) Fire Chief Samson DeSessa joins hosts Billy Hux and Bobby Drake for this episode of Point of Origin. DeSessa shares lessons from 34 years across military, private security, and the fireground. He explains his simple mentorship model: build the relationship, do the work, then teach others to mentor. He shares roundtable leadership and four promotion pillars: attitude, teamwork, grit, and leading by example. 

On this episode of The Training Officer, host Dave McGlynn sits down with David Polikoff, a retired battalion chief from Montgomery County, Maryland, to discuss the critical need for structured incident command training. Polikoff shares how his experience at the National Fire Academy revealed a widespread lack of confidence among officers managing high-stress scenes. In order to bridge this gap, he developed a "crawl, walk, run" training methodology that utilizes simulation software and portable radios to build muscle memory before officers ever step onto a real fireground. They dive deep into into the practicalities of scene management, emphasizing the u...

On this episode, Maria Hovanes, product manager at IDEX Fire and Safety, explains how FireLink—powered by the Captium ecosystem—converts vehicle, pump, and water-flow telemetry into actionable maintenance intelligence. Hovanes details how FireLink captures chassis fault codes, pump activity, nozzle pressure (via SAM and SAM Boost), engine and idle hours, and logs events automatically. The platform provides a single, manufacturer-agnostic dashboard and traffic-light health indicators, so fleet managers, chiefs, technicians and external service providers see the same source of truth. She explains for departments without dedicated fleet staff, visual summaries, and downloadable reports simplify shift readiness and compliance repo...

This episode of Fire Service Court addresses the grim reality that more firefighters are lost to suicide than to line-of-duty deaths. The panel covers PTSD, suicidal ideation, issues with the traditional "tough it out" mentality, and how mental health services are evolving within the fire service. They explore the recent executive order directing federal agencies to fast-track psychedelic medications for serious mental illness, marking a potential shift in treatment for emergency responders. The panel discusses the federal action to transition substances like MDMA and psilocybin from restricted Schedule I research silos into clinical tools for treating treatment-resistant depression and PTS...

What does it take to perform under extreme pressure when lives are on the line?

In this episode, retired FDNY Deputy Chief Thomas Dunne shares insights from 33 years on the job and his book "Pressure Proof: A Guide to Performing Under Stress." From real fireground incidents to high-level leadership, he breaks down how to stay focused, make decisions, and lead with confidence under stress.

🔥 In this episode, you’ll learn:

How do you rebuild firehouse community? Host Larry Conley reflects on the lost art of firehouse community and building trust for this episode of The Larry Conley Show. He draws on 33 years on the job, discussing how technology, private rooms, and routines have eroded "community currency." Conley outlines practical steps to rebuild cohesion and reviews the EMPOWER (Envision, Mutual Victory, Proactive, Organize Priorities, Work Together, Empathetic Listening, Recharge) framework.

Pete Prochilo sits down with Jason Cerrano, director of R&D at IDEX Fire & Safety, to discuss SAM and SAM Boost—automated pressure-management systems that simplify pump operations, improve firefighter safety, and deliver consistency on the fireground. Cerrano explains how automated control reduces cognitive load, speeds troubleshooting, and allows for pump operators to focus on higher-value tasks. They cover retrofit options, real-world benefits for interior attack, how modern fuel loads change tactics, and common myths—including the idea that automation will replace pump operators.

For more technical detail and demos visit samflows.com. Hosted by Fire E...

On this episode of Mayday Monday, host Tony Carroll revisits an incident from April 2007, focusing on the incident commander. Jim Forgo from the Prince William County (VA) Department of Fire and Rescue details his actions at the fire that took the life of firefighter Kyle Wilson. Forgo bravely describes the chaotic scene, marked by high winds and dime-sized embers, as he explains how the crews conducted a primary search for reported occupants as conditions deteriorated rapidly. They discuss how a critical radio system failure—resulting in hundreds of blocked transmissions—clogged communication during the most desperate moments of the rescue...

On this episode of Fireground Strategies, guests Bobby Moran and John Lewis join the conversation. They discuss tactics, leadership, and the ever-evolving fire service. The panel members trace their careers from volunteer beginnings and the Bergen County (NJ) Fire Academy to chief roles. They talk incident command, county-level resource coordination, utility response, gas-safety outreach, staffing shortages, and the decline in volunteers. 

FDIC 2026 is behind us. Now what? In this episode of Perspectives on Leadership, host Stephen Shaw sits down with Brian Zaitz to unpack how conference momentum translates into practical change. They discuss leveraging professional networks, mentoring and developing instructors, and why writing short, experience‑driven articles matters. Zaitz offers concrete advice for returning from FDIC: Start small and prepare for timing and politics that turn “not yet” into “now.” They debate a trend toward technical rescue and advanced EMS tools while stressing mastery of fundamentals—hose work, searches, patient assessment. They also explore examples of successful change and tips for building ch...

On this episode of Fire and Training, host Doug Cline challenges fire service leaders to stop coasting and rebuild vital relationships within their departments. He draws on his 46 years of frontline experience, identifying seven relationship killers: 

1. Unmet needs. 

2. Unfulfilled expectations. 

3. Underdeveloped self-esteem.

4. Unresolved conflicts.

5. Uncontrolled thoughts.

6. Unprotected lifestyles (negative influences).

7. Unreliable commitment.

Cline explains how each "killer" corrodes morale, teamwork, and public safety. He gives company officers and firefighters the steps they need to follow for a true reset. Cline al...

On this episode of Fire Service Data and Tech Talk, host Eddie Buchanan welcomes Jeffrey Lenard, a firefighter/EMT for the District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department, and Mike Cox, director of fire and EMS Solutions for Esri. Lenard, who is also a master public safety diver, and Cox discuss the January 2025 crash of American Airlines Flight 5342. They cover the way the response was managed, the technology involved, and how they achieved a common operating picture under very difficult conditions.

This podcast is brought to you by Esri: https://www.esri.com/en-us/home

Want to learn more about NERIS? On this episode of Professional Volunteer Fire Department, Tom Merrill checks in with Tom Jenkins for a four-month status report on the National Emergency Response Information System. This system went live January 1st, replacing NFIRS. They cover who's on board, common onboarding snags, and practical steps departments should take now, such as verifying their organizational record, training users with short how-to videos, engaging dispatch centers, and standardizing entries. Jenkins explains dashboards and insights reporting and the help desk and regional outreach. They also discuss why accurate timestamps, dispatch data, and interagency tagging matter fo...

Hosts Anthony Kastros and Brian Brush welcome Monterey (CA) Fire Department firefighters Lou Valdez, Patrick Moore, Greg Greenlee, and Matt Harris. On this episode of Command Show, the panel discusses responding to a nightmare scenario structure fire at the Casanova apartment complex. They detail this three-story, 90-unit building and how they were able to save residents from a smoke-filled hallway. What follows is a masterclass in modern incident command.

This podcast is brought to you by Tablet Command. www.tabletcommand.com/get-started-lp

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On this episode of The Backstep Boys, hosts Ron Kanterman and Tom Aurnhammer welcome Anthony Avillo and Jim Duffy to reflect on careers, camaraderie, and the future of the fire service. The hosts discuss volunteer pride and why the firehouse remains a unique hub of both trust and service. They debate technology's role in the future of fire service, arguing that it should not be used in decision making on the fireground. They also highlight the value in human storytelling, fallen colleagues, and why hands-on coaching is so important. The panel warns against social media fame, online criticism, and th...

(This episode originally aired in March 2026.)
Inside a firehouse, teamwork isn’t part of a slogan—it’s the difference between control and chaos. For this episode of Women in Fire, host Lisa Baker and guests Heather Mozdean, Paige Cowell, and Kim Phillips get candid about what teamwork actually looks like. They move past textbook definitions and into the reality: coordinating ventilation with interior crews, trusting the person next to you to read conditions the same way, and knowing one freelancer can unravel an entire operation in seconds.

They also take a look at station l...