Undisclosed Agents Firefighter Podcast

For the first time ever, we have a repeat guest, and there probably isn’t a better person to hold that title than Brian Brush.

Brian is the Training Chief for Midwest City Fire Department, a longtime Fire Engineering author, an FDIC instructor, a 2023 FDIC keynote speaker, and a member of the FDIC advisory board.

In this episode, we talk about the first quarter civilian rescue numbers for 2026, including the Firefighter Rescue Survey reporting about 11.5 victims a day being given a chance at life through firefighter action.

We also ge...

Today we’re joined by Paul Shoemaker.

Paul brings nearly two decades of fire service experience and an incredible depth of operational and instructional knowledge. He currently serves as a Lieutenant in Colorado and has spent more than 13 years specializing in truck company operations.

While the truck is his passion, Paul’s instructional background extends well beyond that. He teaches advanced hose deployment, fireground tactics, forcible entry, search, ventilation, and modern vehicle extrication. He’s also become a nationally recognized voice on electric vehicle emergencies and lithium-ion battery incidents.

Beyond the fireground, Paul has co...

Stephen Tyler is an engine captain with Eagle Fire in Idaho, where he has served since 2007, beginning as a volunteer firefighter before transitioning to career service in 2013. Over the years, he has worked every seat on the rig including backseat firefighter, driver engineer, training captain, and now company officer on Engine 44 B.

Stephen is passionate about engine company operations and still loves pulling lines, pulling locks, and pulling barbells. A respected instructor across the country, he has taught HOT classes at FDIC International as well as numerous local and regional conferences with Brothers in Battle and VES...

Bob Ryser began his fire service career in 2002 and has served full time with two combination departments. He is currently the Fire Chief of the Storey County Fire Department in Nevada, where he leads from the front and sets the standard by doing the work alongside his people.

Chief Ryser is a leader who still puts his turnouts on, still trains, and still participates in the same evolutions he expects of his firefighters, allowing him to hold high standards with real credibility. He previously served as a Shift Battalion Chief responsible for training and has been an...

Noah Katz Captain on Engine 15 in the City of Phoenix where he began his career in 2013. Noah is also the founder and owner of Priority Fire Training LLC. 

Noah is extremely passionate about training and the fire service. And because of that passion he has traveled the country learning and educating himself. 

In 2011 Noah graduated the Georgia Smoke Diver Program, class 59 as Smoke Diver 1100 and Arizona Smoke Diver number 1. 

In addition to teaching classes with Priority Fire Training, Noah is the lead instructor for the Dagum Promise Search class and has been an ins...

Steve is a veteran of the fire service recently retiring after 35 1/2 years. 

Steve retired as the LT of engine 18 of the Columbus Ohio Division of Fire. 

Steve has been a classroom instructor at FDIC for the past several years teaching engine company operations. Additionally, Steve is the lead instructor of the FDIC HOT program Stretching For Success. 

Steve is also an instructor for County Fire Tactics and has taught engine company tactics nationally including the High Rise Operations Conference, Command Officers Bootcamp, and Water on the Fire conference all in Pensacola Beach, Florida.

The Undisclosed Agents Firefighter Podcast is proud to feature Captain Anthony Rowett of the Mobile (AL) Fire Rescue Department in its latest episode. Captain Rowett brings two decades of fire service experience, leadership insight, and instructional expertise to the discussion.

Anthony has served with the Mobile Fire Rescue Department for the past 17 years and began his career with the Ogdensburg (NJ) Volunteer Fire Department. Over his 20 years in the fire service, he has earned multiple degrees in Fire Science and Emergency Services Management and is a graduate of the prestigious Alabama Smoke Diver course.

Beyond...

On this episode we’re joined by Captain Clark Lamping. 

Clark is a 27-year veteran of the Clark County fire department in Las Vegas Nevada. 

Clark has spent the last 16 years serving as a captain and is currently assigned to Firehouse 38 on B-shift.

Clark holds a master’s degree in Crisis and Emergency Management from UNLV. 

Beyond the firehouse, Clark is a well-respected instructor who has taught both classroom and hands-on training throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe. 

He’s known for blending his real-world fireground experience...

On this episode we sit down with Jeff Bryant — third-generation firefighter, Aurora (IL) Fire Department member, and one of the most connected fire service trainers in the country.

From founding the Midwest Area Fire Academy & Illinois FireNuggets to leading FireNuggets, Inc. and serving with Brothers in Battle, Jeff’s passion is building the next generation of firefighters. He’s organized major training events nationwide, helped launch multiple state FireNuggets chapters, and continues to push firefighter education through classes, seminars, and the FireNuggets Podcast.

Join us as we talk training, mentor...

Micah Rains has been in the fire service for 18 years and is the Captain of West End Firehouse at Greenville City Fire Department in South Carolina.

Micah is a member of the South Carolina Carolina Task Force 1 USAR team and has a masters degree in Organizational Leadership.  

Micah has taught at many conferences including the NFPA Fire Conference, Florida Fire Conference, Metro Atlanta Fire Conference, South Carolina Fire Rescue Conference,internationally in Ecuador, and many other conferences and departments. 

Along with this experience, Rains has been published by Fire Engineering Magazine and operates Pa...

Hey everybody, thanks for joining us as we crack open another episode of the Undisclosed Agents podcast.

Today, we had the chance to sit down with Marc Aloan a Battalion Chief with the West Columbia Fire Department in South Carolina.

Marc is the creator of The Fire Inside blog and a member of the Rust Belt Jakes cadre.

He’s an active speaker, author, and instructor with 20 years of combined volunteer and career service. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection Administration and a master’s in Organizational Leadership.

This...

In this episode, we talk about FireShowsWest, what it is, why it matters, and how H&H is involved this year.

From hands-on training to top-tier instructors, FireShowsWest continues to provide high-quality education and networking opportunities for firefighters across the West.

We break down what makes FireShowsWest a must-attend event, highlight this year’s impressive lineup, and share how H&H is taking part.

Spots are filling up fast, so check out the lineup and get signed up as soon as possible!

Fireshowswest.com 

https://hortonsandhunt.com/ 

Danny has been in the fire service for 26 years. He started in a small suburban department north of Atlanta in 1999. After a few years, he knew he wanted to be a City Fireman and began applying in Atlanta. Danny got picked up by Atlanta in February 2005, and that began an amazing experience. 

He was blessed to serve in several busy companies, including Special Operations. During his time with Atlanta, Danny was promoted through the ranks: making Driver in 2009, Lieutenant in 2014, and Captain in 2019.  Then retiring from Atlanta in 2020 after the fallout from a fireground incident that took pl...

Jonathan is a Lieutenant with the Denver Fire Department. He began his fire service career in 2009 and has served as both a career and volunteer firefighter. Jonathan has instructed in both lecture and hands-on formats at fire conferences nationally and has published works in several trade magazines. He has been married for 16 years to his beautiful wife, Molly, has three awesome daughters, and has one, handful of a German shorthaired pointer named Tucker. Jonathan is a well-known and respected instructor for engine work throughout the fire service. We were stoked to have this conversation with such a hard charger...

Hey everybody, thanks for joining us as we crack up another episode of the undisclosed agents podcast. Today on the podcast, we got a chance to sit down with Jay Bonnifield. Jay is a Captain with the Everett Fire Department in the state of Washington, he is a proud member of station 6, assigned to E6. Jay has been blessed with the opportunity to teach engine operations and live fire training in many venues and conferences across the country. His written work has been published in multiple fire service magazines and has been featured on multiple fire service podcasts. Jay...

Grit First Fire Training is a training company based out of San Diego California. The trio that makes up Grit First are some of the most solid gentlemen we’ve had the pleasure to work with. Grit First offers classes both hands on and lecture on search, tactical TIC use and fire dynamics to name a few. Keep your eye out for these guys, they’ll be offering classes at a conference near you. 

Robert Policht started his career as a volunteer and is lieutenant of Ladder Co. 2 of the Passaic, NJ, Fire Department. During his time with Passaic he assisted with developing and establishing the department’s response to human vs. machine incidents and has a class on this subject he teaches at conferences nation wide. He is attached to Passaic’s  fire Investigation Unit as well. 

Rob teaches at the Bergen County, NJ, Fire Academy and is a member of the NJ Division of Fire Safety's Fire Threat Task Force. Policht has a master’s degree in emergency management and home...

Nick Ledin is a firefighter paramedic with the O Claire Fire Department in Wisconsin, currently assigned to Engine 2. Nick has been a student of the job for over 16 years. He is a major contributor to ‘Firefighter Rescue Survey’, was the former president of the Northland FOOLS, and is an affiliate member of FireNuggets. Nick is a technical committee member for NFPA 1700, he was a former technical panel member for UL FSRI’s PPA and PPV Study as well as a part of UL FSRI’s Public Education Advisory Group. On top of this Nick is a co-host of the FireNugg...

Mickey is a Lieutenant in the New York City Fire Department. He is a third-generation firefighter with 29 years of experience, the last 23 years being with the FDNY. Mickey has been instructor at the New York City Fire Academy, as well as a speaker and instructor at conferences all over the country. He is the founder and author of Top Floor Tactics, and the host of A View From the Top Floor Podcast. When Mickey speaks about the fire service he does so in a poetic manner that invokes passion for this profession. His views are unapologetic, derived from experience...

In this episode we got the chance to sit down with Justin McWilliams. Justin is a veteran on the fire service and currently serves the citizens of Clackamas Fire in Oregon as the Captain of Heavy Rescue 5. 

Anyone who has followed Justin knows he has a unique unapologetic personality. This is exactly what the fire service needs and exactly why I was so stoked to finally have this conversation. 

Justin is extremely passionate and knowledgeable about search. He has a no nonsense, practical approach to this cornerstone skill of our profession and that’s what we d...

Kyle Romagus is a 21-year veteran with East Montgomery County Fire Department in Texas. 

He oversees the training division as a Battalion Chief, and in his words, is in love with engine work. 

Kyle is the owner of smoothbore cartel and founder of Engine Company Resurrection. Kyle teaches engine operations for several well-known fire service instructor groups such as:

• FD tactics

• Brothers in Battle

• Oathkeepers 

Kyle’s primary objective is to share knowledge about the value o...