Mics and Sirens

Western Australian Department of Fire and Emergency Services
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Mics and Sirens is the official podcast for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) of Western Australia. With staff and volunteers, both on and behind the frontline, dedicated to protecting our State of more than 2.5 million square kilometres, there are many stories of hope and resilience. From that very first call for help, to those on the frontline putting themselves in harm’s way, and those who pick up the pieces once the sirens fade. We take you behind the scenes to meet the people behind the positions and explore the passion, commitment and grit that keeps communities safe.

  1. Episode 8 – Women leading the (fire) fight

    10/12/2025

    Episode 8 – Women leading the (fire) fight

    Women on the frontline was once a rare sight, but they are now a rising force in emergency services. It’s a change DFES and other fire agencies have, and continue to, champion. We sit down with the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions Allison Donovan and WA’s first female Level 3 Incident Controller who shares her insights about gender equality in firefighting and an initiative she’s working on to diversify the frontline.  *This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth. ----- Find us on:  Facebook      https://www.facebook.com/dfeswa Twitter (X)      https://x.com/dfes_wa Instagram      https://www.instagram.com/dfes_wa TikTok             https://www.tiktok.com/@dfes_wa LinkedIn         https://www.linkedin.com/company/department-fire-and-emergency-services Youtube          https://www.youtube.com/dfeswesternaustralia Website          https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/ ----- Credits:  Interviewer: Di Darmody  Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough Guest: Allison Donovan, Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions ----- Transcript: For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/4oAHTyO ----- This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.  Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright for copyright information.

    29 min
  2. Episode 7 – The power of a volunteer

    03/12/2025

    Episode 7 – The power of a volunteer

    Volunteers are the heart of emergency services, but knowing everyone’s strengths can be difficult to identify…until now. Meet Michael Tovine from Fire and Emergency New Zealand and volunteer firefighter who helped design a portal containing the superpowers of local volunteers to be used for special missions.  *This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth. ----- Find us on:  Facebook      https://www.facebook.com/dfeswa Twitter (X)      https://x.com/dfes_wa Instagram      https://www.instagram.com/dfes_wa TikTok             https://www.tiktok.com/@dfes_wa LinkedIn         https://www.linkedin.com/company/department-fire-and-emergency-services Youtube          https://www.youtube.com/dfeswesternaustralia Website          https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/ ----- Credits:  Interviewer: Di Darmody  Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough Guest: Michael Tovine, Fire and Emergency New Zealand ----- Transcript: For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/4pCy84h ----- This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.  Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright for copyright information.

    24 min
  3. Episode 6 – Outrunning electric vehicle fires

    26/11/2025

    Episode 6 – Outrunning electric vehicle fires

    While there’s an increasing number of electric vehicles on our roads, it’s fortunate that not many of them have caught fire in Australia yet.  But when electric vehicles ignite, their high-voltage lithium batteries release a toxic gas and take a long time to get under control. It’s important for our first responders to know what to do if they ever catch fire.  This episode explores a new tool developed by AFAC and led by Deputy Director for Operations, Emma Conway for first responders to combat electric vehicle fires. *This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth. ----- Find us on:  Facebook      https://www.facebook.com/dfeswa Twitter (X)      https://x.com/dfes_wa Instagram      https://www.instagram.com/dfes_wa TikTok             https://www.tiktok.com/@dfes_wa LinkedIn         https://www.linkedin.com/company/department-fire-and-emergency-services Youtube          https://www.youtube.com/dfeswesternaustralia Website          https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/ ----- Credits:  Interviewer: Di Darmody  Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough Guest: Emma Conway, Deputy Director Operations AFAC & EVEREST Program ----- Transcript: For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/4rjiiwX ----- This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.  Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright for copyright information.

    25 min
  4. Episode 5 – Flying into the frontline

    19/11/2025

    Episode 5 – Flying into the frontline

    Drones aren’t a new technology, but emergency services are increasingly taking their eyes in the sky to expand their line of sight and improve incident response.  Hear from Russell Turner from Fire and Rescue New South Wales, the agency that manages Australia’s largest Remotely Piloted Aircraft System on the swarms of drones flying directly into the frontline and keeping firefighters safe.  *This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth. ----- Find us on:  Facebook      https://www.facebook.com/dfeswa Twitter (X)      https://x.com/dfes_wa Instagram      https://www.instagram.com/dfes_wa TikTok             https://www.tiktok.com/@dfes_wa LinkedIn         https://www.linkedin.com/company/department-fire-and-emergency-services Youtube          https://www.youtube.com/dfeswesternaustralia Website          https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/ ----- Credits:  Interviewer: Di Darmody  Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough Guest: Russell Turner, Fire Rescue New South Wales  ----- Transcript: For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/43lHMj4 ----- This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.  Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright for copyright information.

    27 min
  5. Episode 4 – Fire spotters from space

    12/11/2025

    Episode 4 – Fire spotters from space

    There’s a new game-changing fire-spotter in the sky, named one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2025. Fires as small as five square metres can be detected in just minutes, which helps emergency services act faster, smarter and safer.  Hear from the scientist and strategist Dr Karen O’Connor from the Earth Fire Alliance who is behind the first-of-its-kind technology changing the way we detect potential emergencies and protect people and property across the globe.  *This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth ----- Find us on:  Facebook      https://www.facebook.com/dfeswa Twitter (X)      https://x.com/dfes_wa Instagram      https://www.instagram.com/dfes_wa TikTok             https://www.tiktok.com/@dfes_wa LinkedIn         https://www.linkedin.com/company/department-fire-and-emergency-services Youtube          https://www.youtube.com/dfeswesternaustralia Website          https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/ ----- Credits:  Interviewer: Di Darmody  Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough Guest: Dr Karen O’Connor, Earth Fire Alliance  ----- Transcript: For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/3JKGGXn ----- This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.  Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright for copyright information.

    29 min
  6. Episode 3 – Doing a better job to stay safe

    05/11/2025

    Episode 3 – Doing a better job to stay safe

    Every emergency is typically defined by preparation, prevention, response and recovery. But in the words of the former Head of United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction, it’s a vicious cycle that needs to be broken.  Hear Mami Mizutori’s strategies for anticipating risks, reducing impacts and building communities that are truly resilient. *This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth. ----- Find us on:  Facebook      https://www.facebook.com/dfeswa Twitter (X)      https://x.com/dfes_wa Instagram      https://www.instagram.com/dfes_wa TikTok             https://www.tiktok.com/@dfes_wa LinkedIn         https://www.linkedin.com/company/department-fire-and-emergency-services Youtube          https://www.youtube.com/dfeswesternaustralia Website          https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/ ----- Credits:  Interviewer: Di Darmody  Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough Guest: Mami Mizutori, former Head of United Nations Office for National Disaster Risk Reduction ----- Transcript: For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/3WATrXu ----- This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.  Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright for copyright information.

    31 min
  7. Episode 2 – Learning from the Grenfell Tower tragedy

    29/10/2025

    Episode 2 – Learning from the Grenfell Tower tragedy

    Images from the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire tragedy are unwillingly etched in the minds of people all over the world. Flames took hold and got to the top of the 23-storey housing block in 30 minutes.  This episode Mark Hardingham CBE QFSM takes us inside the lessons of the UK’s deadliest residential building fire that claimed the lives of 72 people.  *This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth. ----- Find us on:  Facebook      https://www.facebook.com/dfeswa Twitter (X)      https://x.com/dfes_wa Instagram      https://www.instagram.com/dfes_wa TikTok             https://www.tiktok.com/@dfes_wa LinkedIn         https://www.linkedin.com/company/department-fire-and-emergency-services Youtube          https://www.youtube.com/dfeswesternaustralia Website          https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/ ----- Credits:  Interviewer: Di Darmody  Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough Guest: Mark Hardingham, former UK Chair of National Fire Chiefs Council ----- Transcript: For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/479sU9N ----- This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.  Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright for copyright information.

    37 min
  8. Episode 1 – After the firestorm; Palisades and beyond

    22/10/2025

    Episode 1 – After the firestorm; Palisades and beyond

    Wildfires are typically fuelled by wind, heat and overgrown vegetation. But what happens when people’s homes are what propel flames into an unstoppable firestorm.  The former head of the US Fire Administration Dr Lori Moore-Merrell sits down with us to talk about a firestorm that flattened multiple neighbourhoods in Los Angeles and the insights that came from the tragedy.  *This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth. ----- Find us on:  Facebook      https://www.facebook.com/dfeswa Twitter (X)      https://x.com/dfes_wa Instagram      https://www.instagram.com/dfes_wa TikTok             https://www.tiktok.com/@dfes_wa LinkedIn         https://www.linkedin.com/company/department-fire-and-emergency-services Youtube          https://www.youtube.com/dfeswesternaustralia Website          https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/ ----- Credits:  Interviewer: Di Darmody  Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough Guest: Dr Lori Moore-Merrell, former US Fire Administrator ----- Transcript: For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/4oyWlYP ----- This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.  ----- Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright for copyright information.

    33 min
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About

Mics and Sirens is the official podcast for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) of Western Australia. With staff and volunteers, both on and behind the frontline, dedicated to protecting our State of more than 2.5 million square kilometres, there are many stories of hope and resilience. From that very first call for help, to those on the frontline putting themselves in harm’s way, and those who pick up the pieces once the sirens fade. We take you behind the scenes to meet the people behind the positions and explore the passion, commitment and grit that keeps communities safe.

Information

  • Creator
    Western Australian Department of Fire and Emergency Services
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Mics and Sirens
  • Show Website
    Mics and Sirens

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