5-Alarm Task Force!

Latest Episodes:

Episode 190: Episode 6-22 – Ryan Johnston - Owner Maine-lac Training – Ladder Placement on College Campuses Apr 20, 2022

Show notes

Whether you call them ladders, trucks, towers, platforms or tillers, ladder operations are in their own category. And our guest on this episode of “5-Alarm Task Force,” knows his category very well!

Ryan Johnston is a 24+ year career firefighter and a 30+ year volunteer firefighter. He is the owner if Maineiac Training, a small training group that prides itself on providing realistic, experience-based, fire training.

Ryan is currently the Rescue Technician in A Shift at the Waterville ME Fire Dept. He is a lieutenant with the Oakland Maine Fire Department.

You can watch us on our YouTube® channel, “5-Alarm Task Force Corp.” or tune in to our podcast via your favorite podcast platform or visit our website at https://www.5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and scroll down the homepage to listen in.

To make a donation towards our 2022 Campaign goal to raise $12,000 to help our Brothers & Sisters, and/or their families in dire need, please visit our homepage! Thank you.

Episode 189: Episode 6-21 – “The EFO: What It Was, What It Is & What It Will Be – Part I Apr 09, 2022

Show notes

Many of us have seen or heard of the acronym, EFO. However, how many of us actually know what it stands for: Executive Fire Officer. Does the designation apply to any level of Chief? Could any firefighter, of ant rank, receive the designation? Just what is it and where did it come from?

My guests today are Dr. Burton A. Clark, PhD, EFO, Chief Trey Mayo, EFO, Winston-Salem NC Fire Dept. and Chuck Burkell, an advisor and former instructor at the National Fire Academy.

In this episode, which is Part I in a series, they explain the origins of, not only the EFO, but the creation of the National Fire Academy and the various programs that were developed as the federal government and fire service leaders worked together to build an educational foundation for the fire service.

To make a donation towards our 2022 Campaign goal to raise $12,000 to help our Brothers & Sisters, and/or their families in dire need, please visit our homepage! Thank you.
Picture is courtesy the U.S. Fire Administration

Episode 188: Episode 6-19 – Cory Hohs & Brock Aun of HAAS Alert Mar 13, 2022

Show notes

Within the last decade, one of most dangerous calls that first responders respond to, are emergencies on active roadways. In 2021 alone, 65 first responders (fire, police, EMS, recovery operators road rangers) died when stuck by a vehicle while on an emergency scene. And the number one cause falls on “distracted drivers.” While there is number of definitions for the term, “distracted,” drivers are simply not paying enough attention to the roads and to emergency scenes.

Our guests today are Corey Hohs and Brock Aun of HAAS Alert. Haas Alert has been working for nearly six years, with local, state and national officials to provide a signal that would be initiated by the responding emergency agency and received in vehicles, either via the infotainment system or even as a message on the dash, to advise that there is an emergency ahead and to move over and slow down.

It is quite likely that a car or truck you are driving now or maybe the next one, will have Haas Alert’s “Safety Cloud” included in its configuration. Tune in and learn more!

To make a donation towards our 2022 Campaign goal to raise $12,000 to help our Brothers & Sisters, and/or their families in dire need, please visit our homepage! Thank you.

Episode 187: Episode 6-18 – Capt. James “JP” Childers Feb 25, 2022

Show notes

Training…some of us love it, some don’t. Some enjoy teaching…some don’t. However, there are those who are teachers, instructors and mentors, who have the passion to teach and our guest today, is one of those with a strong passion to teach, share and mentor. Why? Because there was someone in his life who cared about him and introduced him to the fire service. And that was around 20 years ago.

Capt. Childers joins us today to discuss his recent article in FIREHOUSE® Magazine’s December 2021 issue, about training for night operations. Besides being the training officer for the Champaign IL Fire Dept., he is also an instructor for the IFSI (Illinois Fire Service Institute).

Capt. Childers truly cares, not simply about teaching, but educating and mentoring every single cadet that comes through the academy and in his own department. Tune in to hear us discuss the key issues that should be addressed through training modules performed at night and the reasons behind that position.

To make a donation towards our 2022 Campaign goal to raise $12,000 to help our Brothers & Sisters, and/or their families in dire need, please visit our homepage! Thank you.

Episode 186: Episode 6-17 – Chief Justin Bailey – The Importance of a Training Calendar Feb 19, 2022

Show notes

It is no secret that voluntarism is at a low in this country. Society always changes and evolves and with that said, this problem is far broader than just the volunteer fire service. Even before the pandemic, fewer and fewer people were able to find adequate time to contribute to volunteer positions throughout local, regional and national organizations.

One of the largest impacts of the lower availability of volunteers is the shortage of personnel in the volunteer fire service and, there multiple causes behind this phenomenon. In turn, volunteer fire departments must “up their game” as regards training, so that the members will be as safe as possible and the community will benefit from their assistance.

My guest is Chief Justin Bailey of the Oliver Springs TN Fire Dept. Chief Bailey talks about the need for a training calendar. The calendar will advise all the members what topics, tactics or practices will be covered and when. While not every member may make a given drill night, there are always make-ups scheduled, in an effort to be fair to all. Learn more of what Chief Bailey faces everyday and how it might not be too different from what you experience in your own volunteer department.

To make a donation towards our 2022 Campaign to raise $12,000 to help our Brothers & Sisters, and/or their families in dire need, please visit our homepage! Thank you.

Episode 185: Episode 6-16 – Battalion Chief John Hayowyk Jr & Capt. James Kovacs Feb 04, 2022

Show notes

On January 14, 2022, a massive fire erupted at a pool chemical and supplies manufacturing plant erupted into a massive inferno in Passaic NJ. Due to its location, it was first called in as a car fire on a highway that runs behind the C-side of the involved structure.

In charge of Tour 3 that day was good friend, Battalion Chief John Hayowyk A. Hayowyk, Jr., with over 29 years in the fire service. Also on shift that evening was Capt. James Kovacs, a 24-year veteran of the fire service.

Initially, multiple calls came into Passaic Dispatch as a car fire. However, first arriving units realized that what they really had was a plant of 1-3/3 acres, that manufactured chlorine and other pool supplies. And the first chief officer to arrive was Chief Hayowyk, soon followed by Engine 4 with Captain Kovacs.

These brave firefighters explain what they heard, then saw and what had to be done to hopefully, prevent the fire from reaching the area where the chlorine was stored!

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EPISODE!!

To make a donation towards our 2022 Campaign to raise $12,000 to help our Brothers & Sisters, and/or their families in dire need, please visit our homepage! Thank you.

Photo © Matzav. Com

Audio provided by Broadcastify

Episode 184: Episode 6-14 – Lt. Aaron Zamzow – Fire-Rescue Health & Fitness Jan 20, 2022

Show notes

No stranger to “5-Alarm Task Force,” returning guest and good friend, Aaron Zamzow joins us to discuss the new level of his company, “FRF – Fire Rescue Fitness. These topics have been very important to Aaron for over 15 years.

Having initially been a personal trainer, who rose to work with players in both the NFL and NBA, when he joined his first fire company, he realized that he needed different workouts to focus more on the jobs that we do as firefighters. You will hear a great analogy from Aaron to the movie, “Rudy.”

In today’s discussion he shares the new “level” hi has and continues to create with is an app that you will be able to have on a computer or a mobile device, which will provide you with different programs, menus, nutrition information, hydration and much more!

You can tune in via your favorite podcast platform or visit our website at https://www.5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and scroll down the homepage to listen in.

Photo Courtesy of www.firerescuefitness.com

Episode 183: Episode 6-13 – “Make Do Your Damn Can Job!” Jan 15, 2022

Show notes

Strange title for an episode, right? Not if you know my guests for this episode. Our comrades and friends, Battalion Chief Jacob Johnson, Captain Nick Peppard and Lt. Jason Liska, “dropped by” to discuss our mutual passions and concerns.

Each of my guests host excellent podcasts about the fire service. Capt. Nick (along with another great firefighter and friend, Sean Duffy) host, “Make Do!” a podcast that focuses on issues of suburban firefighting (which about 80% of us deal with), Lt. Jason Liska is the host of “The Can Man Radio Show,” which covers tactics, practices, training, camaraderie and more. And Chief Johnson will very soon launch his new podcast, “Do Your Damn Job!” which focuses on the importance of mentoring and guiding in the fire service.

We got together to share those passions, talk about our shortcomings, some reality checks and what we can do to help our fire service improve in the future.

This is a “no holds barred” discussion! And be advised, some “salty” language is used. But it will be the takeaways that you hear that you need to remember and share with your colleagues.

Episode 182: Episode 6–12 – Deputy Chief Steve Prziborowski Dec 11, 2021

Show notes

I am pleased to welcome back an excellent fire officer, instructor, mentor, author and friend, Steve Prziborowski of the Santa Clara CA Fire Department. Too much time has passed since his last appearance and we are glad that our schedules were able to finally sync-up!

Though he officially retires on December 31st, after a storied, 30-year career, the Chief has spent some of his accrued time off traveling the country to enjoy his three passions, visiting ballparks (he’s been to all major league parks!), visiting firehouses and sharing his experience, knowledge, and wisdom, with firefighters across the country.

We discuss his travels, his books, his career and what the future holds for him. When it comes to the Fire Service, the Chief is a “Man of Letters,” a term that reflects strong learning, teaching, and mentoring skills. It is our honor to welcome him back to “5-Alarm Task Force.”

Check out the video webcast on our YouTube® channel, 5-Alarm Task Force Corp, or tune in to the audio podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

Photo Courtesy of: Steve Prziborowski

Episode 181: Episode 6–11 – FF Jason Burns – The PFAS in Our Bunker Gear Dec 02, 2021

Show notes

Cancer and other dangers we face in the fire service are not new topics, but they have “morphed” a bit. Initially, it was though that only those who worked the “Pile” after 9|11 were being affected. Then, the various carcinogens and other toxins from the benzene products burning were found to be hurting us as well. Then, came the news that they very bunker gear we wear to protect ourselves while we perform our often-dangerous jobs, could be leaking carcinogenic toxins into our bodies. With manufacturers denying that either, no carcinogenic products in the turn-out gear, or they changed their tune to,”…it might be there, but it can’t hurt you,” an organized offense was needed.

One of the leaders for that call is my guest, Jason Burns. Literally, thrown into the presidency of his local IAFF union, he was forced to bury two colleagues, both in their thirties, within two years of his election. And Jason wanted to learn more about cancer in the fire service.

He did extensive homework to learn as much as possible. As did many of us, he was introduced into the “PFOA in Our Bunker Gear” action group on social media and he learned a great deal from the members and research down by those independent from manufacturers. He was instrumental in the passing of Resolution 28 at the 2021 IAFF annual conference. Listen as he shares his difficult and painful journey to where he is today!

Check out the video webcast on our YouTube® channel, 5-Alarm Task Force Corp, or tune in to the audio podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

Photo Courtesy of: USGS.gov

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