Chief Curt “Ike” Isakson has spent more than three decades obsessed with the American fire service. In this episode of Hazard Class, he joins Jake for a deeply personal conversation about firefighting, leadership, mental health, resilience, family, and what it means to dedicate your life to the craft. Chief Ike opens up about the difficult end of his 25-year career with Escambia County Fire Rescue, the leadership conflicts and personal struggles that followed, and the mental health crisis that ultimately led him to the IAFF Center of Excellence. He discusses suicidal ideation, spending 42 days in treatment, and how that experience changed the way he views his career, family, leadership, and future. Now serving as Deputy Chief with Bay County Fire Rescue, Isakson describes what feels like the beginning of a new chapter. He discusses the rapid growth taking place in Bay County and his evolving leadership philosophy built around four ideas: caring, coaching, culture, and creativity. The conversation also examines one of the contradictions of a career in the fire service: how do you give everything you have to the job without allowing the job to become everything you have? Years ago, Isakson gave Jake a piece of advice that stuck with him: “The fire service will never love you back.” They revisit what that statement means after everything both men have experienced. Curt explains why firefighters should love the job, pursue competence, train relentlessly, and take pride in the profession while remembering that when the career ends, their family and relationships are what remain. As the 25th anniversary of September 11 approaches, Curt reflects on his connection to the FDNY, the influence of Andy Fredericks, and the responsibility of today's firefighters to remember those who came before them and carry their knowledge forward. That leads into a larger discussion about succession, mentorship, fire service culture, and why knowledge should be shared rather than guarded. The next generation should not simply preserve the fire service. They should make it better. The episode eventually returns to the place where Chief Ike has always felt most at home: the fireground. He explains why firefighting has always felt natural to him, why bunker gear once felt like putting on a Superman suit, and why decades later he still finds his greatest confidence with a hose line, Halligan, hook, axe, or saw in his hands. This is a conversation about surviving the valleys, appreciating the mountaintops, learning from bad leadership, becoming a better leader yourself, protecting your family from your obsession with the job, and never losing respect for the craft. Most importantly, it is a reminder that you can love the fire service with everything you have while still remembering there is a life beyond it. GUEST BIO Chief Curt “Ike” Isakson is a veteran firefighter, fire officer, instructor, and fire service leader with more than three decades of experience in the American fire service. His career includes nine years with the Pensacola Fire Department and 25 years with Escambia County Fire Rescue, where he spent more than two decades serving as a battalion chief. In 2026, Isakson began a new chapter as Deputy Chief with Bay County Fire Rescue in Florida. Known throughout the fire service for his passion for engine company operations, fireground tactics, training, and firemanship, Isakson has spent decades studying the craft and learning from some of the most influential firefighters and fire officers in the profession. Despite the titles and decades of experience, Isakson still describes himself first and foremost as a fireman. His passion remains rooted in the fundamentals of the job: hose lines, nozzles, forcible entry, tools, fireground competency, and the relentless pursuit of becoming better at the craft. County Fire Tacticshttps://countyfiretactics.com/ HAIXhttps://www.haixusa.com/ Rigaku Analytical Deviceshttps://www.rigakuanalytical.com/
