442. 53 Years, My Senior Man - Jim Webb

In this episode, Jeremy sits down with Jim Webb, the senior man of his home firehouse and a 53-year member of the Franklin Lakes Volunteer Fire Department. From growing up in River Edge around his father’s firehouse to carrying on his grandfather’s FDNY Ladder 8 legacy, Jim walks us through a lifetime in the American volunteer fire service—back when yellow Maxims, tailboard riding, long coats, and hip boots were the norm and the siren meant the whole town was running to the firehouse, not just checking their phones.

Jeremy and Jim trade stories about memorable jobs like the Franklin Lakes Building Supply fire and the Cider Mill, riding the back step, and the days when engines left the house packed with firefighters hanging off every grab bar. They talk about the social fabric of the firehouse—Old Timers dinners, Santa runs, long nights of cards and conversation—and how that camaraderie built the brotherhood so many of us still chase today.

Jim also shares his 40-year career as a civil engineer with Con Edison in New York City, including his connection to the 1975 New York Telephone fire and his time at Ground Zero after 9/11, and how infrastructure, incident command, and the fire service all intersected in his world. From there, the conversation turns to where we are now: recruitment vs. retention, overworking our senior members, the power of simple one-on-one appreciation, and why “fix your house before you invite anyone over” matters for every volunteer department trying to survive.

Along the way, they remember influential mentors like the legendary Jack Willer and talk about why National Fire Radio exists in the first place—to capture and preserve the stories of the senior man before they fade away. If you grew up in a firehouse, or you’re trying to rebuild one today, this is a sit-down at the kitchen table you don’t want to miss.