Loyal to a Fault | Jake Ryks, Hazard Class Podcast | Episode 478 In this episode of the National Fire Radio Podcast, I sit down with Jake Ryks, host of the Hazard Class Podcast, for a conversation about what it really means to go all in on the fire service. Jake shares his journey from working part time in the fire service and private sector to the St. Paul Fire Department, hazmat instruction, special operations, and eventually podcasting. Throughout his story, one thing becomes very clear. Jake loves this job, believes deeply in what we do, and describes himself as being “loyal to a fault.” That idea became a big part of our conversation. How can you be loyal to a fault to something that we often say will never love you back? Jake's answer really stuck with me. He understands that he will always love the fire service more than it will love him. Someday all of us will be replaced, and that's okay. What matters is what we do with the time we have and whether we leave this job better than we found it. We talk about leadership, mentorship, and the responsibility of those who care deeply about the job to help others find their way. Not everyone knows where to look or how to get better. Sometimes they simply need someone willing to invest in them. We also spend a lot of time talking about training and competency. Jake offers a perspective that I think every firefighter should consider. Our job isn't simply to go on calls. Our job is to be prepared when the call comes. Jake shares the story of a fire where his ticket was drawn and years of training and preparation allowed him to rescue three children. That one moment made every book, class, conference, drill, and hour spent working on the craft worth it. Whether you're running 200 calls a year or working in one of the busiest companies in the country, eventually your number may get called. The question is whether you'll be ready when it happens. The conversation also gets very personal. Jake opens up about his own struggles, reaching a point where he needed help, and what he learned about vulnerability, transparency, and allowing people into your life. We talk about how easy it is in the fire service to carry things quietly and convince ourselves that we can handle everything on our own. Jake learned that opening up and asking for help didn't make him less of a firefighter. It helped him become a better husband, father, firefighter, instructor, and friend. This conversation is really about the give and take of the fire service. This job can demand a tremendous amount from us, but it can also give us purpose, relationships, opportunity, belonging, and experiences that are difficult to find anywhere else. Maybe the question shouldn't always be, “What is the fire service giving me?” Maybe we should spend a little more time asking, “What am I giving back to it?”
