B Shifter

Across The Street Productions

Fire command and leadership conversations for B Shifters and beyond (all shifts welcome)!

  1. APR 28

    Three Levels Of Air Management

    Send us Fan Mail Our guest this week is Battalion Chief Ryan Eldridge, Blue Card Lead Instructor Ryan Eldridge is a dedicated fire service professional with a career spanning over three decades. He began his journey in 1995 when he joined the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Explorer Program. Directly out of high school, he worked for the Las Vegas Bureau of Land Management office as a wildland firefighter on a hand crew. From 1997 to 2002, he served as a reserve firefighter in Boulder City, Nev. Ryan joined Las Vegas Fire and Rescue as a firefighter in 2002. Throughout his career, he pursued further education and training, becoming an Honor Guard member in 2003 and serving as co-commander; an LVF&R Technical Rescue Team member in 2005; and a certified paramedic in 2006. He served as an Executive Board member for Local 1285 and chaired the EMS Committee for over 10 years. In 2014, Ryan was promoted to captain, serving Battalion 1 at Station 10. Ryan was promoted to battalion chief in January 2024 and serves LVF&R Battalion 10, B-Shift. He considers being a Blue Card lead instructor an honor and is proud to represent Big Al’s legacy. Ryan has been married for 28 years and has two awesome young adult children. We break down how firefighter air management actually works  from a morning bottle check to the moment you decide it’s time to leave. Ryan  shares practical ways to measure real SCBA work times and shows how company officers and incident commanders can build a rotation system that prevents low-air alarms inside IDLH. • treating air management as a Mayday prevention skill • starting the shift with maximum cylinder pressure and consistent SCBA checks • setting clear low-air communication methods between firefighters and officers • understanding personal air consumption and the round-trip ticket mindset • running realistic air consumption drills and tracking amber-to-vibra time • company officer ownership of crew air and exit timing • IC tools like elapsed-time “pokes” and CAN reports to catch problems early • using on-deck and three-deep layering to keep crews cycling safely • reinforcing the rule that there is no harmless smoke Download the Air Consumption Drill Here: https://bshifter.com/download/air-consumption-exercise/ Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition This episode was recorded at the Alan V. Bruncini Command Training Center in Phoenix, AZ on April 16, 2026 For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter Please remember to share with a friend. Like and subscribe if you can. That helps us out!

    27 min

  2. APR 16

    Fire Command, 3rd Edition

    Send us Fan Mail This episode features Nick Brunacini and is hosted by John Vance. We trace the origin of the Fire Command textbook from Alan Brunacini and why standardizing incident command changes everything from water-on-the-fire decisions to firefighter safety. We walk through what’s new in Fire Command 3 and how Blue Card training turns hard lessons into a repeatable system that works under pressure: • why freelancing and arrival-order deployment fail under stress  • how Alan Brunacini’s early fireground experiences shaped Fire Command  • the shift from slide programs and VHS to a teachable command textbook  • how Fire Command fits alongside NIMS and FEMA for different incident types  • what changed from the first edition to the second edition and why “deployment” matters  • how Southwest Supermarkets influenced command safety and tactical supervision  • why third edition puts deployment first and expands it to service delivery and aid agreements  • how embedded safety and accountability replace late-stage fixes  • what fire science changes about offensive strategy and exterior water application  • how the Mayday chapter is designed to work without rebuilding the system mid-incident  Come By The Booth At FDIC, Hoosier Corridor Booth Number 13011 Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition This episode was recorded at the Alan V. Bruncini Command Training Center in Phoenix, AZ on April 15, 2026 For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter Please remember to share with a friend. Like and subscribe if you can. That helps us out!

    1h 27m

  3. APR 9

    Strategic Decision-Making For Commercial Fire Operations

    Send us Fan Mail Commercial fires will expose weak decision-making—fast. In this episode, we break down why commercial fire operations demand a completely different mindset than house fires—and how the Blue Card strategic decision-making model keeps us out of trouble. We focus on size-up, realistic life safety expectations and the command choices that keep us from doing the wrong thing harder. In this episode: • Size, height and occupancy as your first strategic drivers • Why residential tactics fail in large commercial compartments • Reading sprinkler performance and recognizing when something is off • Slowing down your size-up to avoid dangerous assumptions • Confirming evacuation vs chasing unlikely rescues • Standing up divisions early for better supervision and safety • CAN reports, face-to-face coordination and radio discipline • Knowing when to change the IAP and move to Plan B • Air management, maximum depth and the round-trip ticket mindset • Understanding capability limits—and where building systems must do the work Buy “Timeless Tactical Truths from Alan Brunacini” at bshifter.com in our store for only $10! This episode was recorded on April 9, 2026. For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter Please remember to share with a friend. Like and subscribe if you can. That helps us out!

    1h 7m

  4. APR 3

    Blue Card Rundown for April, 2026

    Send us Fan Mail We share the April 2026 Blue Card rundown, from FDIC plans to major updates in training, online content, and continuing education. We dig into what’s changing in Fire Command, why objective after action reviews matter, and how we keep the whole response system stronger from dispatch to the fireground. • FDIC plans in the Hoosier corridor and who you can meet at the booth • Third edition Fire Command textbook release and why the update matters • Blue Card Online update planned to align with the new textbook • After Action Reporting system overview and what it measures • How non-instructors get AAR access and how the subscription pricing works • New traffic incident management CE module tied to apparatus positioning and safety • New dispatcher CE on mass casualty support and catching missed Maydays • ARFF program growth, new CE and simulations, and the August Phoenix class dates • Train the Trainer schedule, workshop dates, and why early booking matters • New command awareness program for firefighters, operators, and EMS partners • Helmet wall update and how departments can contribute Buy “Timeless Tactical Truths from Alan Brunacini” at bshifter.com in our store for only $10! This episode was recorded on April 2, 2026. For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter Please remember to share with a friend. Like and subscribe if you can. That helps us out!

    44 min

  5. MAR 20

    Worcester Fire Chief Martin Dyer

    Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Worcester Fire Chief Martin Dyer to talk about what real officer accountability looks like and why the front seat cannot be a part-time leadership role. We break down how a disciplined incident command system, integrated training, and sustained culture change make firegrounds safer and service delivery sharper. • Worcester’s history and how tragedy drives learning • Department profile, staffing model, and command structure • Ending “ride up” coverage in officer seats • Accountability, supervision, and what the officer rank means • Blue Card command training tied to civil service promotion • Integrated drills that connect strategy, tactics, and tasks • Lessons learned on implementing change and sustaining it • Communication tools, early adopters, and credible internal trainers • Triple deckers, balloon frame hazards, and resource planning • Early alarm policies, command depth, and level one staging • Advice for aspiring company officers and future chief officers • Fire dynamics, FSRI, and professionalism as customer service Buy “Timeless Tactical Truths from Alan Brunacini” at bshifter.com in our store for only $10! This episode was recorded on March 19, 2026. For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter Please remember to share with a friend. Like and subscribe if you can. That helps us out.

    58 min

  6. MAR 12

    Recruits and Command

    Send us Fan Mail This episode, Josh Blum, Chris Stewart and John Vance connect recruit training to stronger incident command by showing how day-one decision making, radio discipline, and functional evolutions create safer firegrounds. Along the way we share first-arriver expectations, Mayday triggers, air management, and the myth of “just do work.” • day-one radio use and communication norms • building decision-making through functional evolutions • size-up, critical factors, and risk choices • priority traffic, Mayday structure, and channel discipline • problem solving under pressure • air management triggers and round-trip ticket planning • accountability at task, tactical, and strategic levels • aligning field training officers with academy standards • clarifying “alien abduction” and preventing freelancing Reach out if you want to host a Train-the-Trainer or Mayday Workshop. Our schedule is filling up fast. bshifter.com has all the dates Buy “Timeless Tactical Truths from Alan Brunacini” at bshifter.com in our store for only $10! This episode was recorded on March 10, 2026. For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter Thanks for listening - please subscribe and give us your support!

    56 min

  7. FEB 27

    Identifying Critical Fireground Factors at the Beginning of an Incident

    Send us Fan Mail Josh Blum, Chris Stewart and John Vance look at how disciplined size-up and tight language reveal true critical factors and shape an incident action plan that works. We share tools for integrating risk management into strategy, avoiding busy work, and matching tactics to real resources. • why critical factors drive the incident action plan • three core size‑up questions that focus decisions • standard terms for fire conditions and why they matter • 360 and interior reports as continuous size‑up • overlaying risk management on strategy in real time • aligning tactics with actual staffing and capability • stopping duplication, avoiding busy work, keeping crews safe • leadership that prevents bad outcomes and sets clear limits Join us live March 11, 2026 for the instructor webinar on the download center and Blue Card resources. Sign up via the show notes to watch live, ask questions, or get the on‑demand replay. Sign up here: https://streamyard.com/watch/28zvKcGuWhZQ Buy “Timeless Tactical Truths from Alan Brunacini” at bshifter.com in our store for only $10! This episode was recorded on February 27, 2026. For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter Thanks for listening - please subscribe and give us your support!

    56 min

  8. FEB 12

    Standard Conditions, Standard Actions, Standard Outcomes

    Send us Fan Mail This episode features Chris Stewart, Steve Lester and John Vance We unpack how clear size-ups, shared language, and realistic tactics turn a scene into a coordinated fireground. Standard conditions guide standard actions, which create standard outcomes—and the trust to avoid freelancing and prevent avoidable failures. • defining standard conditions for typical occupancies in your district • using precise radio language that sets tempo and expectations • matching offensive or defensive strategy to true conditions • aligning tactics with staffing, arrival order, and capabilities • training chiefs in role to build trust and succession • measuring outcomes by all-clear, fire control, loss control • running hot washes that separate activity from results • avoiding benchmark overload that hides core objectives • embracing closed-loop communication and silence while work happens Buy “Timeless Tactical Truths from Alan Brunacini” at bshifter.com in our store for only $10! This episode was recorded at the Alan V. Brunacini Command Training Center in Phoenix on February 10, 2026. For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter Thanks for listening - please subscribe and give us your support!

    50 min
See All (179)

4.6
out of 5
55 Ratings

About

Fire command and leadership conversations for B Shifters and beyond (all shifts welcome)!

Information

  • Creator
    Across The Street Productions
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    179
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Across the Street Productions
  • Show Website
    B Shifter

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