Better Every Shift

FDNY wants EMS to be a destination, not a waiting room for the next job. That’s the pitch from Chief of Department John Esposito, who says too many medics leave over pay before they build the experience that makes them great. In this crossover episode hosted by EMS One-Stop’s Rob Lawrence, Esposito — who came up through fire operations — also makes the case for treating fire and EMS as “one department,” starting with a rescue paramedic assigned to every rescue company. And he lays out what’s behind rising response times: a nearly 10% EMS vacancy rate and hospital turnarounds averaging 42 minutes. If your crews run more medical calls than fires, none of this is someone else’s problem — and Esposito walks through how FDNY is tackling it.

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Some of the hardest fires you’ll ever command are ones you can’t safely recreate for real. A well-built simulation is the closest most firefighters will get. Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department Captain Mark Killion explains how to build command simulations that hold up: Stagger unit arrivals using real response data, tie fire behavior to the clock, script the radio traffic with multiple voices, and build every scenario around structures in your first-due. Get it wrong and you risk creating a “training scar.” Get the culture right — no “gotcha” — and officers can actually learn from it. Killion and Zam offer practical steps for taking your sims beyond the size-up.

• Read next: Incident command simulations: Inside one department’s process
• Command resources: Get more command-focused training at FireRescue1’s Fire Command Ready series

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by Verizon Frontline, the advanced network and technology for first responders. Learn more about incident command in FireRescue1’s Fire Command Ready series.

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The best recruiting pitch might be the one you never make. Kentland (Md.) Volunteer Fire Department Sergeant Alex Caldaro says his Prince George’s County house doesn’t beg for members, doesn’t lower its standards and doesn’t require a minimum number of hours — yet it runs 4,000 to 5,000 calls a year and has kept four volunteers on the truck around the clock since 1995. Caldaro explains how ride-alongs, word of mouth and a humble culture do what flyers can’t, why giving members a voice builds buy-in, and what “10% pressure 100% of the time” looks like in practice. Whether you’re fighting a retention problem or trying to hold on to the people you have, he offers practical ideas for building a department people want to stay in.

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.

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Australia has been using door control and flow path for roughly a decade longer than we have — and it's still wrestling with the same recruitment, burnout and mental health problems you are. After separate trips there, Zam and Fire Chief Jason Caughey compare what they saw: state-level purchasing that puts the same PPE and apparatus in downtown Sydney and rural towns, decon taught from the first day of the academy, and turnout gear swapped out after every fire. They’re just as candid about what doesn't work, from academies that don’t fail anyone to focusing more on performance-based training. Caughey and Zam come back with practical ideas worth borrowing, whether you run a rural department or a busy urban company.

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“Meet me at the bench.” That’s it. No explanation required. Retired Orlando firefighters Chris DeMaagd and Joseph McCluan created The Bench 988 as a safe place for firefighters who want to connect with someone — ideally starting a conversation before they hit a crisis point. The Bench 988 started as an idea to memorialize two Orlando firefighters lost to suicide but quickly grew into something much bigger: weekly walks, peer support and a way to keep retirees connected with active members. DeMaagd calls it “putting tennis shoes on the kitchen table” — taking the camaraderie firefighters miss after retirement and adding movement, sunlight and meaningful connection. Joe and Chris share how they chose the bench location, why attaching 988 matters and what departments should consider before creating their own. But the bigger takeaway isn’t really about a single bench. It’s about making it easier to ask for help and creating what they describe as proactive peer support — catching someone farther upstream, before the crisis.

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.

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Community risk reduction doesn’t have to start with smoke alarms, fall prevention or another familiar program. Sometimes it starts with a firefighter asking, “What does our community actually need?” Cherry Grove (Michigan) Fire and Rescue Chiefs Noah Knauf and Aaron Sogge have taken that approach with Dad 101, a class created by dads for dads that tackles everything from infant care and choking to what parents can expect when they call 911. But the bigger story is how one idea opened the door to more: safe-sleep education, car-seat checks, bike safety, autism-focused training and programs aimed at the next generation of firefighters and EMTs. Knauf and Sogge also make the case for giving members room to act on what they see in homes every day. The takeaway for leaders: Stop treating CRR like a checklist. Listen to your people, find the right partners and give good ideas room to run.

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.

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“Stop talking. Give me reps.” That’s the message from the What Firefighters Want survey report focused on training. Captain Lisa Burton joins Zam and Janelle to break down the survey findings, including the fact that motivation isn’t the issue; it’s securing training that respects firefighters’ time and prepares them for the job. The discussion gets into checkbox drills, instructor qualifications, measurable objectives, micro-training, realistic scenarios and the challenge of fitting meaningful development into already packed schedules.

This episode of the Better Every Shift podcast is sponsored by FirstNet, Built with AT&T. The only wireless network built with — and for — firefighters like you. Learn more at FirstNet.com.

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The worst time to figure out how you’ll respond to trauma is after it happens. Resilience has to be built beforehand — through sleep, relationships, fitness, trusted peers and a culture where asking for help is part of the job, not a last resort. That idea sits at the heart of our conversation with retired FDNY Captain Frank Leto, who helped shape the department’s counseling and peer support programs in the years after 9/11. As the fire service approaches the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, we’re revisiting this episode because many of the lessons born from that tragedy still apply to every department today. Leto explains why FDNY’s early attempts to embed clinicians in firehouses fell short and why fellow firefighters became the key to effective peer support.

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.

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“Call the meeting. Get them in the same room.” That simple advice helped spark a leadership think tank that has spent more than a decade connecting fire service leaders around the problems, ideas and pressures that rarely fit neatly on an agenda. Fort Lupton (Colo.) Fire Protection District Fire Chief Greg Ward explains how to make it work: Keep it simple, bring in people who don’t all think alike, and create enough trust for real conversations to happen. But the value goes well beyond brainstorming. Sometimes leadership support looks like sharing a solution. Sometimes it’s a text that says, “Are you OK? What do you need?” Ward makes the case for building these networks before you need them — and offers a practical tips for starting your own.

Read next: Building a leadership think tank: A practical guide for fire service leaders

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There’s no single leadership style that works for every person, problem or moment — and Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski learned that through plenty of trial and error. Raised around two very different leadership models, Lipski describes his grandfather as measured and graceful, while his father was direct, information-driven and confrontational when necessary. Over nearly 30 years in the fire service, Lipski tried both approaches and “everything in between,” eventually realizing that good leadership requires knowing when to adjust. He also gets candid about a period when he leaned too heavily on an autocratic style and had to hear some uncomfortable truths about himself. The takeaway for officers at every level: Your approach should evolve with experience, but the reason you’re leading in the first place should remain the through line.

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.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

The battery fire may get the attention, but the vehicle’s weight could create the next problem. Deputy Chief Vince Bettinazzi returns with a broader look at electric vehicle response, including how heavier vehicles, low centers of gravity and reduced lifting points can complicate stabilization and extrication. He explains why crews must identify EVs early and understand what their equipment can actually support. Bettinazzi also shares lessons from developing EV charging-station ordinances and an operational guideline that gives officers room to decide whether to attack a fire or protect exposures and let it burn. The discussion expands beyond passenger vehicles to e-bikes, scooters and other lithium-ion devices increasingly found in homes and high-rises. The takeaway: Departments do not need to panic, but they do need a plan — and a kitchen table discussion before the next incident.

Additional resources:

• EVs are heavier than you think
• Electric vehicle fires: Where the waiting game wins

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.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

You’ve probably read — or at least skimmed — a NIOSH firefighter fatality report, but do you know what to do with it? Or how it came to be? Wesley Attwood, a senior investigator with NIOSH’s Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, explains how departments request an investigation, what investigators examine and why the process is voluntary, independent and nonpunitive. He also clears up some common misconceptions, including that NIOSH investigates every line-of-duty death and that the program only reviews fatalities. More importantly, Attwood brings the reports down to the company level, showing how the condensed report slides can fuel a five-minute drill, preplan discussion or Main Street size-up. He also highlights recurring lessons involving fire dynamics, staffing, communication, medical evaluations and psychological safety. The takeaway: Don’t let these reports go missing in a sea of browser tabs. Put them to work before the same concerns show up on another fireground.

Additional resources:

• NIOSH seeks firefighter input on LODD, serious injury investigations
• Learning from serious injuries: NIOSH updates guidelines for investigation requests
• FireRescue1 NIOSH news and resources

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.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

You can be absolutely right and still lose the room — all because of your tone. Drawing from personal experience, Zam shares four practical lessons for saying what you mean, with respect. Whether you're leading a company, mentoring a probationary firefighter or challenging a policy you disagree with, this episode is a reminder that leadership isn't just about what you say — it's how you say it.

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The next hazmat challenge probably isn't coming — it's already in your first-due. Mesa Fire and Medical Department Captain Jim Barnhart has spent years studying lithium-ion batteries, photovoltaics and emerging energy systems, and he makes the case that firefighters need to stop treating these incidents as rare exceptions. Using the recent Los Angeles Boyle Heights cold storage fire as a launching point, Barnhart explains how solar arrays, battery storage and evolving building technology are creating longer, more complex and less predictable incidents. But this isn't a conversation about fear. It's about preparation. From improving size-up and preplans to finding credible training and asking a simple question — "Is the power really off?" — Barnhart offers practical guidance for departments of every size.

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.

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“Why do we have all of these fire agencies?” It’s a question many in the wildland world have asked for years — and Chief Brian Fennessy is now in position to do something about it. The director of the newly created U.S. Wildland Fire Service explains what it means to build an entirely new federal fire organization from the ground up and why the mission extends far beyond changing patches and organizational charts. Fennessy discusses unifying federal wildland agencies, creating a true firefighter-first culture, reducing bureaucracy and giving fire leaders the authority to make faster operational decisions. He also explains why prevention, fuels management, firefighter wellness and stronger communication with the public are just as critical as suppression.

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.

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One routine smoke investigation. Ten minutes later, a cold storage building erupted around Firefighter Andrew Klein. This week, we’re revisiting the harrowing close call that nearly ended Klein’s career. Klein walks through the fireground decisions, details the hidden danger of a cold storage building packed with spray foam insulation, and recalls the moment his PPE became the only thing standing between him and catastrophic injury. He also shares the emotional aftermath of believing fellow firefighters had been killed and how he’s managed his mental health since the incident.

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“Pain sucks,” as Zam puts it — and ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. Dr. Bita Shahidi, a physical therapist who has worked with firefighters and professional athletes, explains why the aches and pains firefighters push through during their careers often become the injuries that define retirement. She urges firefighters to approach their bodies like tactical athletes, with regular movement screenings, mobility work and recovery built into the job — instead of waiting until something breaks. Shahidi also shares a simple three-minute mobility routine, explains why sleep and breathing matter as much as strength training, and makes the case for treating small pains before they become surgeries. The takeaway is straightforward: A few minutes of maintenance today can help you perform better now and enjoy retirement without paying for decades of ignored wear and tear.

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.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

“Everybody just calm down about NERIS.” That’s Zam’s charge to Misfit Nation this week as he speaks with NERIS lead developer Craig Weinschenk. The conversation goes beyond software updates and reporting requirements to explore how the fire service can finally quantify rescues, identify emerging risks and make a stronger case for the resources it needs.

As director of research for the Fire Safety Research Institute, Weinschenk stepped away from fire behavior research to help lead one of the most ambitious modernization projects the fire service has tackled in decades. With millions of records already flowing into the system and 30,000-plus U.S. fire departments in the system, NERIS is moving from rollout mode to something much bigger.

Weinschenk addresses the feedback and misconceptions surrounding the platform while explaining how firefighter input is already shaping future updates. He also shares his vision for using NERIS data to identify response trends, track emerging hazards, better document rescues and provide departments with information they can use to improve operations and advocate for resources.

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.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

AFG, SAFER, and Fire Prevention and Safety grants are open — and the clock is already ticking toward the June 22 deadline. For Lexipol grant specialist Jane Prescott, it's the fire service equivalent of the Super Bowl: Hundreds of millions of dollars in available funding, a compressed application window and departments across the country scrambling to get their requests submitted. Prescott joins Zam and Fire Chief Jason Caughey to cut through some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding federal grants, including who is really competitive, how peer reviewers evaluate applications and why departments should focus on telling an honest story instead of submitting a wish list. They also spotlight often-overlooked opportunities like FEMA's microgrant program, which can help departments secure funding for high-priority needs without pursuing a larger-scale project. Whether you're writing the grant, supporting the process or simply wondering why your department isn't pursuing funding opportunities, this discussion offers a practical roadmap for turning need into a competitive application before this year's window closes.

Resources:

• Federal grants open: AFG (equipment), SAFER (staffing), Fire Prevention & Safety
• FireRescue1 Fire Grant Center: Find grant-related news, funding opportunity updates, application guidance, expert grant-writing resources and educational content.
• GrantFinder: Learn how to navigate the grant process end to end, so you can win more funding for the equipment, staffing and programs your team depends on. Contact our team.

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Nobody tells you that becoming chief means owning problems you can’t fully control, absorbing pressure that doesn’t clock out and still leading like the weight isn’t showing. Columbia (Mo.) Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer digs into the uncomfortable realities of adding bugles, including the pressure to move an organization forward when maintaining the status quo is far easier. Schaeffer talks succession planning, firefighter wellness, organizational culture and why chiefs have to stop acting like “fire gods” and start acting like servant leaders. He also offers a sharp warning about becoming part of the “CAVE” mentality — Chiefs Against Virtually Everything — and why protecting comfort is one of the biggest threats to innovation.

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.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.