Better Every Shift

“I’ve seen some horrendous accidents and things – never in my life had I seen anything similar to this.” Chief Kim Zaragis describes the scene of the Oklahoma City bombing – a terrorist attack that killed 168 people and injured more than 600 others on April 19, 1995. As we mark 30 years since the horrific incident, Chief Zagaris recounts his 16 days working the scene as the planning section chief – a role he was tasked with due to his extensive experience in USAR responses, emergency management and homeland security. Zagaris, who currently serves as the Wildfire Policy and Technology Advisor for the Western Fire Chiefs Association, highlights the challenges faced at the scene, coordination with the FBI, the highly personal dedication of the first responders during recovery efforts, and the importance of humility when providing mutual aid, among other key takeaways from the incident. This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by MagneGrip. Eliminate diesel exhaust fumes from inside the fire station with a MagneGrip exhaust removal system. Learn more at MagneGrip.com. Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Dr. Rachelle Zemlok, a clinical psychologist focused on first responders families. Dr. Zemlok examines the tendency of some firefighters to spend extra hours at work to escape personal problems, leading to emotional distance and strained relationships at home. The structured environment of firefighting contrasts with the complexity of home life, causing some to avoid addressing domestic issues. Dr. Zemlok suggests a four-step approach to tackle these challenges, and encouraged firefighters to confront emotional challenges head-on, seek professional help if needed, and strive for a healthy work-life balance.

Firefighters sometimes get “too cute” on the fireground, trying to do too much or step outside their area of expertise. On this Better Every Shift playback, San Francisco Assistant Chief Nicol Juratovac shares some examples and urges firefighters to focus on their bread-and-butter tactics for a strong “interior offensive aggressive attack” – her all-time favorite words. Juratovac is a student of the game day in and day out, honing her skills on everything from incident command and apparatus positioning to forcible entry and roof operations – and she shares her lessons with you today! This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore. Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

When fires erupted in Los Angeles in early January, the incidents seemed to shift from wildfire to urban conflagration in an instant. Orange County Fire Authority Fire Chief Brian Fennessy, who grew up in Altadena, hurried back to his home community as it was being run over by the Eaton Fire. What Fennessy witnessed was mind-blowing – only a few homes in a massive area spared from the fires. Fennessy shares his experience during the firestorm, including his use of milk and beer to address one hazardous condition; his reflections on the state of wildfire, WUI and urban conflagration training; his perspective on resource ordering systems that can delay critical apparatus getting on the road; and information about the California Fire Service Leadership Alliance. Next: Watch Chief Fennessy on “60 Minutes.” This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by MagneGrip. Eliminate diesel exhaust fumes from inside the fire station with a MagneGrip exhaust removal system. Learn more at MagneGrip.com. Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Chief Marc Bashoor, who addresses the crucial need for a unified and elevated national fire service structure. Bashoor argues against the closure of the National Fire Academy (NFA), emphasizing its critical role in providing consistent, advanced training across all states. He also critiques the fragmented federal oversight of various fire and emergency services, and proposes the creation of a cabinet-level Department of Emergency Services to consolidate and streamline these efforts. Bashoor calls for the fire service community to challenge the status quo, advocate for structural changes, and demonstrate true leadership.

“What’s the building hiding from you?” That’s a key question from Chief Andy Starnes, our resident thermal imaging expert on this special episode of Better Every Shift. Starnes, the founder of Insight Fire Training, joins Zam to dig into all things thermal imaging technology, including how TICs can reveal the building’s hidden dangers, how and why so many firefighters misuse their devices, plus tips and tricks for spending less time staring at a screen and more time locating and mitigating the fire. Starnes details some unique features of Seek Thermal’s imagers and encourages listeners to check out instructional videos from Insight Fire Training’s TIC Resource Center to use during crew training. Visit TheFireStore at FDIC (booths 110 and 111) to shop Seek Thermal’s products and receive a special Seek Gear Grab Bag with any camera purchase. This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore. Enjoying the show? And email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Captain Patrick Durham with the Troy (Michigan) Fire Department. Captain Durham addresses the issues firefighters face when dealing with electric vehicle (EV) fires, particularly the challenges posed by thermal runaway events in lithium-ion batteries. Durham covers various methods and tools for extinguishing EV fires, such as firefighting foam, Class D extinguishers, pancake and piercing nozzles, and fire blankets, and ultimately concludes that the best strategy is to let the battery burn out, a process that takes about an hour.

Whether responding to a medical emergency, coordinating disaster relief, or ensuring officer safety in high-risk situations, public safety radio systems provide mission-critical communications that enable first responders to fulfill their missions. What does it take to ensure these systems remain functional, interoperable and adequately funded? This special episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, sponsored by Kenwood, features a panel discussion on public safety radio systems. Guest host FireRescue1 Editorial Director Greg Friese speaks with three emergency management and communications experts about the vital role of radio communications in emergency response, the obstacles agencies face in maintaining and upgrading these systems, and best practices for building a reliable network that meets the demands of modern public safety. Chris Tucker is the Emergency Services Director/CEM for Warren County Emergency Services in North Carolina. Warren County Emergency Services operates radio systems for four EMS stations, 15 fire stations and the Sheriff’s Department. He is also a volunteer fire chief. Tom Murray is radio manager for Will County Emergency Management Agency in Will County, Illinois. The radio system he manages has over 5,000 subscribers across approximately 80 public safety agencies. Chris Shaneyfelt, a retired law enforcement officer, is director of Randolph County Homeland Security Emergency Management and Randolph County E911 Emergency Communications Center in Indiana. His agencies dispatch for 11 police departments, 10 fire departments and one standalone EMS agency. Tune in to discover: The importance of reliable radio communication systems for emergency response. Challenges in funding and maintaining radio systems, especially in rural areas. The pros and cons of state-managed versus county-managed radio systems. Key considerations when evaluating and selecting a public safety radio system. Advice for securing funding and engaging stakeholders in the decision-making process. Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback! This episode is sponsored by KENWOOD, a trusted leader in public safety communications. KENWOOD ATLAS P25 Systems provide reliable, secure, and flexible solutions for mission-critical operations, ensuring seamless interoperability across agencies. Combined with KENWOOD Viking P25 radios, first responders get the clarity, durability and advanced features they need to stay connected and operational in any situation.

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Chris Paskett, a battalion chief with Eugene Springfield (Oregon) Fire. Paskett details how incident commanders can perform traditional fireground after-action reviews through brief tailboard discussions, capturing audio and tactical worksheets, and conducting thorough audio reviews. Additionally, he covers how to apply AARs to non-operational settings, including employee interactions. By assessing their own performance and preparing for group AARs, supervisors can foster growth, model accountability, and enhance overall team efficiency. Check out the original article here.

“There’s no better time than now to watch the Fire Service One Voice message being exercised,” notes former U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell on this week’s podcast. The collective message from fire service leaders and organizations focuses on the importance of the National Fire Academy – an institution that, effective Friday, was shuttered for all in-person and instructor-led training, FEMA says as part of a review of programs and funding. Along with Dr. Moore-Merrell, IAFC President Fire Chief Josh Waldo and FireRescue1 Senior Fire Advisor Chief Marc Bashoor call for the immediate reopening of the NFA and, quite simply, ask the Administration to share the plan here – after all, fire service leaders could certainly help in the effort. Furthermore, they reiterate that while “no one wants waste, fraud and abuse,” there are ways to review funding without shuttering critical training programs. This is not about politics; it’s about service. Additional resources: ‘This is a travesty’: Fire service leaders react to NFA training cancellations IAFC calls on Trump administration to reopen the National Fire Academy The big picture: FEMA, DOGE and your local fire department IAFC members can contact their Senators and Representatives and ask them to reopen the NFA.