Advertise on podcast: The Scuttlebutt

Dave Donohue and Larry Janssen take over Scuttlebutt to explain how a small Texas scholarship effort grew into the U.S. HEAT Foundation, a national nonprofit helping hazmat responders reach advanced education, training, and conferences they might otherwise miss.They trace the growth of Texas HEAT, Maryland HEAT, and the national scholarship program, explain how state funds can create their own opportunities, and break down how responders, companies, and other supporters can help fund the next generation of hazmat training. The bigger mission is simple: expand access, strengthen professional networks, and pay forward the opportunities that helped experienced responders build their own careers.Key Moments00:00 – Dave Donohue and Larry Janssen take over Scuttlebutt02:56 – How Texas HEAT began05:11 – The Travis L. Marr Memorial Scholarship07:20 – Maryland HEAT and the launch of U.S. HEAT11:07 – Expanding scholarships beyond one conference13:44 – Scholarship amounts, eligibility, and national growth16:28 – How to donate and support the foundation21:49 – How states and supporters can get involvedEpisode ResourcesU.S. HEAT ScholarshipU.S. HEAT FoundationTraining & ResourcesMain WebsiteTrainingContactMedia NetworkCommand Media Networkhttps://commandmedianetwork.com/FollowFacebook: www.facebook.com/themeterguys/Instagram: www.instagram.com/themeterguys/LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/the-meter-guysYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMeterGuysMaking a Difference One Responder at a Time

Vapor pressure directly affects how quickly a hazardous material enters the air, how far away responders may detect it, and how quickly different sensors can respond. The Scuttlebutt crew takes the science from the previous episode and puts it into real-world air monitoring decisions involving diesel, gasoline, ammonia, sulfuric acid, LNG, hydrogen cyanide, foam blankets, heated batteries, and sensor response times. The discussion focuses on risk-based monitoring, why PID and LEL sensors may respond differently, how temperature changes vapor pressure, and why a meter reading is only useful when responders understand what the instrument is capable of seeing and how long it may take to get there. Key Moments 00:00 Why vapor pressure matters to tactical air monitoring 01:26 Diesel vs. gasoline and what an LEL hit can tell you 04:40 Building a risk-based monitoring package with five-gas, pH paper, and radiation detection 09:24 What distance and early meter readings can reveal about vapor pressure 11:44 The 40 mmHg rule of thumb for toxic inhalation hazards 15:40 Mitigating vapor pressure with foam, water, cooling, and ventilation 22:10 Temperature, LNG, sulfuric acid, and why heat changes the problem 28:00 Hydrogen cyanide, cold weather, and delayed T90 response Training & Resources The Meter Guys Meter Training Contact The Meter Guys Media Network Command Media Network Follow Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Making a Difference One Responder at a Time

Vapor pressure is more than a chemistry definition. For hazmat responders, it can help predict how quickly a material will leave its liquid phase, enter the breathing zone, spread beyond the immediate scene, and influence tactical decisions. Chris, Tyler, and Ben use water, gasoline, diesel fuel, acetone, ammonia, and chlorine to explain what vapor pressure means in the field, how temperature changes it, why 760 mmHg matters, and how vapor pressure can shape respiratory protection and tactical monitoring decisions. Key Moments 00:00 Why vapor pressure matters to hazmat responders 09:08 A practical definition of vapor pressure 10:56 Water, 760 mmHg, and the liquid-to-gas threshold 12:40 Understanding mmHg, PSI, and atmospheres 15:51 What high vapor pressure means operationally 18:59 Gasoline, temperature, and aggressive vapor production 20:08 The 40 mmHg respiratory protection rule of thumb 22:16 Diesel, water, and gasoline as field reference points 27:49 Fire extinguisher training as a vapor pressure lesson Training & Resources Main website: https://themeterguys.org Training: https://www.themeterguys.org/meter-training Contact: https://www.themeterguys.org/contact-5 Media Network Command Media Network https://commandmedianetwork.com/ Follow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themeterguys/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themeterguys/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-meter-guys YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMeterGuys “Making a Difference One Responder at a Time”

Ben Bosley and Tyler Hoke take on the cultural side of firefighter health and safety: why dirty gear is still treated as a badge of honor, why clean CO and HCN readings do not prove overhaul air is safe, and why respiratory protection remains essential after the visible smoke is gone. They also discuss how education, officer example, realistic policies, and better understanding of meter limitations can move departments beyond the illusion of safety without sacrificing aggressive firefighting. Key Moments 00:00 - The cultural battle over firefighter safety 04:56 - Contaminated gear and exposure beyond the fireground 12:38 - Ultrafine particles and the limits of two-gas monitoring 16:44 - A department overhaul respiratory protection policy 18:58 - Why education matters for cultural change 24:14 - Officer leadership, science, and long-term health Training & Resources The Meter Guys Meter Training Contact The Meter Guys Media Network Command Media Network Follow Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube “Making a Difference One Responder at a Time”

Twenty-five years after 9/11, Tyler Hoke and Ben Bosley look at fire smoke through a hazmat lens and examine the exposure risks firefighters continue to face. They discuss respiratory and dermal routes of entry, why turnout gear is not vapor-tight, and why relying only on carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide readings can leave major gaps in what crews understand about the atmosphere. The episode also focuses on practical ways to reduce exposure during overhaul and after the fire, including ventilation, PID trend monitoring, gross decon, rehab, cleaning gear and gloves, showering, hydration, and keeping contaminated material out of the cab. The goal is not to pretend every hazard can be eliminated, but to make better decisions that reduce unnecessary exposure. Key Moments 00:00 - A 9/11 Special on the Science of Fire Smoke 02:23 - Respiratory and Dermal Routes of Exposure 07:23 - CO, HCN, and Toxic Synergy 12:37 - Atmospheric Monitoring During Overhaul 16:49 - Why SCBA Still Matters After Knockdown 17:56 - On-Scene Gross Decon and Rehab 23:45 - Post-Fire Hygiene and Gear Cleaning 28:04 - Clean Cabs, Risk Reduction, and Operational Reality Training & Resources Main website Training Contact Media Network Command Media Network Follow Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube “Making a Difference One Responder at a Time”

Twenty-five years after 9/11, what should hazmat and special operations teams be doing now to become more capable five years from today? Scott Russell, Chris Hawley, and Dave Donohue argue that the answer starts with people, not equipment. They discuss building teams around passion and capability, developing strong rapid-recon skills, creating regional depth with Type 3 and Type 4 resources, and using NFPA 475 as a practical roadmap for special operations planning. They also look at training opportunities, organizational buy-in, and why teams should grow deliberately instead of trying to jump straight to the highest capability level. Key Moments 00:00 Building the right team for the next five years 06:36 Creating system-wide depth with Type 3 and Type 4 teams 08:18 Why rapid recon should be the foundation 12:54 Regional resources and rural response challenges 16:53 Funding, planning, and NFPA 475 21:58 Build capability one level at a time 24:13 Free training and developing passionate responders 29:39 Invest in people before equipment Training & Resources The Meter Guys Training Contact Media Network Command Media Network Follow Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube “Making a Difference One Responder at a Time”

Twenty-five years after 9/11, the biggest threat to responder readiness may be assuming the next major incident will look like the last one. Dave Donohue, Scott Russell, and Chris Hawley examine the gaps that still exist in hazmat and terrorism preparedness—from declining institutional memory and misunderstood equipment to operational security, staffing limitations, and unrealistic claims of “all-hazards” capability. They make the case for thinking like an adversary, identifying probable worst-case scenarios in your own community, and using realistic, unannounced exercises that expose weaknesses instead of hiding them. The message is simple: training that reveals failure is far more valuable than an exercise designed to make the team look good. Key Moments 00:00 Where responder readiness stands 25 years after 9/11 03:15 Why perceived threats can be as disruptive as real ones 07:04 Equipment, training, and the loss of institutional memory 11:58 Operational security in the social media era 16:03 The limits of “all-hazards” capability 19:41 Thinking like the adversary 23:14 Why teams need realistic red-team exercises 27:11 Training to expose failure before the real incident Training & Resources Main Website Training Contact Media Network Command Media Network Merch Shop Merch Follow Facebook: www.facebook.com/themeterguys/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/themeterguys/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/the-meter-guys YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMeterGuys “Making a Difference One Responder at a Time”

Twenty-five years after September 11th, Scott Russell, Chris Hawley, and Dan Warchol look back at where first responders stood on September 10, 2001—and why some of the same warning signs may be appearing again. They examine terrorism preparedness before the attacks, the limits of existing training and resources, and the belief that terrorism was primarily a big-city problem. Drawing on their experiences in fire, EMS, hazmat, communications, and the military, they discuss how 9/11 immediately changed operational security, station and vehicle security, law-enforcement coordination, and the way responders viewed threats at home. The question 25 years later: have we maintained those lessons, or are preparedness priorities beginning to slip? Key Moments00:00 Introduction01:08 Are We Reliving September 10th?04:22 How Prepared Were Responders?08:53 Warning Signs Before 9/1112:31 Terrorism Isn’t Just a Big-City Problem14:48 How Hazmat Response Changed17:42 Security and Operational Awareness After 9/1120:25 The Day Everything ChangedTraining & ResourcesMain website: https://themeterguys.orgTraining: https://www.themeterguys.org/meter-trainingContact: https://www.themeterguys.org/contact-5Media NetworkCommand Media Network: https://commandmedianetwork.com/Merchhttps://thehazmatguys.com/store/#materialsFollowFacebook: www.facebook.com/themeterguys/Instagram: www.instagram.com/themeterguys/LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/the-meter-guysYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMeterGuys“Making a Difference One Responder at a Time”

Twenty-five years after September 11th, Scott Russell, Chris Hawley, and Dan Warchol look back at where first responders stood on September 10, 2001—and why some of the same warning signs may be appearing again. They examine terrorism preparedness before the attacks, the limits of existing training and resources, and the belief that terrorism was primarily a big-city problem. Drawing on their experiences in fire, EMS, hazmat, communications, and the military, they discuss how 9/11 immediately changed operational security, station and vehicle security, law-enforcement coordination, and the way responders viewed threats at home. The question 25 years later: have we maintained those lessons, or are preparedness priorities beginning to slip? Key Moments00:00 Introduction01:08 Are We Reliving September 10th?04:22 How Prepared Were Responders?08:53 Warning Signs Before 9/1112:31 Terrorism Isn’t Just a Big-City Problem14:48 How Hazmat Response Changed17:42 Security and Operational Awareness After 9/1120:25 The Day Everything ChangedTraining & ResourcesMain website: https://themeterguys.orgTraining: https://www.themeterguys.org/meter-trainingContact: https://www.themeterguys.org/contact-5Media NetworkCommand Media Network: https://commandmedianetwork.com/Merchhttps://thehazmatguys.com/store/#materialsFollowFacebook: www.facebook.com/themeterguys/Instagram: www.instagram.com/themeterguys/LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/the-meter-guysYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMeterGuys“Making a Difference One Responder at a Time”

The Meter Guys launch Scuttlebutt with Scott Russell, Chris Hawley, and Dan Warchol explaining why they started the show and what listeners can expect from future conversations. Their goal is to tackle hazmat, fire service, first responder, industrial safety, equipment, and training issues with a practical focus on making responders safer. The conversation quickly gets to the heart of that mission: responders are often handed sophisticated meters without enough training to truly understand what those instruments are telling them. Scott, Chris, and Dan discuss meter competency, gas emergencies, situational awareness, and the risk-based response philosophy that will shape the podcast going forward. Key Moments 00:00 Introducing Scuttlebutt 02:26 Scott and Chris Introduce Their Backgrounds 07:47 The Meter Training Problem 08:47 Understanding What Your Meter Is Telling You 18:24 When Responders Misread the Warning Signs 19:53 The Origins of Risk-Based Response 24:32 Safer Decisions and the Mission Going Forward Training & Resources Main website https://themeterguys.org Training https://www.themeterguys.org/meter-training Contact https://www.themeterguys.org/contact-5 Media Network Command Media Network https://commandmedianetwork.com/ Merch https://thehazmatguys.com/store/#materials Follow Facebook www.facebook.com/themeterguys/ Instagram www.instagram.com/themeterguys/ LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/the-meter-guys YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TheMeterGuys “Making a Difference One Responder at a Time”