5-Alarm Task Force!

Steve Greene

News and Issues For Today's First Responders. We provide some of the top mentors, leaders and members of the Fire Service from the U.S. and Canada.

  1. Episode 9-18 - Chief Emeritus/Retired Charles Werner - New Technology for First Responders

    05/27/2025

    Episode 9-18 - Chief Emeritus/Retired Charles Werner - New Technology for First Responders

    Episode 9-18 – Chief-Emeritus/Retired Charles Werner- New Technology for First Responders Chief-Emeritus/Retired Charles Werner has served 44 years in the fire service, 37 years with the Charlottesville Fire Dept., the last ten as the Charlottesville Fire Department. Additionally, he is also the current Executive Director of Droneresponders.org with just under 12,000 members from across the world.  In our interview, Chief Werner explains recent technology that we either have now or will in the near future. A number of these will be, not only for the Fire Services, but our Brothers & Sisters of Law Enforcement and EMS! Chief Werner has also served as Acting Deputy State Coordinator and Senior Adviser with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, where he helped to facilitate VDEM’s UAS (sic. Drone), as well helping  the Albermarle County Sheriff's Office SAR team.  So, if you’re a “techy,” “geek,” etc., this podcast is one you will not want to miss!                                                                                          ********** Please remember that we need your help so that we can financially help a Brother, Sister, or their families in dire need. Please visit our website at https://5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and you’ll see a photo of the Silver Siren. Please click on the picture and our donation page pops up. Choose the value and the method of paying. You’ll see a small label that says, “Apply my Gift To” and please select FOUNDATION.

    1h 11m
  2. Episode 9-17 - Troy Lachinski - Preparing for NERIS

    05/06/2025

    Episode 9-17 - Troy Lachinski - Preparing for NERIS

    In most fire departments and some EMS agencies have to file a bunch of paperwork to report the fires/rescues, additional info i.e. number of patients, levels of damages and so much more. Well, there’s a new “day” coming, starting on January 2, 2026! Our podcast welcomes Troy Lachinski of Image Trend, a company integral to the change of Fire/EMS recording within the new system, NERIS, National Emergency Response Information System. More than just a system upgrade, NERIS will fundamentally change how change how departments report, analyze and act on critical data. Joining us on this episode of 5-Alarm Task Force, is Troy Lachinski. As one of the key personnel who is assisting departments (and you, our viewers and listeners) as to how recording we have been using for decades, But it was often “go” or “no-go.” If the data wasn’t entered as soon as the crews return from the call, folks were exhausted and let it slide to the morning and sometimes, it never did get down.  Watch and listen to our guest, Troy Lachinski, and you will see the why’s and wherefores and how NERIS will be better us. Troy supplied these links to more information about NERIS! Core Data Schemas: https://fsri.org/program-update/neris-core-data-schemas-released-beta Secondary Schemas: https://fsri.org/program-update/neris-releases-secondary-data-schemas-30-day-national-engagement-period Please remember that we need your help so that we can financially assist a Brother, Sister or their families in dire need. Please visit our website at https://5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and you’ll see a photo of the Silver Siren. Please click on the picture and our donation page pops up. Choose the value and the method of paying. You’ll see a small label that says, “Apply my Gift To” and please select FOUNDATION.

    1h 56m
  3. Episode 9-16 - "Backroom Deals in Our Backyards" With Miranda Spivack & Diane Cotter

    04/24/2025

    Episode 9-16 - "Backroom Deals in Our Backyards" With Miranda Spivack & Diane Cotter

    Episode 9-16 – Miranda Spivack and Dianne Cotter – “Backroom Deals in Our Backyards”As we pass through life, we encounter many people. This one works in a tall building; another delivers office supplies and a third washes all the windows. Most see this as “blue-collar” job, but do we really know what’s going on.Our guests today are Miranda Spivack, a former reporter and she worked for the “Washington Post,” for 20 years. She has been a Fulbright Scholar. Her work has appeared in the “New York Times,” “USA Today,” and “Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting” and the McClatchy newspapers. And Miranda’s “guest,” is a frequent guest on 5-Alarm Task Force. Ms. Diane Cotter who, when her husband was diagnosed with cancer, Diane wanted to know both, how could this happen and how can we fight this. Both of our guests have “climbed” the very tall wall. And as it came to be, Miranda was following Diane’s life and her determination and how she fought the system, not just for her family, but for every firefighter who has worn bunker gear with a known carcinogenic.As Miranda reveals, what we used to assume that our city/town/state/federal’s officials are operating “above board.” Ahhhh…that’s not necessarily true. Hence the name of her book, “Backroom Deals in Our Backyards.”Want to read even more than we discuss here? Miranda’s book will be released on May 6th. Please listen to this podcast then, read the book!! You can order the book at this link:https://thenewpress.com/books/backroom-deals-our-backyards and those below, Here's info on per-ordering the book:https://bookshop.org/p/books/backroom-deals-in-our-backyards-how-government-secrecy-harms-our-communities-and-the-local-heroes-fighting-back-miranda-s-spivack/21644217?ean=9781620978559&next=t&affiliate=1871https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/backroom-deals-in-our-backyards-miranda-s-spivack/1146017644;jsessionid=BC6335333E4AEE777160AF759E9B5AAB.prodny_store02-atgap02?ean=9781620978559https://www.amazon.com/Backroom-Deals-Our-Backyards-Communities/dp/1620978555/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VeZdCG8JFfprOKoKY5mkQw.eiDA7dTsZ3429ZOdLMPuGTU0W17AlV59kb8XIf7GX10&dib_tag=se&keywords=9781620978559&qid=1742576802&sr=8-1https://thenewpress.com/books/backroom-deals-our-backyardsMiranda's email: mirandaspivack@yahoo.com

    3h 23m
  4. Episode 9-13 – Peter Mathews – FIREHOUSE® Magazine - 25th Anniversary of the Worcester Six

    12/11/2024

    Episode 9-13 – Peter Mathews – FIREHOUSE® Magazine - 25th Anniversary of the Worcester Six

    Whether you’re a veteran firefighter or a rookie, the likelihood that you’ve seen or even read FIREHOUSE® Magazine, is high. It has been a staple in most firehouses and with thousands more visiting the website, attending conferences and more. Its current Editor-in-Chief is Peter Mathews. Peter is the Director of Conferences and FIREHOUSE® Magazine. He has worked at FIREHOUSE® since 1999, serving in various roles on both the Magazine and FIREHOUSE®.com staffs He completed an internship with the Rochester NY Fire Department and has served with fire departments Glenwood Landing. Rush NY and Laurel MD.Peter is an avid photographer of the fire service and frequently rides along with the fire departments in Dallas and Ft. Worth TX. Today, Peter and I will discuss the 25th anniversary of the Worcester MA Cold Storage Fire and his look at the recent new conference, Fire Fusion.                                     ********************Please remember that we need your help especially during this Holiday Season; to raise the important funds we use to financially help our Brothers/Sisters and/or their families, when they are in dire need. Since 2020, we have donated nearly $7,000.00 to our Brothers and Sisters. We can only do that with your help. Please visit our homepage at https://www.5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and scroll down to the photo of the E2QB siren. Select the photo and our donation page will appear. From $1.00 to whatever you can afford, any amount will help us. And you can always reach us at Dalmatprod@Outlook.com

    2 hr
  5. Episode 9-11 – Kevin Yeazell & Kevin Ryan Yeazell – Firefighting Without PFAS/PFOS

    12/01/2024

    Episode 9-11 – Kevin Yeazell & Kevin Ryan Yeazell – Firefighting Without PFAS/PFOS

    Since 2015/2016, we have an elevated consciousness regarding cancer in the fire service. With slow, but sure processes, we learned the AFFF, and our gear are “dosed” with PFAS. That it about to change. My guests on this episode of “5-Alarm Task Force!” are Kevin Yeazell and his son Kevin Ryan Yeazell of a company Fireground Supply. Several seasons ago, we met (via podcast) Quincy Emmons, from Canada. His company created a product, Fire Rein. It is a liquid composed of all-natural product, without any PFAS/PFOS. My guests reached out to Quincy’s company for details and saw how valuable this could be for the fire service. Additionally, Fireground Supply created another firefighting tool, called Eco-Gel. It sticks to almost any product like wood, plastics, and more. What is important to know is that Eco-Gel is made of all natural products, contains no PFAS/PFOS and actually sticks to the surface and will not allow a re-light of what was burning. Kevin Ryan Yeazell is also an expert on firefighting gear. He is deeply involved in the issue of keeping our gear healthy and knows the industry very, very well. While the audio version of this podcast is complete, we urge you to visit our YouTube® channel, “5-Alarm Task Force,” where you will hear the entire podcast, BUT…. you will see several videos included how these products work!You can reach them at their website, www.firegroundsupply.com!                                   ********************Please remember that we need your help especially during this Holiday Season; to raise the important funds we use to financially help our Brothers/Sisters and/or their families, when they are in dire need. Since 2020, we have donated nearly $7,000.00 to our Brothers and Sisters. We can only do that with your help. Please visit our homepage at https://www.5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and scroll down to the photo of the E2QB siren. Select the photo and our donation page will appear. From $1.00 to whatever you can afford, any amount will help us. And you can always reach us at Dalmatprod@Outlook.com

    1h 51m
4
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

News and Issues For Today's First Responders. We provide some of the top mentors, leaders and members of the Fire Service from the U.S. and Canada.