179. Always Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing - Nick Martin

When things get complicated... When we run with well trained firefighters day in and day out, the role of Command can become quite routine. Routine can become complacency, complacency can kill. When things get complicated is not the time to put your lackluster performance to the test. Command staff needs to be on their game each and every time they go out the door. The level of expectation that our people have for accountability and protection from our command staff is unmatched. We expect our incident commanders to be able to work on instinct supported by a firm structure. There is an art to running a well coordinated fire and Nick Martin certainly is OCD about it. As the Chief of Operations for Salisbury, NC Fire Department, Nick has put together a program that keeps the Chief training just like the rest of the department. Command is an integral part of the system and needs to be practiced and deployed always. Ensuring competency on the fire ground and confidence from your people requires the IC to be dialed in. Nick is passionate and well informed when it comes to discussing commanding the fire ground. He travels often speaking on the topic as well as running Combat Ready Fire Training and producing polished social media content to reinforce his beliefs in the job. He is a value resource and is hyper focused on making the job better. --- Check out Nick Martin at www.combatreadyfire.com or shoot him an email at nmartin@combatreadyfire.com