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Peter Matthews talked with J.P. Moore, deputy director of the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), about their leadership development programs that place an emphasis on human performance for leaders during fireground operations and in-station situations.   Moore details some of IFSI’s programs that look at train future and current leaders on dealing with incident command, personnel management and conflict resolution and how physical health is part of successful outcomes. IFSI connects students to telemetry that measures their vital signs other body systems data to help each one understand when their stress levels rise and offers techniques to help them keep calm.   Incident command is a lot more that understanding fire behavior and personnel tracking, Moore says, adding that mental and human performance play key roles and are rarely taught to students. Moore explains how constant stress on officers can overwhelm them and what techniques they can use to limit exertion on the brain and body.  Related links:  Illinois Fire Service Institute J.P. Moore’s Firehouse.com contributor page

For the last few years, electric vehicle (EV) fires have made national news headlines because of the unique and unknown challenges they present to firefighters, leading UL Research Institute’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) to launch a research effort to understand the mitigation and safety concerns.  Adam Barowy, a principal research engineer with FSRI, details the three-year effort to document EV fires and help fire departments develop operating guidelines as well as raise awareness to firefighter health and safety concerns. He explains the steps that FSRI took to conduct test burns, what stakeholders were involved and the processes in which they conducted test burns.  Barowy and Peter Matthews discuss the tactics needed, along with research findings on EV fire blankets, plus concerns for life safety when vehicles are burning inside occupied structures. The two discuss the impacts of the smoke on firefighter health and what impacts the smoke has on PPE.  While completing the report, FSRI developed an EV Fire Tactical Decision Aid that provides responding firefighters with a look at tactics and guides decisions during EV fire emergencies.   Related links:  Researchers Release Evidence-Based EV Battery Fire Response Considerations New FSRI Study Details What Firefighters Need to Know About EV Fires Electric Vehicle Fire Tactical Decision Aid Adam Barowy’s Firehouse.com contributor page

Chief Jacob Johnson interviews Chief David Jones (ret.) of the Addison, TX, Fire Department. In this week's episode of Beyond the Bugles, they discuss all things leadership involving leadership within a small department that hosts big events, the finite techniques it takes to be a successful fire chief and strategies on collaborating with other fire departments.

Peter Matthews talks with Capt. II Andy Ruiz, who oversees the In-Service Training Unit for the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). He explains how LAFD is rooted in training with recruits beginning their training at the site where a firefighter was killed in the line-of-duty during a fire at the now-LAFD academy. He shares how the department manages in-service training across 468 square miles at four sites, plus the Frank Hotchkins fire academy.  Ruiz explains how the department has responded to several recent close call incidents that resulted in several firefighters being seriously injured, including implementing fire behavior studies from UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute and the International Association of Fire Fighters. The department launched local training to ensure all firefighters are trained on the latest threats in the field and shares examples where properly trained firefighters have escaped critical injuries.   As he wraps up, Ruiz shares what he predicts to be the biggest challenges in the fire service, locally and globally.   Related links:  My Last Dying Breath 2nd Edition: Deeply Personal Stories of Firefighter Survival  LAFD-My Last Dying Breath Los Angeles Fire Department In-Service Training Instagram

Peter Matthews talks with Jared Vermeulen, who authored a new book, “The Modern Fire Officer: Building Legacy That Endures,” that is designed to help guide today’s fire officers through the many situations they encounter each day.  Vermeulen says that today’s fire officers often wear dozens of hats compared to a few hats for previous generations because of the all-hazards role that fire departments play in their community while ensuring today’s firefighters are confident in their duties. He said officers can find themselves trying to bridge multiple generational gaps in understanding, technology and know-how at the same time.   They discuss the challenges of some chiefs who take the helm as fire chief to fix a 20-year-old problem, blocking progress in their organization and possibly pushing it backward. Vermeulen says the fire service, in some ways, is the U.S. Post Office in it’s antiquated ways.   Related links:  The Modern Fire Officer   Jared Vermeulen on LinkedIn The Modern Fire Officer (Book 1) The Modern Fire Officer: Building Legacy That Endures (Book 2) The Firehouse Yak: Jared Vermeulen – Foundations for The Modern Fire Officer

Chief Jacob Johnson sits down with long time friend, West Columbia, SC, Fire Department Battalion Chief Marc Aloan. They discuss all things leadership and dive into some deep questions. It’s fun, packed full of knowledge and provides important insight for all to hear and learn.

Peter Matthews talks with Eric Valliere, CEO of the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA), about increasing the organization’s efforts in the awareness of firefighter safety and health.   For years, FDSOA has offered incident safety officers (ISO) and health and safety officers (HSO) education and today they fcus on bridging the gap between research, science and new operational efforts and the members on the streets. Listeners will learn how they can take part in FDSOA’s outreach efforts and why Valliere says smart and educated firefighters can see the importance of safety and health programs.  Valliere highlights the challenges and success ISOs and HSOs are seeing in the fire service and how their roles continue to evolve beyond emergency incident scenes. He also talks about FDSOA’s annual conference in January and the various award programs they offer.  Related links:  Fire Department Safety Officers Association website  FDSOA Facebook  FDSOA YouTube FDSOA LinkedIn From FDSOA: 5 in 2025: Fireground Safety Considerations for Incident Safety Officers Simon Sinek’s The Golden Circle TedTalk

Chief Jacob Johnson interviews his lifelong friend Capt. Rusty Ryan, of the Pearland, TX, Fire Department, as they discuss general firehouse leadership and how that translate to leadership through disaster as Capt. Ryan lead search and rescue teams through the central Texas floods on July 4, 2025.

Peter Matthews talks with Fire Chief Doug Myers, from the Berrien Springs-Oronoko, MI, Fire Department, about commanding today’s fireground incidents. Myers led the development of the Scene Watcher App to help incident commanders track tasks and firefighters on scenes when command staff is limited.  Myers discusses the NIOSH 5, the five recurring factors that have been mentioned in the NIOSH LODD reports. Myers talks about the NIOSH 5 from the perspective of the incident commander and how they must manage the fireground with all five factors playing a part in their decision making.  In his region, with multiple fire departments assigned to fire incidents, Myers developed Scene Watcher to help the incident commanders manage assignments, track personnel and provide an overview of the incident from benchmarks and accountability.   Related links:  Scene Watcher  Connect with Doug Myers on LinkedIn  Fire Studies: Volunteer Firefighting Strategies: Where We’ve Been. Where Are We Headed?

Chief Kristopher Blume joins Peter Matthews to reflect on what products and innovations he saw while attending the largest firefighter conference in the world, Interschutz, earlier this month in Germany. From robots and apparatus to PPE and training equipment, Blume explains the difference between Interschutz and shows in the U.S. Blume explains how technology filled many of the exhibit halls at the week-long conference, displaying robotics, software and how the Europeans view the use artificial intelligence for the fire service now and in the future. Blume also saw a variety of PPE innovations, rigs and other equipment being used by firefighters in other countries. In a variety of classrooms, Blume engaged in conversations with members of the fire service from around the world and shares what their priorities are while he also highlights some of the unique and awe-inspiring hands-on training that they offer. Related links: Kristopher Blume Firehouse.com biography and articles Interschutz

Chief Jacob Johnson gets to accomplish a dream of truly putting fire department members on the map by interviewing one of his own from the Pearland, TX, Fire Department, Chief Shane Bridges. The two discuss culture, mentorship and leadership from the lens of their own department.

Peter Matthews is joined by Michael Hildebrand, who sits on the board of directors for the Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation, which honors the legacy of Prince George’s County firefighter Jim Yvorra, who died in the line of duty in 1988.  Hildebrand recalled his longtime friendship with Yvorra and his dedication to the fire service by being an active member and book publisher in the areas of EMS, hazardous materials, operations and leadership. After his death, the Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation was launched to provide scholarships to those whose goal was to promote leadership development in the U.S. fire service. Since 1989, nearly 150 scholarships have been awarded to active members of the fire service who have crafted impactful essays in their response   Hildebrand details the process to submit and the various resources available to applicants, including the top attributes of the scholarship recipients. They have also made available the Chief Alan Brunacini Special Project on Leadership, which provides a large award for an ongoing project to improve the fire service.  Related links:  Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation  Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation Awards and Scholarships  Jim Yvorra’s National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Role of Honor page  Robert Burke’s Tribute to Ludwig Benner  Texas HEAT Texas HEAT Hazardous Materials Education and Training Scholarships

Peter Matthews talks with past FireFusion keynote speaker Thomas J. Gordon, who completed a 30-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, about leadership, resilience and his book, Marine Maxims, Turning Leadership Principals into Practice.”  After his military career, Gordon returned to his alma mater, The Citadel, to serve as the Commandant of Cadets and shares stories of developing leaders from a young age, including how the school coaches students in decision-making and provides them with the tools they need to be successful in life.   Gordon details some of the military maxims he wrote about his in book, including the pathway to making decisions, the chain of command and character development. He also reflects on what he calls his greatest failure in the Marines and how that shaped the remainder of his career.   Related links:  Marine Maxims: Turning Leadership Principles into Practice  Marine Maxims  FireFusion 2025: Military Leadership Principles for Today's Fire Officers  The Citadel

Beyond the Bugles host and chief for the Pearland, TX, Fire Department Jacob Johnson interviews one of his best friends and mentors, Mark Campise, who is the chief of the Sugar Land, TX, Fire Department. They dive off into all kinds of subjects that they have encountered together over the last 23 years together. The conversation reaches depths of more than just chief talk, as they discuss real life, on the job, different situations and how to come out on the winning end.

Retired chief Robert Avsec and Dr. Tracy Hejmanowski, who work with the Fire Service Psychology Association (FSPA), dive into the topics of firefighter mental health and psychology as part of the annual Mental Health Awareness Month. Avsec relates firefighter mental health support for firefighters like hazmat responses, with four levels of resources, which was the basis of a report he wrote and helped guide the organization of the FSPA.  From the awareness level, where the topic of mental health is no longer taboo in most firehouses, to offering peer support, up to have properly trained clinicians who can assist firefighters in a variety scenarios, from responses during their careers to family/home life or other factors that can stack up.   Dr. Hejmanowski, an experienced clinician for military and public safety responders, looks at the various resources available to firefighters and what they need to know as they navigate the process as a helper who is seeking guidance themselves. The two explain the ongoing outreach by FSPA as they work toward a goal of supporting departments across the country.   Related links:  Robert Avsec’s full bio Dr. Tracy S. Hejmanowski Fire Service Psychology Association A Comparison Between HazMat Response Levels for Firefighters and Mental Health Clinician Scopes of Practice 9th Annual Fire Service Psychology Conference First Responder Project Halfway There: A Generational Shift in Firefighter Mental Health The Firehouse Yak: David Griffin – Retirement and Lessons from the Hardest Days The Favor Strategy: Reframing How to Help Firefighters in Emotional or Mental Distress The Brotherhood Barrier: How Group Bonding Shapes First Responder Attitudes Toward Treating Mental Health Firefighters' Mental Health Is Aided When Departments Plan for Major Incidents