Smart Firefighting

Smart Firefighting

Smart Firefighting Podcast covers real-world deployments of smart technologies through conversations with technologists, innovators, companies, and forward-thinking public safety and government agencies. Learn from interviews with leaders as they share their insights and offer their expertise every week! Host Kevin Sofen is a co-founding member of the Smart First Responder Community who loves to explore change management and technology in public safety.

Episodes

November 6, 2025 18 mins

How can technology rebuild trust and reduce admin burdens for volunteers in fire and emergency services?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy.

Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAF...

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Hydrogen is often called the fuel of the future, but what does it really mean for public safety?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy.

Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA, and A...

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How do we turn overwhelming data into meaningful, life-saving action?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy.

Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA, and Australian Institute for Dis...

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Wind picks up, embers are flying...what stands between you and loss?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy.

Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA, and Australian Institute for Disa...

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What if we could predict the next wildfire before it started?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy.

Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA, and Australian Institute for Disaster Re...

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What are measurable, standardized ways to evaluate training across departments?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

  • How immersive learning can draw from military, medical, and other industries
  • The need for more coll...
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What are the essential factors for firefighter readiness and retention?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

  • What are the biggest challenges for recruiting volunteer firefighters?
  • How to fit local needs better and re...
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How can we strengthen firefighter training without replacing traditional methods?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

  • What immersive learning’s role should be in firefighter training
  • How to provide safer, more reali...
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What is the future of fire service training?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

  • What must immersive learning focus on for greater impact?
  • What tools help fire instructors measure performance consistently?
  • Why there...
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What are essential elements of the fire academy of the future?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

  • What should immersive learning focus on?
  • Measurable ways to evaluate training effectiveness
  • How to customize firefig...
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Here’s why technology must fit seamlessly into firefighter operations:

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

  • Why simpler technology drives better adoption
  • Proof that science alone isn’t enough without operational usab...
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Why does the TAK ecosystem work?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

  • How can partnerships close the tech adoption gap
  • How Draper Labs builds tools for firefighters, EMS, and law enforcement
  • What real collaboration a...
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How can open-source tools make a real difference when traditional systems are failing?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

  • How is TAK filling a critical gap in humanitarian coordination?
  • How Free Burma Rangers are r...
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How can you focus on the mission, not the noise?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

  • How did Colorado build a shared infrastructure for all public safety agencies?
  • What’s the next evolution of PPE?
  • Insights on enabl...
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How did TAK become a widespread, indispensable tool for military and civilian first responders?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

  • How TAK got started and its evolution

  • Read more
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Let’s talk about practical, hands-on firefighter training:

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

  • What is durable learning, and why is it essential for firefighters?

  • Read more
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What kind of fires burn hotter and faster than anything firefighters have faced before?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

  • Why battery fires require new tactics and tools

  • Read more
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Is technology a part of the job now?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

  • How drones are a low-cost, high-impact alternative to traditional air support

  • The...

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Tech isn’t just a toy. Tech helps save lives. Here’s how:

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

  • Why drones and ROVs are critical tools that provide real-time eyes in otherwise inaccessibl...

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How is forest fire monitoring changing for the better?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

  • How space-based technology is changing forest fire monitoring

  • H...

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