Firehouse

Endeavor Business Media
  • 3.9 (8)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
Firehouse

Editor-in-Chief Peter Matthews talks with Firehouse authors and speakers and members of the fire service about firefighter training and tactics, leadership, trends and traditions.

  1. Commanding Special Operations for South Metro, CO – Scott Richardson

    NOV 4

    Commanding Special Operations for South Metro, CO – Scott Richardson

    Peter Matthews talks with Scott Richardson about how he manages the special operations and line support teams for South Metro Fire Rescue, which covers over 300 square miles of diverse terrain in Colorado with myriad of unique response scenarios. Under Richardson’s command is the department’s technical rescue resources, wildland and ARFF crews, dispatch and apparatus and equipment maintenance teams. Richardson explains how each group ensures they have a dedicated command and training staff so each discipline is trained to handle a scenario that they may be called to, including the many disciplines of technical rescue. He talks about the budgets process, as well as ensuring each group had the equipment they need to respond. When it comes to command technical rescue incidents, Richardson shares his perspectives on the unique challenges of these changing incidents and how they not only respond to fire and rescue emergencies but coordinate with law enforcement and other agencies to ensure life safety. Resources  South Metro Fire Rescue website  South Metro Fire Rescue YouTube

    53 min
  2. 20 LODDs in 144 Days, A Wake-up Call for Firefighter Culture? – Daniel DeYear

    OCT 21

    20 LODDs in 144 Days, A Wake-up Call for Firefighter Culture? – Daniel DeYear

    Peter Matthews talks with Daniel DeYear, a recently retired deputy chief from Dallas Fire-Rescue, about his work involving LODD investigations in Texas and how it relates to the often contentious discussions on firefighter safety and fire service culture.   DeYear outlines a 144-day period in which his team investigated nearly 20 firefighter deaths – all from fireground operations – including the West, TX, explosion and Houston’s Southwest Inn fire. During his career in Dallas, he lost almost two dozen colleagues in the line of duty, including his rookie school partner and one of his academy instructors, all of which has led DeYear to connect the dots and champion efforts to ensure those patterns are reduced.   DeYear discusses why firefighters tend to focus on being aggressive on the fireground, without being aggressive with education and knowledge building to lead you to make the right decisions.  Resources  Hidden Dangers, Hidden Secrets  Daniel DeYear’s Firehouse bio and contributions   ChiefDeYear.com  Connect with Daniel DeYear on LinkedIn  FireFusion  Station Design Conference

    1h 7m
  3. Leadership & Retention Ideas for Volunteer Fire Departments – Brandon Fletcher

    OCT 7

    Leadership & Retention Ideas for Volunteer Fire Departments – Brandon Fletcher

    Peter Matthews talks with Gilt Edge, TN, Fire Chief Brandon Fletcher about the challenges facing today’s volunteer fire service, plus an innovative program to help retain existing members.   Fletcher outlines some of the top factors that are impacting the rolls and operations of departments today, including a dive into volunteer-focused leadership, politics and personalities and how to keep members engaged, whether on calls or training. He digs into several challenges that he’s seen firsthand and has learned from others. He goes on to share a program he implemented that allows for grant funding to bring members to national training conferences that not only improves their knowledge and networking but serves as a reward for their dedication to the department.  Fletcher also talks about his experiences as a family escort for the annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, MD. He has had the honor of escorting the families of the fallen throughout the memorial weekend events for three years, and he explains how that has impacted him as a fire chief, ensuring that his members do all they can to stay safe.  Resources  Volunteer View: Alternative Funding Sources to Enhance Department Operations  Volunteer View: Retention Through Leadership  Brandon Fletcher’s Firehouse contributor page  Connect with Brandon Fletcher on LinkedIn  FireFusion  Station Design Conference  National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend

    1h 12m
  4. Where is Community Risk Reduction Today – Daniel Byrne, Laura Kondor, Ben Shearer

    SEP 23

    Where is Community Risk Reduction Today – Daniel Byrne, Laura Kondor, Ben Shearer

    Peter Matthews talks with Daniel Byrne, Laura Konor and Ben Shearer about new approaches to Community Risk Reduction (CRR) and fire prevention in 2024, and what has changed with public outreach since COVID-19. Byrne is an assistant chief with the Burton, SC, Fire District, Kondor is fire safety coordinator for the North Charleston, SC, Fire Department and Shearer is community risk reduction specialist with the Pasco, WA, Fire Department.  They discuss how COVID-19 impacted the fire service’s reach in-person reach, whether through in-school visits, open houses, or community events and how that created a shift to digital learning. Since then, some departments have had more requests than ever from the community, forcing them to select the groups they meet with to talk about life safety.  The group shares advice for Fire Prevention Week success and year-round outreach concept that help fire departments connect with their communities at multiple levels. The three talk about how they have partnered with organizations and used fire department data to target education to certain groups, and close out the show with CRR wins and losses from their views.  Ben Shearer Laura Kondor Daniel Byrne Resources  Fire Prevention Week

    1h 6m

  5. SEP 9

    Training Turns into Mayday, Close Call – Ragan Underwood

    Peter Matthews talks with Capt. Ragan Underwood from the St. George, LA, Fire Department about a close call he had during a training burn where he was caught the flow path and was trapped in the home when the incident commander radioed for crews to leave the structure.  Underwood, a veteran instructor and member of the Insight Training cadre, was taking part in a live fire training at a home in Illinois when he sent crews out of the home and went to cool down the fire before exiting. The fire took off and he was caught in the fire and got disoriented and suffered from exposure to serious heat around his hood and SCBA facepiece.   While he was trying to find his way out and could hear the RIT crew making progress toward his location, command pulled crews out of the house saying it was too far gone, leaving Underwood in the home as conditions worsened. At that moment, his life changed, and he reflects on what happened after that.  Underwood shares how careful communications and breathing techniques can help calm a firefighter during a mayday, and what officers should know about this situation. He explains how this incident changed his approach to training and operations and what he shares with those back home and when he’s on the road teaching.  Resources  FireFusion

    1h 7m
  6. Tactics for the Known and Unknowns at Warehouse Fires – Brian Gettemeier

    AUG 27

    Tactics for the Known and Unknowns at Warehouse Fires – Brian Gettemeier

    Peter Matthews talks with Brian Gettemeier, a captain with the Cottleville Fire Protection District in St. Charles County, MO, about fires in warehouses, including sprawling ecommerce facilities that are being built in communities large and small.  Gettemeier began instructing and writing on the topic of the dangers and challenges on warehouse fires after seeing several fires in such facilities that caused multi-million dollar loses and smaller fires that were contained by sprinklers as fires break out in rural and urban areas.  They talk about the dangers revolving around rack storage, the heavy fire loads and types of products that are being stored, worker and firefighter life safety and accountability and other tactical considerations, including initial and long-term resources, apparatus placement and the need for a strong water supply.  Gettemeier also looks at the role of the initial incident commander, the need for a 360-degree size-up and establishing an in-depth incident command post if the scope of the incident requires it. In order to prepare for such incidents, the departments need to begin preplanning and walk-throughs as soon as possible.  He also touches on the need understanding a department’s liability when these facilities come to you community, which often begins with the fire chief or fire marshal starting the discussions from the early stages related to building and life safety codes.  Resources  Brian Gettemeier’s Firehouse bio page & articles   FM Global Firefighter Training   FM Global Fireground Checklist   FireFusion

    54 min
  7. Staying Motivated & Truck Company Leadership – Sean Eagen

    AUG 14

    Staying Motivated & Truck Company Leadership – Sean Eagen

    Peter Matthews talks with Capt. Sean Eagen from the Buffalo, NY, Fire Department about his role as a company officer and commander, plus how today’s busy fire service can stay motivated through tough times. Eagen shares leadership advice and crew management ideas, including the ability to communicate with groups across multiple platforms. Eagen, coming from a busy city in the urban rust belt of America, talks about the ways to keep firefighters motivated, despite equipment troubles, city politics and budgets and busy shifts. Despite the challenges, he reminds firefighters they signed up to do the job, no matter what the situation they face. He shares tips on how to create training opportunities and pass along streets smarts, whether it’s 1 p.m. or 2 a.m., especially to help the large number of newer firefighters on the street engaged and educated.   Resources: Sean Eagen’s Firehouse bio page & articles Today on Firehouse Podcast – Episode 3: Maydays & More with Sean Eagen

    58 min
  8. Survival for the New Fire Company Officer – James Jester

    JUL 29

    Survival for the New Fire Company Officer – James Jester

    Peter Matthews talks with Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company Chief James “Jay” Jester about how to survive the promotion to company officer. They talk about the common and surprising challenges news officers face and how to prepare for the new rank, where their responsibility grows as they supervise crews.   Jester shares how officers, whether from volunteer or career fire companies, become an integral part of the department’s structure both in the station and on the fireground. He outlines some of the most important traits new officers should have, skills they should already be well versed in and what key elements they can study to prepare for on their leadership journey.   The transition from buddy to boss is explored, often causing some unexpected challenges for new officers and he shares advice on how to move past that situation, plus understanding the responsibility an officer has to their firefighter’s families.   The two also talk about mental health for firefighters and the officer’s role in monitoring their members, plus mayday training and the importance of setting a list of situations that require a mayday being called.   Resources  James Jester’s Firehouse bio page & articles   From Buddy to Boss by Chase Sargent

    1h 5m
See All (42)

Ratings & Reviews

3.9
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Editor-in-Chief Peter Matthews talks with Firehouse authors and speakers and members of the fire service about firefighter training and tactics, leadership, trends and traditions.

Information

  • Creator
    Endeavor Business Media
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2024
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Firehouse
  • Show Website
    Firehouse

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