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Lithium-ion batteries power everything from smartphones and power tools to electric vehicles and energy storage systems—but are we fighting these fires based on facts or outdated assumptions? In this episode of Critical Conversations, hosts Jaymie Nickerson-Buckmaster and Nick Delia sit down with Robert Duval of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to discuss the latest research on lithium-ion battery fires and what firefighters, safety professionals, facility managers, and emergency responders need to know. Together, they explore: 🔥 The newest research findings on lithium-ion battery fire behavior🔥 Common myths that continue to circulate throughout the fire service🔥 Thermal runaway and what actually happens during battery failure🔥 Effective firefighting tactics and responder safety considerations🔥 Water application, suppression strategies, and emerging best practices🔥 Lessons learned from real-world incidents and testing As lithium-ion technology becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, understanding the science behind these incidents is critical for making informed decisions on the fireground and in the workplace. Whether you're a firefighter, safety professional, emergency manager, or simply interested in the future of fire protection, this conversation offers evidence-based insights that challenge conventional thinking and highlight where the industry is headed next. Listen now and join the conversation.

What does it truly mean to honor fallen firefighters and support the families they leave behind? In this impactful episode of Critical Conversations Podcast, hosted by Jaymie Nickerson-Buckmaster and Nick Delia of JLN Associates, we sit down with Victor Stagnaro, CEO of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), to discuss the powerful mission of honoring America’s fallen heroes and supporting firefighter families through remembrance, healing, and connection. Victor shares insights into the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, the emotional impact these tributes have on surviving families, and why honoring firefighters goes far beyond a ceremony. This conversation dives deep into firefighter legacy preservation, grief support, firefighter mental health, and the importance of community within the fire service. In this episode, we discuss:🔥 The mission of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation🔥 Supporting families after a line-of-duty death🔥 Firefighter mental health and peer support🔥 The emotional impact of firefighter memorials🔥 Preserving the legacy of fallen first responders🔥 Why remembrance matters in the fire service community Whether you’re a firefighter, first responder, chief officer, family member, or supporter of the emergency services, this episode is a reminder that sacrifice should never be forgotten and that firefighter families deserve lifelong support. 🎧 Critical Conversations Podcast is proudly hosted by JLN Associates, a leader in industrial safety, emergency response, fire protection, and rescue services. Learn more at:👉 www.safejln.com Learn more about the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation:https://www.firehero.org/ #FirefighterPodcast #NationalFallenFirefightersFoundation #FallenFirefighters #FirefighterMentalHealth #FirstResponders #FireService #CriticalConversationsPodcast #NFFF #FirefighterSupport #LineOfDutyDeath

In this episode of Critical Conversations, we sit down with Chief John Oates, CEO of the International Public Safety Data Institute and former Fire Chief of East Hartford, Connecticut. Chief Oates shares how data-driven decision-making is transforming the fire service, improving responder safety, and shaping the future of emergency response. Drawing from decades of leadership experience and national standards work, he offers practical insights for today’s fire service leaders. From behavioral health to performance analytics and NFPA committee work, this conversation explores what it takes to lead with clarity in an increasingly complex risk environment. 🎧 Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on leadership, accountability, and the power of data in public safety.

In this episode of Critical Conversations, Nick Delia sits down with Eriks Gabliks, Superintendent of the National Fire Academy, to explore leadership, training, and the extraordinary opportunities available to fire and emergency services professionals across the country. Eriks shares how the National Fire Academy serves as a cornerstone for advancing the fire service - offering world-class education, leadership development, and technical training programs that shape the future of emergency response. From executive leadership courses to specialized technical curricula, the NFA provides pathways for firefighters, officers, safety professionals, and allied responders to grow their skills, expand their impact, and bring best-in-class practices back to their organizations. We discuss how investing in professional development through the NFA strengthens individual leaders, elevates organizational performance, and ultimately enhances community safety. Whether you’re an emerging leader, a seasoned chief officer, or a safety professional supporting high-risk industries, this conversation highlights why the National Fire Academy remains one of the most powerful resources available to the emergency services community. 🎧 Tune in for insights on leadership, learning, and how the NFA is helping prepare the next generation of fire service and emergency management leaders.

Deputy Chief Mark Waters joins us for a deep dive into the leadership tools and resources every firefighter and fire officer should know. With more than 35+ years in the fire service - including 27 years as Deputy Chief of the New London Fire Department - Mark brings a grounded, practical perspective on what it takes to lead. He shares the leadership books he returns to often, the training models that have influenced his approach, and the lessons he’s learned through decades of on-the-job experience. Whether you’re a new firefighter or a seasoned leader, this episode offers guidance to help you grow, mentor, and inspire the teams around you.

Join us for the first of our 2025 Leadership Series episodes of Critical Conversations. In this episode, we sit down with one of the fire service’s respected leaders - Chief Dennis L. Rubin - for a discussion on Leadership Basics and what it truly means to lead in today’s fire and emergency service organizations.With over 35 years of experience spanning every rank from firefighter/EMT to Fire Chief, Chief Rubin brings unmatched insight into leadership, command, and safety. His impressive career includes serving as Chief of the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department, past President of the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association, and chair of the National Wingspread Strategic Planning Conference for over 30 years.Chief Rubin holds multiple degrees in Organizational Leadership and Fire Administration, is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, and the author of several acclaimed textbooks including Rube’s Rules for Survival, D.C. Fire, and It’s Always About Leadership.This live broadcast will explore the foundational principles that define great leaders - from integrity and accountability to decision-making under pressure - and how these lessons apply across every level of service.

In our latest episode of Critical Conversations, we sat down with Robert Duvall, the Northeast Regional Director and Fire Investigator at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), to discuss critical issues surrounding electric vehicle fire safety and electrical power storage systems. As the adoption of energy storage systems (ESS) continues to grow, so too must our efforts to mitigate associated risks in this rapidly evolving industry. Bob shared his expert insight into the unique hazards posed by ESS and electric vehicles, emphasizing the importance of safety measures and proper risk management. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of these emerging technologies and the necessary precautions to ensure safety. To further educate our audience, we encourage you to download information from these resources: https://tinyurl.com/electricfiressafety

Listen in to this enlightening episode of Critical Conversations where with talk with Tom Jenkins, the Research Program Manager at The Fire Safety Research Institute. 🔥 We'll be diving deep into the future of fire safety, discussing the replacement of the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) with the new and improved National Emergency Incident Reporting System (NEIRS).

Listen in as Deputy Chief Mark Waters of New London delves into the dramatic events surrounding the recent catastrophic collapse of a historic church. This landmark, a treasured piece of New London's heritage dating back to 1850, met a tragic fate earlier this year. Tune in as Deputy Chief Waters shares exclusive insights and management strategies as well as discusses the profound teaching moments of this incident. Don't miss this chance to uncover the stories behind the headlines – a discussion filled with revelations and expert analysis.

Listen in to the latest episode of Critical Conversations, featuring guests Chief John Alston of the New Haven Fire Department, Chief Steve Hoffman of the Colchester Fire Department, Chief Dan Krushinski of the East Franklin (NJ) Fire Department, and Assistant Fire Chief Shelly Carter of the Hamden (CT) Fire Department. They will be discussing their experiences and insights in the fire service industry - and the challenges, as well as success, in recruitment and retention among their teams.

Tune in as we talk all things FDIC, Fire Engineering and talk shop with David Rhodes! David has played an instrumental role in coordinating FDIC Hands-on Training for the past 20 years as well as regularly advising and contributing editorial content to our publications. David formally expanded his role with us last year, working in an advisory position supporting Bobby Halton and the rest of the team. Bobby’s sudden passing sped up the timeline for David to take on additional responsibilities. I am confident David is ready for this challenge and the right person to lead our trusted brands. We remain steadfast in our mission and commitment to train the fire service.  The fire service and all our customers are in good hands with David leading the educational oversight along with the continued contributions and partnerships we have from the industry’s best instructors and subject matter experts,” commented Eric Schlett, Executive Vice President – Clarion Events Fire & Rescue.  Rhodes is a 37-year fire service veteran who retired after spending his last 17 years as a battalion chief with the Atlanta (GA) Fire Department. He is a Chief Elder for the Georgia Smoke Diver Program and has been a member of the FDIC Educational Advisory Board, a Hands-on-Training coordinator for the FDIC conference, an editorial advisor and author for Fire Engineering and Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment, author of the “Hump Day SOS” column in Fire Rescue, an adjunct instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy, an Advisory Board Member Emeritus for Underwriters Laboratories Firefighter Safety Research Institute, and a Board Member of the Firefighter Air Coalition. He served as an incident commander for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency – Type III All Hazards Incident Management Team and was a task force leader for the Georgia Search and Rescue Team.

Situational Awareness Matters - A Critical Conversation with Dr. Richard Gasaway In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Richard Gasaway to discuss how flawed situational awareness is one of the leading causes of near-miss events and a leading contributing factor for casualty events. Developing and maintaining strong situational awareness is catastrophically important. Tune in as we talk with Dr. Gasaway about how he is helping people improving situational awareness and decision making and read more in his book at SAMatters.com!

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell was appointed by President Joseph Biden as the U.S. fire administrator on Oct. 25, 2021. Prior to her appointment, Lori served nearly 3 years as the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the International Public Safety Data Institute, which she founded after retiring from a 26-year tenure as a senior executive in the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). Lori is considered an expert in executive leadership, emergency response system evaluation, public safety resource deployment, community risk assessment, data science/analytics, strategic planning, costs and benefits analysis, advocacy, consensus building, policy development and implementation, and generational differences in the workplace. As a doctor of public health and a data scientist, Dr. Moore-Merrell recently served on the Biden-Harris Transition Team to conduct agency review for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as part of the COVID-19 response planning. She has also served on the Public Safety Committee of the transition teams for both the mayor of New York City (2013) and the mayor of the District of Columbia (2015). Lori is a principal member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 3000 Technical Committee and is an advisor to the chair of the NFPA 1710 Technical Committee. Lori served 9 years as a commissioner to the Commission for Fire Service Accreditation and 3 terms as a board member for the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Dr. Moore-Merrell is a member of the International Fire Service Training Association Executive Board, as well as the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Fire Council. During her 26 years at the IAFF, Lori spent more than 17 years leading a research team made up of international fire service organizations and other partners, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the UL, the Urban Institute, the University of Texas, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. As principal investigator and senior project manager on projects funded by FEMA/Assistance to Firefighters Grants totaling more than $23 million, she led the team to produce landmark reports and other tools to improve residential and high-rise fireground operations, community risk assessment, fire and EMS resource deployment, and “Big Data Analytics” — all to help drive executive decision-making. These reports and other resources have changed the face of fire and EMS deployment in countries throughout the world. Dr. Moore-Merrell has also managed emergency response system evaluation project teams, including secure data procurement, geographic information systems analysis and workload analysis in hundreds of fire departments throughout North America.

Welcome to the first episode of the new year! Tune in as we speak with the MOST visiting guests we've ever had -  from the CT Joint Fire Service Council. We are talking all things legislative, including the controversial topic of edits to the CPAT - the Candidate Physical Ability Test. The Mission of the Joint Council is to further the needs of the state fire service through inter-association cooperation; legislative action; public education; and fire service education.

“Society needs to change how it thinks and feels about fire death. When a civilian is killed by fire it is not an act of God and when a firefighter is killed it is not part of the job. When there is a fire death something went wrong. The public as well as the fire service can all do better to prevent and survive fire.” - B. A. Clark. Dr. Burton A. Clark, EFO has been in the fire service for 45 years, he was a firefighter in Washington, DC, Assistant Fire Chief in Laurel, Maryland, the Management Science Program Chair at the National Fire Academy, an Operations Chief during national disasters and emergencies for the DHS/FEMA, an Expert Technical Reviewer for the CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, and a visiting scholar at Johns Hopkins University Center for Injury Research and Policy. Burt has a BS is in Business Administration from Strayer University, MA in Curriculum & Instruction from Catholic University, and Ed.D. in Adult Education from Nova Southeastern University. He has served on 15 doctoral dissertation committees. He studied fire science at Montgomery College with Professor Frank Brannigan, Emergency Management at the Emergency Management Institute, National Security at the National Defense University, and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program. He is a nationally certified Fire Officer Four, Chief Fire Officer Designee for nine years, and Eagle Scout Mentor. Burt writes, lectures, and teaches fire service research, safety, culture, and professional development worldwide.  Tune in as we talk with Dr. Clark about the fire service industry - expectations, realities and commitments - and just how and when to implement them.