Fire Engineering Podcast Network

Tailboard Talk: Preparing for the Unthinkable

In this episode of Tailboard Talk, hosts Craig Nelson, Jeff Wallin, and Chris Rasmussen look at the realities of modern emergency response across North America. They discuss the increasing wildfire smoke drifting south from Canada, severe floods in Texas and North Dakota, and the vital role of interagency cooperation in disaster management. Drawing from recent tornado damage and commu...

The Command Post: Advice to the New Company Officer   In this episode of The Command Post, hosts Rick Lasky and John Salka share important guidance for firefighters stepping into company officer roles. Drawing from decades of their own frontline and command experience, they emphasize the importance of preparation, mentorship, and embracing the full scope of officer responsibilities beyond firefighting.   Learn firsthand how leaders...

Professional Volunteer Fire Department: Understanding NERIS

In this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department, host Tom Merrill sits down with Tom Jenkins, a fire service veteran and senior advisor at Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes. They discuss the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS).   Set to replace the decades-old National Fire Incident Reporting System (NF...

The Larry Conley Show: Healthy Minds   On this episode of The Larry Conley Show, host Larry Conley sits down with Kelsey Perkins, MSW, LCSW. Perkins is a trauma therapist who works with first responders. They discuss PTSD, EMDR therapy, the Healthy Minds Initiative, and why asking for help is a sign of leadership—not weakness. Conley gets real about his own story. His losses. His struggles. And how he is still learning to navigate ...

Fire Service Data and Tech Talk: Artificial Intelligence

In this episode of Fire Service Data and Tech Talk, Eddie Buchanan sits down with Holly Buchenroth and Jeff Butcher to explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on fire service training and operations. Drawing from their extensive experience in emergency medical education and firefighting, they break down AI’s role—from generative tools like ChatGPT and Mag...

BuildingsonFire: Row House Challenges, Construction, and Operations Part 3

In this episode of the BuildingsonFire podcast, host Christopher Naum dives into the complexities of rowhouse construction and its direct impact on firefighter safety and fireground operations. Drawing from recent line-of-duty death investigations in Baltimore and Philadelphia, Naum highlights how predictable building features and subtle variations like the...

Talkin' Tactics: Mentorship, Mindset, and Stigma in the Fire Service

In this episode of Talking Tactics, hosts David Polikoff and Sam Villani and welcome guest Bryan Riley to explore the realities of stepping into leadership roles in high-pressure, busy fire companies.

Riley shares his journey from volunteer to seasoned company officer and ba...

Hooks and Hoses: The Nontraditional Truck Company   In this episode of Hooks & Hoses, host Eric Dreiman talks with guests Jim Silvernail and Arthur Ashley about their new release from Fire Engineering Books, The Nontraditional Truck Company. Challenging conventional engine-based firefighting, the authors explore how truck company operations—search, ventilation, forcible entry, and overhaul—are essential regardless of apparatus....

Generation Engine: Lessons from Conferences and Instructor Insights   In this episode of Generation Engine, hosts Anthony Rowett and Todd Edwards talk with guest Sean Duffy about the rapidly growing world of firefighter training conferences. They cover their grassroots efforts to bring impactful, hands-on education to local and national fire communities. The conversation tackles the importance of genuine instruction based on real e...

The Command Post: Tools, Tradition, and the Firefighter's Mindset

In this episode of The Command Post, Hosts Rick Lasky and John Salka take a meaningful look at the essential tools of firefighting, their care, and the knowledge behind them. From the iconic halligan’s origins in the FDNY to evolving equipment like hydraulic “rabbit” tools, they discuss how tradition meets innovation in emergency response.   The hosts also emphasize ...

The Professional Volunteer Fire Department: Turning a Volunteer Fire Department Around

In this episode of the Professional Volunteer Fire Department, host Tom Merrill welcomes Chief John Buchan of the Florissant (CO) Fire Protection District. Buchan shares how he turned a struggling volunteer fire department around in just one year—doubling membership while restoring community trust and morale. Facing low numbers, fractured leaders...

In this episode of The Backstep Boys, Ron Kanterman, Tom Aurnhammer, and fire protection expert Jack Murphy explore the critical role fire codes and standards play in firefighter safety and building resilience. From the origins of the International Fire Code to the political challenges of code updates, they unpack why these regulations matter beyond just paperwork. Murphy emphasizes how knowledge of building construction, apparatus...

Fireground Strategies: Insights on Division Supervision, Training, and Fire Dynamics

In this episode of Fireground Strategies episode, Battalion Chief Patrick Wirkus, of the Elizabeth (NJ) Fire Department, shares practical strategies for improving fireground command through effective division supervision. Drawing on 13 years of frontline experience and his family’s firefighting legacy, Wirkus discusses how decentralizing command at...

Perspectives on Leadership: Leadership, Trust, and the Power of “Why”

In this episode of Perspectives on Leadership, host Stephen Shaw sits down with leadership expert Frank Viscuso to explore the foundations of teamwork within the fire service. Drawing on decades of experience, they discuss how a shared sense of purpose, clear standards, and authentic communication create the winning teams that firefighters rely on. They discuss w...