From Fire to Fortitude: A Firefighter's Path of Resilience and Recovery

Episode Number: 036 - Season II

Publish Date: Jan 16, 2023

Host: Arjuna George

Guest: Lionel Crowther

Brief Description:

📚 Chronicling the intense ordeal and exceptional resilience of esteemed firefighter Lionel Crowther, 'Beneath the Helmet' delves into his life-altering experience surviving a 2007 fire incident. Functioning beyond his physical and emotional trauma, Lionel navigates the realms of survivor guilt and the significant impacts on his family and personal identity. With the crucial support from friends, colleagues, and burn survivor advocates, including Oscar Barrera, Lionel transitions from victimhood to survival, subsequently engaging in advocacy work for firefighter safety, wellness, and mental health. He engages in critical dialogue around destigmatization within the firefighting community while highlighting the importance of continued learning and the need for positive industry changes.

Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode:

🔗Deep Survival - Laurence Gonzales

Recommendations:

📖 Book - Burnt Around the Edges – A Guide to Mastering Stress and Surviving Burnout - Arjuna George (Available on Amazon, Apple and Google Books)

Bio

Lionel has been a firefighter for the last 25 years.

On Feb. 4, 2007, a tragic fire changed the lives of the Crowther Family. Lionel and five other firefighters were caught in a flashover, where he suffered severe burns to 70% of his body. Tragically, Captain Lessard and Captain Nichols did not survive.

Since that incident, Lionel, his wife Joanna & their family have epitomized the meaning of resiliency, hope and survival. Lionel is here to explain the many challenges and triumphs he and his family faced because of this tragic incident as a firefighter, from the very personal view of being a husband, father and survivor!

Lionel is promoted to Lieutenant & Acting Captain with the WFD, a Lead Master Instructor for the IAFF Fire Ground Survival Program, IAFF Burn Foundation Coordinator, Master Instructor for the Petzl EXO Escape System, IAFF Trainer & Peer Supporter for Burn Survivor Fire Fighters & families, provincial coordinator for the FF Resilient Minds program, a Sleep Specialist for the Fire Service with 62 Roméo, UL FSRI Training Advisory Board member, Founder of the Foundations of Leadership training, graduate of the Fire Fighter Resiliency program through the BCPFFA & a graduate of the West Point Sciences of Behavior Program through the LAFD Leadership Academy.

Connect with the Host:

🎙️Arjuna George – Fire Chief (ret)

Owner of Silver Arrow Coaching and Consulting, Beneath the Helmet Show, and Burnt Around the Edges author.

www.silverarrowco.com

www.burntaroundtheedges.com

www.beneaththehelmet.ca

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