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. In the podcast, Gaines discussed his own challenges at the USFA, which recently went through its own round of budget cuts. He also provided advice on how chiefs can keep running their departments efficiently, including which services departments should focus on and how to keep morale high given the cut in benefits and pay department members have suffered.

Furthermore, Gaines discussed the importance of partnering with private agencies, including faith-based organizations; of increasing EMS services; and of forward-looking opportunities like providing inspection services for new alternative energy technologies. In addition, he provided advice about operating during the tough times that are sure to continue into 2012 and shares lessons he's learned from a lifetime of fire service that can benefit the fire chiefs of today.