Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Podcast

In this episode of FAMA Forum, Chris Mc Loone discusses the inaugural FAMA Fire Apparatus Design Symposium with Jason Witmier, who provides the organizer's perspective, and Assistant Chief of Operations Ray Fuiten, Green Bay Metro Fire Department, who provides an attendee's perspective. Learn about this year’s event, next year’s event, why Chief Fuiten decided to attend, and advice for people who might be on the fence for next year...

In this episode, Andy Soccodato share lessons learned from their training experiences during 2025. The discussion touched numerous practical aspects of water supply, pumping operations, and apparatus setup within diverse firefighting environments.

For a deep dive into water supply operations and apparatus setups drawn from across the country, this podcast remains a valuable resource to bookmark and share among pump operators and wa...

In this episode of Talking Trucks, Chris Mc Loone sat down with fire service veteran Ricky Riley to discuss the NFPA 1900 standard, particularly the recommendations governing fire apparatus service lives. The conversation tackled the practicality of the “15/25 year rule” — that is, retiring rigs from frontline service at 15 years and fully from service by 25 — amid today’s fiscal and operational realities as well as fire apparatus ...

In this episode of Talking Trucks, Chris Mc Loone sits down with Ricky Riley to break down the complexities of heavy rescue truck design. They explore fundamental decisions that fire departments face—crew cab configurations, walk-in versus walk-through bodies, and single versus tandem axles—highlighting how equipment types and mission requirements shape these choices. The conversation delve...

In the realm of fire apparatus specification, one of the most important things to get right, yet one of the most difficult to understand sometimes, is lighting. Firefighters are well accustomed to understanding gallons per minute and pounds per square inch, but lux and lumens are not always terms easily understood, nor is understanding the nuances of getting a scene light, for example, to shine light where you think it will. Along ...

In a recent episode of the Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment podcast, Chris Mc Loone sat down with Safe Fleet’s Director of Education and Technology, Jason Witmier, to discuss the educational resources Safe Fleet provides for the fire service. The program includes tools and programs designed to improve firefighter knowledge and operational safety. The goal is education first—helping firefighters understand how nozzles, pumps, ...

In this episode of the Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment Podcast, Chris Mc Loone sat down with Jamie Little, director of market development at Rescue Intellitech. Their discussion covered the company’s approach to firefighter gear cleaning and decontamination, the health risks firefighters face, and the role of modern cleaning technology in reducing exposure to toxins.

While technology is critical, Little emphasized that firef...

In this episode of FEMSA Focus, David Durstine and Dave Russell, both on the joint FAMA/FEMSA Government Affairs Committee (GAC), provide an update on how the Government shutdown will impact programs like the AFG program and entities like the USFA and NFA. They both express the importance of engaging with your Congressional representatives and senators as well as provide ways firefighters can get involved and how to speak with one,...

Fire departments across the country constantly balance operational needs, community safety, and budget realities. One critical factor often influencing these decisions is the Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating. This episode covers ISO criteria, its relationship with fire apparatus specifications, and practical guidance to help fire chiefs and apparatus officers make informed decisions that...

Thermal imaging technology has transformed firefighting tactics over the past decades, enhancing firefighters’ abilities to detect heat signatures invisible to the naked eye. While thermal imagers are commonly associated with search and rescue or fire attack, their role in overhaul is equally critical.

Manfred Kihn, discusses how firefighters should use thermal imagers during overhaul operations in this episode of TIC Talk.

Brought...

In this episode of EVT Talk, brought to you by our friends at Rescue Intellitech, Chris Mc Loone sits down with Kevin Roberts, president of the Emergency Vehicle Technician Certification Commission (EVTCC), at the annual Fire Truck Training Conference (FTTC) in Lansing, Michigan, to discuss the evolving landscape of emergency vehicle technician (EVT) training, the critical role of hands-on gatherings, and the cautious but practical...