Fire Engineering Podcast Network

Where are the Firefighters Going?

For this episode of The Backstep Boys, hosts Ron Kanterman and Tom Aurnhammer welcome fire service veterans Doug Cline and Stephen Shaw. Together they assess a troubling trend: healthy, capable captains and chiefs retiring after just 20 years. While many blame the younger generation, they argue that the real culprits are administrative fatigue, shifting community politics, and the relentless mental load of hypervigilance. The panel highlights a widespread lack of transition planning for life outside of the station. 

Where Is the Intersection of Leadership and Management?

Hosts Todd Edwards and Anthony Rowett welcome Candace Ashby to this episode of Generation Engine. Ashby discusses her 36-year career, breaking down how standard certifications fail to train actual officers, and arguing that the push for agreeable leadership undermines necessary accountability. They discuss confronting administrative disconnects to ditching formal paperwork for honest, face-to-face discipline, challenging conventional fire service culture.

Critical Legal Issues Facing the Fire Service

For this episode of Fire Service Court, John K. Murphy breaks down critical legal issues facing the fire service: 
 
1. Discrimination in hiring and promotion.
2. Wage compliance.
3. Disability.
4. Medical fitness drug policy.
5. First Amendment limits on free speech.
6. Off-duty conduct. 
 
He provides practical steps and encourages taking a proactive approach in matters of legal protection.

To Search or Not to Search?

Hosts Rick Lasky and John Salka talk search on this episode of The Command Post. The hosts debate and weigh the risks, arguing that while fires have dropped, civilian home-fire deaths have risen. They dismantle safety as an excuse, telling others to search. And they remind chiefs to balance risk with the mission. Lasky and Salka explore tactics such as crawl low, check smoke, close doors, expect victims, and encourage first responders to make search a practiced skill.

The Secrets to a Successful Social Media Presence

Host Tom Merrill welcomes Rob Reardon to lay out practical social media strategies every fire department needs on this episode of Professional Volunteer Fire Department. Reardon, a former TV reporter turned fire chief, explains how departments use social platforms to build trust, recruit personnel, defend budgets, and control the narrative during incidents. They give concrete advice about how to engage your audience, what makes a good photo, and what tagging is all about. 

How Daily Training and Empowered Execution Can Save Lives

Host Anthony Kastros welcomes members of the Redwood City (CA) Fire Department to walk through a complex, heavily involved apartment fire on Memorial Day. They detail arriving on scene of a three-story occupancy with fire extended over the roofline, establishing a transitional attack off a hydrant located within 100 feet, coordinating interior searches, and completing multiple rescues. 
 
Guests include: 
Geoff Balton
Matt Wilson 
Jason Fox
Michael Elhihi
Justin Velasquez
 
This podcast is brought to you by Tablet Command. www.tabletcommand.com/get-started-lp

In the Books Episode #19: Dealing with Difficult People: For Fire and EMS Organizations

In this episode of In the Books, David Rhodes sits down with retired Fire Chief Jerry Streich to talk about a critical but often overlooked challenge in the fire service: managing difficult people.
Drawing from decades of leadership—and a powerful personal experience that shaped his perspective—Streich shares insights on toxic behavior, workplace culture, and the people skills every firefighter and officer need but rarely gets trained on.
🔥 In this episode:
How difficult personalities impact morale and operations
Early warning signs of toxic behavior
Practical tips for addressing conflict and setting expectations
Why leadership must focus on people—not just emergencies
📘 Dealing with Difficult People is available now at FireEngineeringBooks.com 
#FireService #Leadership #Firefighter #EMS

What Does It Mean to Be a Pump Operator?

Paul Watlington, assistant chief of the Burlington (NC) Fire Department, joins hosts Anthony Avillo and Jim Duffy on this episode of Fireground Strategies to break down the pump operator’s job. They discuss topics including getting the rig to the scene safely, placement, water supply, and advanced pump troubleshooting. Listeners will gain an understanding of the pump operator's responsibilities in the context of scenario-based testing, pump charts, hose/nozzle testing, drafting and manifold tactics, and practical preplanning tips.

Lessons from a 45-Year Veteran

In this episode of Perspectives on Leadership, Chief Mike Nugent of Broward County (FL) Fire Rescue sits down with Stephen Shaw to outline his 45-year career in fire and special operations. Nugent shares the story of a childhood moment in Brighton that sparked this lifelong calling. He discusses technical rescue teams, building regional hazmat and urban search and rescue capabilities, and training around the world. They share practical lessons: Teach the why, demonstrate how to use tools, train hard scenarios, and mentor young firefighters joining the force. Nugent stresses the importance of both mental and physical health, detailing his cardiac arrest survival and long-term health problems from toxic exposure.

The Benefits of Firefighter Tracking and Indoor Mapping

Firefighter location tracking is emerging as the next major leap in firefighter survival, following SCBA adoption and thermal imaging. In this episode of Fire Service Data and Tech Talk, Eddie Buchanan welcomes Peter Burke and Mike Cox to discuss the next wave in firefighter survival: location, indoor mapping, and connected telemetry. The panel highlights the promise of this new technology and the standards, policy, and work still needed to bring it to every firefighter.
 
This podcast is brought to you by Esri: https://www.esri.com/en-us/home