Fire Engineering Podcast Network

Fireground Strategies:  Lessons from Baseball to the Blaze
In this edition of Fireground Strategies, Anthony Avillo and Jim Duffy dive into the complexities of decision-making under pressure by drawing parallels between baseball managing and incident command during fires. Using recent Yankees playoff controversies as a starting point, they explore how incident commanders must balance instinct, analytics, and experience when making critical calls on the fireground. The conversation touches on relying on company officers’ intimate knowledge of districts, the evolving use of data in firefighting, and the challenges of communication at every leadership level. They also unpack the importance of public relations, managing personnel dynamics, and understanding the strategic versus tactical roles in emergency response. Real-life anecdotes highlight the difficulty of seeing the full picture from inside a fire and the necessity of trust and perspective shifts. 
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Perspectives on Leadership: Transforming Fire Service Culture,  Leadership, Mental Health, and Inclusion
 
In this episode of Perspectives on Leadership, host Steve Shaw and Eric McCoy, chief, Huntington Beach (CA) Fire Department, explore the crucial role of culture in the fire service. Drawing on experiences from both coasts, they discuss breaking down stigmas by building a positive, mission-driven culture that embraces humility, fosters leadership at every level and supports mental health openly. Chief McCoy shares how Huntington Beach involved the entire department in crafting a leadership ethos that reflects shared values rather than legacy practices. They also talk about practical strategies, such as transforming committees into “engagement teams,” prioritizing face-to-face communication, and including families in firefighter support programs. The conversation highlights the challenges and rewards of creating cohesive teams amid diverse backgrounds and emphasizes servant leadership’s role in advancing a healthy organizational culture.
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Fire and Training: Company Officers' Evolving Challenges in Fire Service Leadership
 
In this episode of Fire and Training, Douglas Cline and Christopher Naum assess the mounting challenges company officers face in today’s fire service. The discussion focuses on the many ways the role of the company officer has become increasingly demanding. They look at managing multigenerational crews within increasingly complex station environments, the influence of social media, and confronting dynamic and unpredictable fireground conditions shaped by rapid changes in building construction and community diversity. The conversation highlights how leadership must evolve to balance administrative duties, operational readiness, and interpersonal dynamics, all while maintaining discipline and unity. Cline and Naum stress the importance of continuous professional development, adaptive communication, and district familiarization to meet these challenges head-on. They also preview upcoming training focusing on how building construction affects fireground tactics, emphasizing the need to stay current amid fast-paced environmental shifts.
 
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The Larry Conley Show: Cultivating Leadership and Passion in Fire Service Training
In this episode of the Larry Conley Show, David Conley and Larry Conley sit down with DJ Stone, division chief of training, South Walton (FL) Fire District. Stone shares his journey into the training officer role, revealing the challenges and profound responsibilities that come with shaping a fire department’s culture and capability. The conversation dives into five critical steps for training officers: surveying the landscape before initiating change, harnessing passion without alienation, earning respect through humility and authenticity, playing the long game by explaining the “why” behind change, and understanding the importance of building a supportive network. Both hosts emphasize character development and personal leadership as the foundation of effective firefighting, exploring how passion must be balanced with self-care and empathy. 
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Fire Service Data and Tech Talk: The Critical Role of Data, Building Intelligence, and Fire Prevention
 
In this episode of Fire Service Data and Tech Talk, fire safety experts Jill Cotton and Jack Murphy cover a crucial yet underappreciated aspect of firefighting: leveraging data, building technology, and fire prevention strategies to save lives and property. They discuss why residential sprinklers remain vastly underutilized despite proven effectiveness, the complexity of high-rise and groundscraper buildings, and the urgent need for actionable preincident intelligence. Murphy shares insights from decades of fire prevention work and code enforcement challenges, emphasizing the importance of building legacy databases and real-time tactical awareness. Cotton highlights how technology can bridge gaps for under-resourced departments, stressing collaboration with fire inspectors and building owners. The conversation also emphasizes the necessity for firefighters to shift their mindset—viewing prevention and codes not as obstacles but as lifesaving tools.
 
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The Backstep Boys: Mastering Command Decisions and Crew Resource Management
 
In this episode of The Backstep Boys, guests Dennis Rubin and Tom Currao join hosts Ron Kanterman and Tom Aurnhammer to dissect the complexities of fireground decision making. From battling large-scale urban fires to pioneering crew resource management, they draw from decades of frontline and leadership experience to explore how instinct, training, and teamwork shape command success under intense pressure. Highlights include the critical role of checklists, accountability systems, and communication structures, as well as managing stress during high-stakes incidents. The conversation also covers invaluable lessons from cockpit resource management in aviation and how these translate to firefighting operations.
 
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Point of Origin: NFPA, Code Development & How to Make Your Voice Heard
 
In this episode of the Point of Origin podcast, hosts Billy Hux and Bobby Drake sit down with Rob Dawson, regional director at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), to demystify how fire service standards are created, updated, and consolidated. Dawson shares his journey from volunteer firefighter to NFPA leadership, shedding light on the vital role technical committees play in balancing industry, enforcement, and end-user perspectives.
 
Learn how to get involved in the standards development process—from submitting public inputs to engaging with committee members—and why NFPA’s deliberate, multiyear update cycles matter. The discussion also tackles common misconceptions about appendix language, code references in state fire prevention codes, and more.
 
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n this Humpday Hangout, guests Frank Ricci and Dave McGlynn join members of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) to talk about setting standards in fire training and how that can influence the direction of an organization.
 

BuildingsonFire: The Commercial Fireground Facts Update, Part 1
 
Join host Christopher Naum for the latest episode of BuildingsonFire as he kicks off a new series, The Commercial Fireground Facts Update. Drawing from decades of after-action reports and key line-of-duty incidents—from the 1989 Sunrise Gift Store fire to the 2007 Charleston Sofa Superstore tragedy—this episode highlights evolving challenges in commercial building construction, fire behavior, and operational tactics. Listeners gain critical perspectives on building classification, risk assessment, and adaptive fireground management necessary for today’s high-risk commercial environments. The episode includes an emphasis on the need for in-depth knowledge of building anatomy, occupancy hazards, and tactical patience to enhance firefighter safety and effectiveness. Naum also previews upcoming modules, including expert panels and live walking tours, designed to expand command officers’ and firefighters’ understanding of these demanding settings.
 
 

Hooks & Hoses: Striking a Balance Between Safety and Realism in Live Fire Training
In this episode of Hooks & Hoses, host Eric Dreiman delves into the complexities of live fire training, sharing lessons from his extensive experience across acquired structures and fixed facilities. He emphasizes the critical balance between adhering to NFPA 1403, Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions, and providing firefighters with realistic, effective training that prepares them for the unpredictable nature of real fires. Dreiman discusses the value of the crawl-walk-run approach in building confidence and skills, the challenges of controlling burn conditions using door management and burn packages, and the limitations of various training props, including gas-fired simulators and flashover chambers. He stresses how overly intense heat can hinder learning and create dangerous “training scars,” while too-safe scenarios risk fostering a false sense of security.