Trisha Wolford got her fire service start with the Anne Arundel County (Maryland) Fire Department, and 13 years later, she returned as its fire chief – a full circle moment that helped shape her perspective on leadership. Wolford details how she worked to build trust among the membership through transparency and making members feel heard. She also shares what it was like to be deemed a “DEI hire” while addressing some of the misconceptions about DEI efforts in the fire service. Plus, we dig into this:

• The leap from art major to fire chief
• “Don’t call them” and other tips for recruiting Gen Z
• Where chiefs get stuck in the “frozen middle” with DEI efforts
• How a simple policy around nail polish made a big difference
• The most important decision she makes as a chief

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Zam and Janelle are trading places on this week’s show, with Zam in the hot seat to share some insights from his fire service career, as well as a peek behind the podcast curtain. Plus, we get into all this:

• Zam’s 30-something fire service origin story

• 5 lessons for new lieutenants

• His pre-fire service life involving bartending and cadavers – a bad combination

• New opportunities via the First Responder Center for Excellence

• Why everything comes back to the Wisconsin Badgers

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by MagneGrip. Eliminate diesel exhaust fumes from inside the fire station with a MagneGrip exhaust removal system. Learn more at MagneGrip.com.

Have an idea for a show topic or guest? Send an email to bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

Post-9/11, there was an attempt to embed psychologists in firehouses, but that approach didn’t work, as the firefighters just ended up counseling the psychologists: “We realized that the magic was us … we’re the ones that keep each other going,” explains FDNY Captain (ret.) Frank Leto. And so began the expansion of the FDNY Counseling Service Unit for which Leto served for years as deputy director, building peer support teams to help other first responders through a variety of incidents beyond Sept. 11 and industries beyond the fire service. And that mission continues today, as Leto works with several organizations focused on behavioral health and resilience. Plus, we dig into this:

• The question, “Who has the best therapist?” as a positive cultural shift
• Why the depression level spikes for firefighter-retirees
• What we can learn from women about coping skills
• Workaholism being as unhealthy as other addictions
• The effort to “bottle the kitchen table” – and become a millionaire in the process

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor outlines the importance of MCI training, underscoring that it's vital to training for low-frequency events, like MCIs, that have the potential for high-risk consequences. He also suggests a monthly and quarterly schedule for how often to train on MCI events.

This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit Lexipol.com

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Robert Weisbaum, EMS & Fire Chief for the Crested Butte Fire Protection District in Colorado, tackles a unique challenge facing the firefighters and its broader impact on the fire service as a whole. Specifically, Weisbaum and Chief Bashoor discuss the affordable housing crisis that affects so many across the country, including firefighters. Weisbaum explains the approach his department has taken to securing affordable housing for firefighters, and how this approach helps with broader recruitment and retention efforts. 

[Read next: Why I proposed my title be ‘EMS & fire chief’]

This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit Lexipol.com

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor explores fire protection systems in residential areas as well as larger facilities, like the Walmart distribution center. Are fire protection systems ever a waste of money?

This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit Lexipol.com.

On this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, FDNY Captain John Haseney tackles an important question: What is stopping fire departments from implementing occupational cancer-focused best practices? 

Captain Haseney has been with the FDNY since 2005, currently serving as the captain for Engine 38. He is a founding member of the department’s Contamination Reduction Workgroup.

Haseney got his master’s degree in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he wrote a thesis titled, “Overcoming Implementation Barriers Within the Fire Service to Reduce Firefighter Cancer Rates.” The thesis identifies seven barriers that are preventing fire departments from implementing occupational cancer-focused best practices. Read the full thesis here.

This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit Lexipol.com.

 

Before we tackle each, can you share a bit about why you wanted to study this topic?

 

How did you tackle this topic? What was your methodology of study?

 

Let’s go through these implementation barriers one by one, and if you can provide a possible solution to each or a takeaway for fire departments, that would be great:

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Chief Otto Drozd, the executive secretary of the NFPA/IAFC Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association. Having served as fire chief at four metro fire departments, Drozd speaks to the unique challenges of leading large fire service agencies, the variations from state to state, and how fire chiefs can make a difference at each department, even if through varying approaches. He details the work of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association and what it's been like stepping into his new role as executive secretary.

Drozd also tackles the importance of community outreach and community risk reduction (CRR) efforts, even amid the ongoing global pandemic. He speaks to issues of ISO ratings; accreditation, both on a personal and professional level; and active shooter events, including his involvement in NFPA 3000.

This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit Lexipol.com.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell shares her experience as the newest U.S. fire administrator, a position she began in October 2021 following her time with the International Public Safety Data Institute.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell addresses several topics:

• Two major fatality incidents in the past several weeks;
• How past experience prepared her for the role as U.S. fire administrator;
• What to expect for the mission and vision of the USFA during her tenure;
• The role of data in the USFA and the broader fire service;
• The new USFA podcast; and
• What fire departments can continue to do to lessen the impact of COVID-19.

This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder details his recent diagnosis of prostate cancer. He shares what the experience has been like for him and his family, and how he worked with a team of doctors and the Firefighter Cancer Support Network to get the best guidance about how to proceed with his treatment options. 

Chief Goldfeder also shares a new initiative, 40PlusFire, a resource center where firefighters can learn about prostate cancer. The website is geared toward male firefighters over the age of 40 who are seeking information about prostate cancer prevention, risks and solutions. 

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Chief Don Abbott, founder of Project Mayday, a comprehensive study of mayday responses, incidents and prevention. Abbott explains the project's origins and how firefighters can share their mayday stories. Abbott also details some of the key findings from the Project Mayday data, including looks at staffing levels, the 16 most common phrases heard on the radio prior to a mayday call, and recommendations for training for mayday incidents. 

This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by L3Harris Technologies. When the heat is on, you go all in, and L3Harris will be right there with you! The XL Extreme 400P radio is tailor-made to meet the most rigorous fire standards. Learn more at L3Harris.com/fire.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor addresses critical staffing issues facing the fire service – the musical chairs of firefighters moving departments, searching for "greener pastures," or just throwing in the towel on the fire service altogether. Chief Bashoor reminds us that we have been here before, facing spiking call volumes for challenging call types with constantly changing guidance. He also underscores that firefighters are chaos and crisis managers by nature, and we must continue to push forward, not only for our communities but also to support our fellow firefighters who are struggling through this challenging time. 

This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by L3Harris Technologies. When the heat is on, you go all in, and L3Harris will be right there with you! The XL Extreme 400P radio is tailor-made to meet the most rigorous fire standards. Learn more at L3Harris.com.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Fire Chief John Oates, who was recently named the new CEO of the International Public Safety Data Institute. Chief Oates offers simple ways fire departments can leverage technology and data, addresses how fire chiefs can use data to inform decisions, and details the utility of NFORS and FireCares. He also speaks to the mission of the IPSDI and what it's like to follow in the footsteps of IPSDI's founder, Dr. Moore-Merrill, who was recently named the U.S. fire administrator.

This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by L3Harris Technologies. When the heat is on, you go all in, and L3Harris will be right there with you! The XL Extreme 400P radio is tailor-made to meet the most rigorous fire standards. Learn more at L3Harris.com.

“It’s kind of surreal,” Joanne Rund says of her retirement from the Baltimore County Fire Department where she has served as chief for the past five years. But Rund isn’t done with her service mission. As she hangs up the helmet in Baltimore, she’s donning a new cap to serve as director of family programs with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. At this milestone moment, Rund reflects on everything from her early introduction to the fire service to that last major call – the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. Plus, we dig into all this:

• Rund’s transition from hair stylist to firefighter

• Rebuilding trust at the command staff level

• Her proudest moment from her tenure at Baltimore County Fire

• Advice for her successor

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Jonathan Tate, a DC Fire & EMS firefighter and the founder of Food on the Stove, a nonprofit organization that’s working to improve the health of firefighters in the DC metro area and beyond. Firefighter Tate shares how losing loved ones has been a key inspiration for focusing on firefighter health and wellness, ultimately working toward reducing the number of firefighter deaths from cardiac incidents. He also details the work of Food on the Stove, which offers a healthy meal-delivery program for firefighters.  

This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by L3Harris Technologies. When the heat is on, you go all in, and L3Harris will be right there with you! The XL Extreme 400P radio is tailor-made to meet the most rigorous fire standards. Learn more at L3harris.com/fire.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Chief Dave Downey about one of the biggest stories of the year — the structural collapse in Surfside, Florida. 

As the deputy coordinator for Florida's Statewide Emergency Response Plan (SERP), Chief Downey was asked to represent the State Fire Marshal’s Office at the incident to coordinate the state USAR response. Downey offers a unique perspective on the incident, having been so closely involved in the rescue and recovery efforts. 

Read more from Chief Downey: The Surfside condo collapse: An operational play-by-play, from deployment to AAR

"How many times does it take for a chief to hear near-misses before they recognize there's a systemic problem?" This is the question posed by Chief Marc Bashoor in this week's Side Alpha Podcast. 

Chief Bashoor has been following several mayday incidents as well as trends found in mayday incidents, as found in the research of Project Mayday, and identified three key areas to address:

1. The need to recognize conditions that could lead to a mayday;
2. What firefighters should do when they find themselves in trouble; and
3. How to change a culture that discourages firefighters from calling a mayday "too early."

Bashoor argues that it's time for firefighters to move beyond their fear of defeatism and ridicule and instead focus on their safety.

Learn more about Project Mayday.

Read Chief Bashoors article, "Here we are again, evaluating our mayday procedures after a tragedy."

Stay tuned for FireRescue1's upcoming special project series, "Your Mayday Survival Guide," launching in January 2022.

In this special crossover episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Chris Cebollero, the host of Inside EMS, about the major news and trends impacting fire and EMS in 2021.

Bashoor and Cebollero unpack issues related to apparatus and ambulance safety, the COVID-19 vaccines, ET3 and telehealth, the use of ketamine, mayday training, and staffing shortages. 

Read more from our 2021 year-in-review special coverage.

And check out these related stories:

• ‘The Year of the Vaccine’: 2021 gave us vaccine protection and pushback
• Project Mayday
• 'It’s time to declare a staffing mayday': 21 ways VFDs can break the mold

• Why every firefighter-paramedic must know the story of Elijah McClain

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Dalan Zartman about everything firefighters need to know about incidents involving electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Zartman details the increasing need for firefighters to have the skills to tackle these incidents and breaks down the basics of fire operations. 

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Reginald Freeman, the new fire chief for the City of Oakland Fire Department in California’s Bay Area. Chief Freeman talks about the cross-country move from Hartford, Connecticut, and the differences between Hartford and Oakland. He also speaks to the pressure of joining the Oakland Fire Department upon the five-year anniversary of the deadly Ghost Ship warehouse fire. 

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Chief Bob Horton from Fire District 3 in Jackson County, Oregon, about his debate-stirring article, "'This is not what I signed up for': Why some firefighters simply don’t understand the job." The article charges that fire service leaders must be honest about the realities of the job when engaged in recruitment activities, as too many members join the ranks unclear on how much non-fire activity exists in the fire service. The article elicited a significant number of comments from the FireRescue1 community, mainly on Facebook. Chief Horton reacts to some of the comments, explains the role of marketing in recruitment efforts, and takes a look at the long-term identity of firefighters.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor reflects on the news of a Columbia, S.C., fire station that was investigated for its reportedly “over-sexed culture.” Columbia police ultimately decided not to press criminal charges, but that didn’t stop word from spreading about station antics that reportedly involved butt-slapping, wedgies and an “overwhelming infatuation” with comparing male genitalia.

Chief Bashoor argues that while fire stations aren’t always sanctuaries of purity, they must be sanctuaries of public trust where members are expected to do the right thing, even when no one is watching. And this involves cultivating a positive culture, not glorifying a culture of sexism or childish or sex-charged behavior.

On this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Frank Leeb, a deputy assistant chief with the FDNY, currently serving as chief of the Fire Academy and chair of the department’s Contamination Reduction Workgroup. The chiefs discuss Leeb's recent FireRescue1 article "Marketing the message: How FDNY spreads the word about firefighter health and safety," which details simple steps fire departments can employ to best connect with members about important health issues. Leeb also shares what it's like to run training at the FDNY Fire Academy, aka "The Rock."

Bonus resource: Captain John Haseney's master's thesis identifies seven barriers that are preventing fire departments from implementing occupational cancer-focuses best practices: fire department culture, firefighters’ ignorance of the disease and prevention methods, complacency caused by cancer’s long latency periods, funding, pathways to compliance with national and departmental policies, groupthink, and motivation. Haseney's thesis examines the health and safety efforts that two departments have taken and reviews literature from other fire departments, national fire service organizations, subject-matter experts, researchers, and academic studies. 

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Ken Stuebing, fire chief of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency in Nova Scotia, Canada, and president and board chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. 

Chief Stuebing shares what it's like to be the first international president to lead the IAFC in many years, and addresses the ongoing COVID-19 challenges facing the fire service, along with the IAFC's stance on vaccine mandates. He also details his background in EMS and offers some leadership tenets that have resonated with him throughout his career.

There has been considerable discussion about the pending consolidation of four PPE standards on clothing, work uniforms, SCBA and PASS devices into one PPE mega-standard: NFPA 1970. PPE expert Jeff Stull, president of International Personnel Protection Inc., shares the inside scoop on the likely changes to come based on a recent technical committee meeting. He also provides guidance on the unique standards update process and how the NFPA works to strike a balance between what’s best for the safety of firefighters without causing undue stress for fire departments.

Additional resources:

• The NFPA Standards Series
• On-demand webinar: How changes in new NFPA standards for turnout gear and SCBA will affect the fire service
• Stull’s FireRescue1 PPE column

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by MSA, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality, fire-rescue and safety solutions, protecting first responders around the word since 1914. For more information, visit MSAfire.com.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Battalion Chief Keith Stakes, a research engineer with UL's Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), about the organization's newly expanded mission, one that focuses on a broader range of emerging fire threats. Stakes shares more about the expanded research efforts at the organization and details some of the research currently underway at FSRI, including the Search & Size-up project.

Learn more about UL's FSRI at fsri.org and the organization's expanded focus on FireRescue1.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with fire service legal expert Curt Varone about one of his favorite topics -- discipline. Varone covers the top disciplinary issues that get firefighters and fire officers in hot water, examines the concept of progressive discipline, and explains how disciplinary issues in the fire service vary from those in the "cubicle world" of corporate offices. 

Learn more about fire service discipline and performance issues in FireRescue1's special coverage series: Firefighter performance in focus.

Also, read more on this issue from Varone: "Discipline in the fire service: 4 questions to consider."

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor take a high-level look at discipline in the fire service, the importance of consistency, and how to manage friendships within the ranks. 

This episode is part of FireRescue1's special coverage series on Firefighter Performance. Check out the full list of content here.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Michael Baker, fire chief for the Tulsa (Oklahoma) Fire Department. Chief Baker details his first year as fire chief in Tulsa, including his work to improve firefighter morale and his goal to achieve zero fire deaths in Tulsa in 2022. The chief also shares how the department has weathered the COVID-19 storm and notes some of the department's changes during his tenure. Finally, he shares his views on lifelong learning and the pursuit of knowledge for fire chiefs. 

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Darryl Jones, fire chief for the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire and member of the IAFC’s Metropolitan Fire Chiefs section. Chief Jones talks about how to deal with naysayers at an organization, focus on being a positive change agent for the department and build member morale. He also talks about the process of improving the department's ISO rating and how the department has weathered the COVID-19 storm.

This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

 

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Sam Greif, fire chief of Plano Fire-Rescue in Texas, and Chairman on the Terrorism & Homeland Security Committee for the IAFC. The two discuss the committee's work, terrorism response efforts and checklists for fire service leaders, and the biggest cybersecurity threats facing public safety agencies. 

Download the IAFC Terrorism Response Checklist here.

Watch the webinar, The growing threat of ransomware attacks on public safety agencies here.

This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor weighs in on the debacle unfolding in Baltimore after a court of appeals ruling upholds changes to the city’s pension plan requiring first responders to serve an additional five years before being eligible for retirement benefits. Read the original news story on FireRescue1. Bashoor calls the ruling a "punch in the gut" to first responders coming off an incredibly difficult two years, and questions why local officials aren't looking out for their members instead of looking for ways to save money at their hands.

This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

In this special episode of the Side Alpha podcast, fire, EMS and law enforcement leaders from across the Lexipol media sites come together to reflect on the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks. Side Alpha Podcast host Fire Chief Marc Bashoor looks back on the industry-altering event with EMS One-Stop host Rob Lawrence, Inside EMS host Chris Cebollero and Policing Matters podcast host Jim Dudley. This special episode of the Side Alpha podcast is sponsored by Verizon.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with former FDNY Chief of Department and Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano about 9/11 and what it was like to face the arduous task of redesigning and rebuilding the department in the wake of such a massive loss. Cassano shares his personal 9/11 story, and details the recruitment efforts, new measures to reduce LODD numbers, and the support systems that helped the department in the aftermath. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor reflects on the upcoming 20-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He considers what we have learned as a fire service, and poses critical questions for leaders: How has your department changed in the past 20 years? How much more could you do? Are you doing everything in your power to take care of your members and the community you are sworn to protect? We honor the 343 firefighter families who again grieve this September 11. We will never forget. -- This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

Firefighter Philip Clark has been through some significant changes. At 38, he became a rookie for the second time in his life, despite having 20 years on the job. He went back to school to attain not one but two associate degrees. But most importantly, Clark took action to improve his health and lost nearly 100 pounds in the process. But making big changes doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Clark tapped into his support system and took a hard look in the mirror to identify his root issues. He shares some key guidance for taking similar action – plus, we dig into all this:

• The Pandora’s box problem affecting so many first responders
• The vicious cycle of health challenges – and his top recommendation for change
• The lessons learned from being the “old guy in the academy”
• The importance of moving in the right direction, even if slow-going

Read more from Clark:

• The (nearly) 40-year-old rookie: A different experience the second time around
• A weight off my shoulders … and the rest of me

 This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Jessica Gardetto, the public affairs chief for the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), which supports many different kinds of emergency responses but primarily wildland firefighting. Gardetto outlines the mission of the Center, how NIFC can help fire departments, and addresses the significant wildfire threats currently unfolding around the country. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Division Chief Martha Ellis, executive director for the Public Safety Broadband Technology Association. Chief Ellis unpacks all things fireground communications, interoperability and FirstNet. She details the mission of the PSBTA and how FirstNet is currently serving the fire service. Contact Ellis here. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

We are facing a new epidemic: 'D-Drivers' – drunk, drugged, drowsy, disrespectful, disgruntled, drag-racing, discourteous, distracted and just plain dangerous. “When are we going to realize that it is people who are killing other people, not the cars, not the trucks," Bashoor argues, calling for an escalation of focus on struck-by incidents. Learn more at www.respondersafety.com. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Captain Andrea Hall about fire service leadership, specifically servant leadership, and how leaders can help their members thrive. Captain Hall offers guidance for bringing out the member in crewmembers and the critical role of supervision. She also discusses what it's been like to break barriers as a woman in the fire service, and she shares insights into her role at the presidential inauguration. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Chris Cebollero about some of the hottest topics in fire-based EMS, including ET3 and treatment-in-place, plus how agencies can get reimbursed even when patients are not transported to the hospital. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor considers the differences that exist among personnel in the fire and emergency services, some of which create debates and distraction among the ranks: volunteer vs. career, fire vs. EMS, and similar us vs. them divisions. Chief Bashoor extends Chief Alan Brunacini's mantra "Be nice" beyond our interactions with the public to include our interactions with our colleagues. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Dr. Sara Jahnke defines "Long-COVID," outlines the symptoms and addresses a powerful article by a firefighter currently suffering the effects after his COVID diagnosis. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by MSA. At MSA your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at MSAfire.com/Globe.

On this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast by FireRescue1, Battalion Chief Chad Costa and Fire Chief Marc Bashoor tackle the concept of "Dirty Helmet Syndrome," the idea that some firefighters continue to glamorize dirty gear and unsafe actions, despite knowing the risks. The two discuss the role of culture, generational differences and training, plus what fire officers can do to get their crews to focus more on health- and safety-focused goals. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with the International Association of Fire Chiefs' new CEO, Rob Brown. The two discuss the future of the IAFC, emergent issues for the fire service, Brown's fire service background, and the honor and responsibility Brown feels to serve as CEO for the association. This edition of the Side Alpha Podcast is brought to you by MSA. At MSA, your health and safety drive us to develop highly advanced safety equipment to protect you on the job. MSA’s Globe gear is performance and protection in perfect balance. It’s designed to meet the challenges you face every day to help keep you safe and healthy during your career and beyond. Get the full story at msafire.com/globe.

In light of the new NFPA report 'Fire in the United States Since 1980, Through the Lens of the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem,' Fire Chief Marc Bashoor considers the progress we have achieved and the problems that still exist in the fire service since the seminal report 'America Burning.' This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

As we approach the anniversary of the Sofa Super Store fire, we’re revisiting our conversation with Dr. David Griffin, assistant chief of administration in Charleston, S.C., who shared powerful lessons learned from the tragic fire in which nine of his fellow firefighters died. Griffin explains his initial resistance to change following the fire; discusses why so many members retired after the incident; opens up about the various coping mechanisms he tried following the deadly incident, including MMA; and shares his subsequent realization about not knowing what he didn’t know – and diving head-first into absorbing training and operations resources.

Resources we mentioned on the show

• "15 years later: ‘We are home-growing our leaders’ in Charleston”

• "In Honor of The Charleston 9: A Study of Change Following Tragedy"

• “The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team”

In this episode of the Side Alpha podcast, renowned PIO Pete Piringer offers a look into the life of a public information officer. He shares how he found himself in the PIO position and reflects on some of the more challenging events he experienced, namely 9/11. Piringer details communications about high-profile incidents, offers tips of the trade, and shares guidance for new PIOs. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

In this episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Homeland-Six CEO Captain Sean Duncan tackles some of the key issues related to firefighter PPE decontamination and how it relates to cancer prevention. He details some of the ways advancements in PPE can help keep firefighters safe, and looks ahead for PPE trends. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.

In this episode of the Side Alpha podcast, Fire Chief Nathan Trauernicht tackles a variety of topics: What it's like to lead a university-affiliated fire department; key fire department programs that align with the university's mission; how the department handled the COVID-19 pandemic; life in the wildland-urban interface; and more. This episode of the Side Alpha Podcast is sponsored by Homeland-Six Tactical Radio Straps. These custom radio straps feature extractor washable decontamination, superior comfort and functionality. Learn more at homelandsix.com.