Wednesday, February 8, 2012
FIRE CHIEF Podcasts
Fire Administrator Mitchell Shares Thoughts on Leadership, Focus for 2012
New U.S. Fire Administrator Ernie Mitchell joined FIRE CHIEF Associate Editor Mary Rose Roberts to discuss his fire-service experience and address the economic hardships facing the nation’s fire chiefs. ...
Olsson: Fire Service Needs to Reflect Diverse Society to Best Serve It
FIRE CHIEF Associate Editor Mary Rose Roberts speaks to Chief Jona Olsson to discuss diversity issues in the fire service. In the podcast, she addresses what are often considered sensitive topics, including why diversity is an issue in the fire service and what it really means in the 21st century....
Gaines Offers Guidance, Advice on Surviving Tough Economic Times
FIRE CHIEF Associate Editor Mary Rose Roberts recently spoke to Acting U.S. Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines about the current economic climate and how budget cuts have affected U.S. fire departments’ ability to fully serve their communities....
Federal Signal’s Wilson Addresses Public-Safety Survey, FEMA Grant Funding
Joe Wilson, president of the Safety and Security Group at Federal Signal, recently testified as an expert witness at the U.S. House of Representatives oversight hearing on FEMA's funding reauthorization. ...
Johnson on Rumors that Hill Plans to Put D Block on the Chopping Block
To address the state of the D Block, FIRE CHIEF Associate Editor Mary Rose Roberts spoke with Chief Jeff Johnson (Ret.), one of public safety’s staunchest advocates for the nationwide public-safety broadband network. He also addresses the network's importance and why chiefs should join his lobbying campaign....
A Winning Chief — Union Fire District Chief Bob Perry
Chief Bob Perry, 2011 Volunteer Chief of the Year, talks about his Union Fire District, an all-volunteer fire department that covers 69 square miles in a Rhode Island beach-front community that swells to more than 50,000 residents during the summer....
Former FEMA, USFA Director Looks at Emergency Preparedness — Before and After 9/11
Marko Bourne, former FEMA and USFA director, recounts first-responder readiness on 9/11 and compares that to where agencies are today....
FEMA Branch Chief Discusses AFG Priorities
Cathie Patterson, branch chief for FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, provides details on the grant's priorities and advice for successful applications....
FRI Preview: Creecy Offers Firefighter Group-Behavior Insights
Richmond, Va., Chief Robert Creecy, FRI presenter, discusses factors that affect individual and group behavior within any organization, and how chiefs can engage in difficult but courageous conversations with personnel....
FRI Preview: Holman Offers Chiefs 5 Steps to Increase Firefighter Morale
Chief Tim Holman, FRI presenter, discusses how to use motivation techniques to develop a strong, dedicated work force — whether in a career, volunteer or a combination department....
FEMA's Penn Discusses Upcoming Emergency Alert System Test
FEMA's Damon Penn discusses the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System scheduled for November 9 at 2 p.m. (EST)....
FEMA Rep Describes Joplin Response, Ongoing Efforts
Carolyn Stonner, public-information specialist with FEMA Region VII, describes conditions on the ground and explains FEMA's role in the response, when federal resources reached the area and which teams were sent....
Dealing with Stress in the Fire Service
Chief Frederick LaMontagne of the Portland (Maine) Fire Department discusses the critical need for departments nationwide to focus on the mental health of firefighters, including post-traumatic stress disorder, as much as they focus on their physical health....
FRI Preview: Byers Offers to Take Chiefs on the 'Energy Bus' to Firefighter Motivation
Ken Byers, FRI presenter and assistant chief and shift commander in field operations at the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, discusses how to motivate firehouse staff in order to increase productivity using proven strategies....
Joplin Chief Randles Shares Lessons Learned from Deadly Tornado
Joplin, Mo., Fire Chief Mitch Randles shares his experiences the day the tornado hit, including operational and communications hindrances as well as other lessons learned....
Treating Hydrogen-Cyanide Exposure in Firefighters, Civilians
Mike McEvoy, EMS coordinator for Saratoga County (N.Y.) Emergency Services, which administers the Cyanokit as a standard operating procedure for treating victims of smoke inhalation....
FRI Preview: Prziborowski Offers New Bttn. Chiefs 'Survival Skills'
Steve Prziborowski, FRI presenter and battalion chief of the Santa Clara County (Calif.) Fire Department, discusses survival tips to meet a battalion chief's primary areas of responsibility...
Virtual USA Supports Regional Recovery After Mock-Earthquake Exercise
Jose Vazquez, director of first-responder technologies for the DHS S&T, explains the exercise's goals, how Virtual USA was used and lessons learned, including the importance of using databases to capture and disseminate information....
Plan Fire Station Artwork in the Design Phase
Rob Daus, vice president of Liberty Art Works, shares ideas to create artwork with lasting appeal and aesthetic value. He also discusses lighting, flag-pole placement and honor-guard accessibility for the many memorials being built for the 10th anniversary of 9/11....
DHS Program Manager Talks About Multiband-Radio Pilot in the Big Easy
Thomas Chirhart, program manager of the DHS S&T Multiband Radio Program, discusses the pilot to test the latest multiband radio technology, including its future and lessons learned thus far....
Renovate or Tear-Down: More than Perception
Architect Robert Mitchell, principal at Mitchell Associate Architects, shares insights on perceived value versus actual costs, and the diligence and testing that must accompany any construction decision, particularly on an existing site with history....
How to Plan for Fire Station's Future Growth — Inside and Out
Architect Dennis Ross, co-owner of Pacheco Ross Architects, P.C., shares pointers that chiefs need to keep in mind as they approach the design phase of their next fire station. These include future growth, electronic-equipment power loads and green efforts....
Pierce President Offers Keys to Leadership
James W. Johnson, executive vice president of Oshkosh, which includes Pierce Manufacturing, discusses the parallels between leading a corporation and leading a fire department....
IAFC Immediate-Past President Jeff Johnson Discusses Obama's Priorities for a Public Safety Broadband Network
PSAC chairperson chief Johnson shares insider details about President Obama's announcement at Northern Michigan University that set forth the administration's priorities for a public-safety broadband network....
FEMA's Harman Offers Tips, Warning for Successful FP&S Applications
FEMA's Elizabeth Harman reveals mistakes applicants make during the grant-writing process and discusses the importance of reading this year's grant guidance to ensure programs meet its priorities....
