Firefighter Podcast

Preparing for promotion is one challenge. Preparing to take responsibility for a crew is another. How do we develop both?Michael Elhihi, California company officer and founder of Front Seat Academy, joins me for a conversation about firefighter promotion, leadership development and preparing for the responsibility of the front seat.Michael’s work brings together promotional preparation, communication and Human Leadership. His starting point is a practical one: firefighters should be able to prepare for an assessment while continuing to develop the craft and the ability to lead people.A conversation for aspiring officers, acting officers and anyone responsible for developing the next generation of fire service leaders.CONNECT WITH MICHAELFront Seat Academy: https://frontseatacademy.com/Courses: https://frontseatacademy.thinkific.com/collectionsTHE SIZE-UP BRIEFING Sign up for our weekly briefingAccess all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HEREPodcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE Please check out our Partners supporting this episode arePBI high-performance fabrics GORE-TEX Professional ClothingMSA The Safety CompanyJAFCODELTA FIREVIDEO | YOUTUBE from Charlston DepartmentARTICLE ABOUT THE INCIDENTSend us Fan MailSupport the show***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

On 18 June 2007, nine firefighters lost their lives at the Sofa Super Store in Charleston, South Carolina. In this debrief, I follow the incident from the initial report through the developing fire, civilian rescue and attempts to reach trapped firefighters. Drawing on the NIOSH investigation, NIST fire modelling and Charleston’s incident review, I explore concealed fire development, ventilation, water supply, breathing-air management, communications and command, with practical questions to take back to your watch. I remember the Charleston Nine and reflect on what we can learn from their loss to better support and protect firefighters today.THE SIZE-UP BRIEFING Sign up for our weekly briefingAccess all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HEREPodcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE Please check out our Partners supporting this episode areWilliam Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on websitePBI high-performance fabrics GORE-TEX Professional ClothingMSA The Safety CompanyJAFCODELTA FIREVIDEO | YOUTUBE from Charlston DepartmentARTICLE ABOUT THE INCIDENTSend us Fan MailSupport the show***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

The job takes enough. What are you doing to protect your health?Former firefighter Alex Gapper, the coach behind Pumps and Plates Coaching, joins Pete Wakefield for an honest conversation about firefighter fitness, disrupted routines and building a life you have the health to enjoy.Busy tours, broken sleep, convenience food and missed workouts can knock anyone off course. Alex explains why trying to fix everything overnight often leads straight back to square one, and how to build a routine around the life you actually lead.We also explore his decision to leave operational firefighting, the friction he experienced between his coaching content and his former service, and why he still wants to support the firefighting community.CONNECT WITH ALEX Pumps and Plates CoachingTHE SIZE-UP BRIEFING Sign up for our weekly briefingAccess all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HEREPodcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE Please check out our Partners supporting this episode areWilliam Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on websitePBI high-performance fabrics GORE-TEX Professional ClothingMSA The Safety CompanyJAFCODELTA FIRESend us Fan MailSupport the show***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

Five minutes from first arrival to collapse.On 24 January 2022, Baltimore firefighters responded to a fire at 205 South Stricker Street. Lieutenant Paul Butrim, Kelsey Sadler and Kenneth “Kenny” Lacayo lost their lives. John McMaster was seriously injured.In this episode of The Firefighters Podcast, we examine the incident through the decisions facing crews and commanders: the information available on arrival, the condition of the building, the assessment of risk and the transition into firefighter rescue.The discussion explores building intelligence, structural collapse, command and the challenge of reassessing a developing incident. It also asks what firefighters, instructors and watch managers can take back to their own stations.The purpose is to learn with respect for the people involved and to examine the systems that support operational decisions.Use this episode to start a watch discussion: how would critical information about a dangerous building reach your first-arriving crew?Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HEREPodcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE Please check out our Partners supporting this episode areWilliam Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on websitePBI high-performance fabrics GORE-TEX Professional ClothingMSA The Safety CompanyJAFCODELTA FIRESources and further reading:NIOSH investigation F2022-01: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/257783NIOSH investigation slides: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/257804USFA memorial record: https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/details?id=5190Send us Fan MailSupport the show***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

What happens between someone calling 999 and the emergency services arriving and how much more could we do in that time?Professor Mark Wilson OBE, consultant neurosurgeon, pre-hospital emergency medicine doctor and co-founder of GoodSAM, joins me to explore a system built around connecting people who need help with people capable of providing it.Mark explains how the original idea grew from trauma care: could someone nearby reach an injured person quickly enough to open their airway? That thinking developed into cardiac arrest alerting, connecting nearby responders with opportunities to provide CPR and use a defibrillator while the ambulance is on its way.The conversation then moves into live video, caller location and sharing information between control rooms and responders. Mark demonstrates how a simple link can connect a caller’s smartphone camera and location without requiring them to download an app.Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HEREPodcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE Please check out our Partners supporting this episode areWilliam Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on websitePBI high-performance fabrics GORE-TEX Professional ClothingMSA The Safety CompanyJAFCODELTA FIRESend us Fan MailSupport the show***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

Six firefighters. A rapidly advancing wildfire. And an escape route that suddenly disappeared.On 19 August 2018, firefighters working on California's Mendocino Complex were conducting a tactical firing operation designed to stop the spread of a major wildfire.But as conditions deteriorated, a sudden wind shift and explosive fire development cut off their planned escape routes.We explore:The background to the Mendocino Complex wildfire and the challenges facing responding crews.The tactical firing operation and the events leading to the entrapment.How rapidly changing fire behaviour compromised escape routes.Operational urgency, leadership and the pressure to complete an assignment.The importance of communication, clear briefings and shared situational awareness.Why firefighters need the confidence to challenge a plan when conditions change.Lessons that apply beyond wildfire incidents, including structural firefighting and incident command.Further reading and original investigation DOWNLOAD HEREAccess all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HEREPodcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE Please check out our Partners supporting this episode areWilliam Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on websitePBI high-performance fabrics GORE-TEX Professional ClothingMSA The Safety CompanyJAFCODELTA FIRESend us Fan MailSupport the show***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

Are We Training Firefighters Wrong? | Chris Gott & Justin BrunnerAre we genuinely developing better firefighters, or are we simply getting better at ticking boxes, completing assessments and documenting competence?In this episode of The Firefighters Podcast, I sit down with Chris Gott and Justin Brunner for a fascinating conversation about the future of firefighter training, operational competence, leadership, artificial intelligence and how we can develop better decision-makers.Connect with our guest here | Chris Gott | Justin BrunnerAccess all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HEREPodcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE Please check out our Partners supporting this episode areWilliam Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on websitePBI high-performance fabrics GORE-TEX Professional ClothingMSA The Safety CompanyJAFCODELTA FIRESend us Fan MailSupport the show***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

Why does meaningful change remain so difficult when decades of research, inspections and cultural reviews have already identified so many of the problems? In this episode, Im joined by Janette Morris, former senior fire and rescue leader and HMICFRS inspector; Dave Baigent, former firefighter and long-standing researcher of firefighter culture; and Leanne Allen, operational firefighter and researcher with experience internationally. Together, they challenge assumptions around leadership, inclusion, recruitment, accountability and the traditions that shape our profession, exploring what it might actually take to create lasting cultural change.Leanne's presentation to Women and Firefighting Australasia https://youtu.be/JfLtwzoXbuo?feature=sharedLink to Leanne's research award -https://www.massey.ac.nz/about/news/firefighters-research-into-workplace-gender-disparities-earns-prestigious-kate-sheppard-award/Website - www.cultureonfire.orgDave's research/reports/resouces website - www.fitting-in.comLinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/company/culture-on-fire/Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HEREPodcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE Please check out our Partners supporting this episode areWilliam Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on websitePBI high-performance fabrics GORE-TEX Professional ClothingMSA The Safety CompanyJAFCODELTA FIRESend us Fan MailSupport the show***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

Recorded at the World Fire Congress 2026 in London, I sat down with Dr Lori Moore-Merrell, former US Fire Administrator and founding Chair of the World Fire Congress, and Phil Garrigan, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), to explore some of the biggest challenges facing fire and rescue services around the world.We discuss the growing threats of wildfire, extreme weather, operational pressures and funding challenges, alongside the importance of international collaboration and learning from major incidents. Lori shares why we must never waste the lessons of tragedy, while Phil reflects on the UK's changing risk profile and the need to influence meaningful change. We also explore the human impact of major disasters and the extraordinary challenges facing firefighters in conflict-affected nations.Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HEREPodcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE Please check out our Partners supporting this episode areWilliam Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on websitePBI high-performance fabrics GORE-TEX Professional ClothingMSA The Safety CompanyJAFCODELTA FIRESend us Fan MailSupport the show***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

Lithium-ion batteries are now embedded in almost every part of modern life, from mobile phones and power tools to electric vehicles, public transport and large-scale energy storage systems. But as this technology becomes more widespread, are fire and rescue services keeping pace with the risks?Recorded live at the World Fire Congress 2026 in London, this episode of The Firefighters Podcast features Dr Stephen Kerber of UL Research Institutes and the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), one of the leading voices in research-led firefighter safety.Stephen explores the increasing operational challenges associated with lithium-ion batteries, the hazards that can emerge throughout their lifecycle and the diverse environments in which firefighters are now encountering them.Of particular concern is the potential for flammable battery gases to accumulate within enclosed compartments, creating conditions for deflagration.But this conversation is about more than understanding the hazards. It's about translating scientific research into better education, improved standards, more effective operational preparation and greater public awareness.As lithium-ion technology continues to evolve, our understanding, training and response must evolve alongside it.An important listen for firefighters, incident commanders, trainers, fire safety professionals and anyone involved in preparing our services for emerging risks.Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HEREPodcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE Please check out our Partners supporting this episode areWilliam Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on websitePBI high-performance fabrics GORE-TEX Professional ClothingMSA The Safety CompanyJAFCODELTA FIRESend us Fan MailSupport the show***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew