Fire Engineering Podcast

From playing basketball in Chicago firehouse bays to spending 26 years climbing the ranks in Birmingham, OJ Kolodziej built his career on discipline, technical execution, and self-investment. Starting out, the now-retired captain from the Birmingham (AL) Fire Department spent a year and a half floating between stations before securing a spot on heavy rescue and truck companies—a role that required both physical toughness...

On this episode of the Women in Fire podcast, host Lisa Baker welcomes veteran lieutenant and assessment center SME Heidi Simon of the South Metro (CO) Fire Department. Simon walks through the in‑basket exercise used on firefighter promotional exams. She explains what an in‑basket looks like, the assessment dimensions (planning, multitasking, time management, problem solving, delegation, policy knowledge, v...

Hosts Brian Brush and Anthony Kastros welcome guest Sean Duffy for this episode of Command Show. They open with a nod to the 25 years that have passed since September 11, 2001, and the 343 firefighters lost that day, talking about the ways 9/11 reshaped the fire service's mindset around risk, service, and search operations. The panel also explores how modern data from the Firefighter Rescue Survey and UL Researc...

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 t...

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 firehous...

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 solution...

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 impac...

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 a...

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 lead...

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 a...

In this episode of Fire Engineering's In the Books podcast, host David Rhodes and co-host Mike Brown (developmental editor of JEMS) sit down with Donnie Woodyard Jr., veteran EMS leader, educator, and author of The Future of Emergency Medical Services: Artificial Intelligence, Technology, and Innovation 2E from Fire Engineering Books.

Donnie shares his EMS background, what inspired the updated second edition, and how AI and emergin...

In honor of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Fire Service Data and Tech Talk host Eddie Buchanan welcomes Michael Varney, director of stakeholder collaboration at the First Responder Network Authority, about how responder communications and technology have evolved since 2001. Varney discusses priority access, resilience, and on‑demand deployables, plus the growing role of geospatial tools, indoor locating, and fire...

On this episode of Fire and Training, Paul Watlington joins host Douglas Cline to talk about officer development in today’s fire service. They discuss the reality of younger officer ranks, what “experience” really means, and how departments can close training gaps without lowering standards. Watlington and Cline emphasize the importance of being a student first: Seek conferences, regional ...

In this episode of Talking Tactics, hosts Dave Polikoff, Sam Villani, and Robert "RJ" James break down real‑world firefighting lessons: outside‑in fires, disciplined 360s, and why the first‑in officer must “call the play.” They discuss staging engine/truck resource and the importance of maintaining a team‑based mentality to stop strip and townhouse fires. The conversation also gets into deadly lightning‑i...

Why is data-driven decision making so critical? Sean Duffy joins host Eric Dreiman to discuss the importance of search at fire scenes, data, and the analytical side of firefighting on this episode of Hooks & Hoses. Duffy shares his thoughts on his recent Fire Engineering article, “Fireground Decision Making: The Data‑Driven Edge for Search.” He draws on Firefighter Rescue Survey findings, FS...