Fire Engineering Podcast Network: Daily Summaries Delivered

Engine Company Tactics for Stretching Hose

Host Anthony Rowett welcomes Mickey Farrell, an FDNY lieutenant, and James Stallings, a captain in Mobile, Alabama, to break down size-up and hose stretching. The panel talks through practical, repeatable methods for single‑family homes, garden apartments, center‑hall buildings, and standpipe/vertical stretches. They also emphasize slowing down to see the big picture and simple drills that turn unknowns into knowns.

The Heartbeat of the Neighborhood

In this episode of The Command Post, hosts Rick Lasky and John Salka reflect on the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, and what it means for the fire service today. They discuss the toll World Trade Center-related illnesses continue to take, noting how post-9/11 deaths have now surpassed the original losses from that day. During the episode, the conversation also addresses the cultural importance of the firehouse itself, with Lasky and Salka addressing how these stations serve as sanctuaries, homes, and community anchors.

False Alarms

On this episode of Two Vollies and a Guest, hosts Jerry Knapp and Tim Pillsworth sit down with Kim Weppler, chair of the Rockland County (NY) Chiefs false alarm committee and long‑time code enforcement pro. During their conversation, they tackle automatic fire alarm overload. They discuss how false alarms are burning out volunteers, draining resources, and risking responses to real fires. Weppler offers solutions to these challenges, with a nod to engineering, education, and enforcement, aka the "three Es."

After the Title Is Gone

Leaving the fire service doesn’t necessarily mean leaving behind the friendships, memories, and sense of identity that came with it. In this episode of The Professional Volunteer Fire Department, host Tom Merrill and guest Chad Edwards explore how firefighters are treated after they leave. They discuss how the transition into retirement can be tough and finding purpose post retirement. They also talk about the impact that the way a new retiree is treated upon stepping away can have for years to come.

Escaping the SouthPark Construction Fire

On this episode of Mayday Monday, host Tony Carroll speaks with Captains Stephen Pettit and Michael Watts, of the Charlotte (NC) Fire Department. The guests walk through the May 18, 2023, SouthPark construction fire in Charlotte, North Carolina. They get into Ladder 1's inside crew's encounter with a fast, chemical-fueled fire in a parking-deck trailer full of spray-foam materials. They describe the radio and command challenges they ran into, as well as tunnel vision and use of search ropes. Pettit and Watts also address crew continuity and the engineer’s decisive master-stream application.

What Does It Mean to Lead with Love?

On this episode of Perspectives on Leadership, host Steve Shaw sits down with Dr. Robert "Navy Bob" Roncska. Shaw asks the retired U.S. Navy captain to translate submarine-tested leadership into practical fire service tactics. They unpack the concept of leading with love and a servant mindset. They also identify and explore three early-warning failures and demonstrate the benefits of relationship-first leadership.

Back to the Basics: One Department's Approach to Training

Reflection on 25 Years Since 9/11

Special guests John Norman and John Walters, now both retired, join the Humpday Hangout for a look back at their experiences on and following September 11, 2001. They share firsthand recollections from the pile, command decisions, standpipe and hose incompatibility, mutual‑aid responses, void entries, and long‑term medical and mental health impacts. They discuss that day's immediate effects on FDNY recruitment and how the fire service worldwide rallied for funerals and family support. Sponsored by Key Hose: www.keyhose.com