Smart Firefighting
Smart Firefighting Podcast covers real-world deployments of smart technologies through conversations with technologists, innovators, companies, and forward-thinking public safety and government agencies. Learn from interviews with leaders as they share their insights and offer their expertise every week! Host Kevin Sofen is a co-founding member of the Smart First Responder Community who loves to explore change management and technology in public safety.
Listen on:
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
What starts as a routine task on the fireground can quickly turn into a life threatening moment. For Matt Simmonds, that moment came while rolling hose after a fire, when a passing vehicle nearly struck his crew.
That close call sparked a question that many firefighters have quietly accepted for years. Is this really the safest way to do this job, or is there a better way?
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy.
Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA, and Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience Conference in Perth, Australia.
In this episode, Matt Simmonds, co-founder of Operational Fire and a full time firefighter, shares the story behind building a tool designed to improve safety, reduce physical strain, and protect long term health. What began as a makeshift setup using a child’s bike evolved into a purpose built solution shaped by real operational experience.
In this conversation, Matt breaks down the risks firefighters face during post incident cleanup, including back injuries and hidden exposure to harmful contaminants. He also explains how thoughtful design can reduce those risks while improving efficiency on scene.
It is a grounded look at how small changes on the fireground can have lasting impact on safety, longevity, and the ability to keep serving the community.
So take a listen to hear what he has to share.
Head to www.smartfirefighting.com to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
Friday Mar 20, 2026
Friday Mar 20, 2026
What happens when a community faces the reality that staying in place is no longer safe?
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy.
Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA, and Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience Conference in Perth, Australia.
In this episode, Gavin Smith shares what it takes to guide communities through one of the most difficult decisions they will ever face, leaving their homes behind. Drawing from decades of experience in emergency management and disaster recovery, he walks through the emotional weight, technical complexity, and long timelines required to relocate entire communities with care and dignity.
Gavin reflects on leading efforts to relocate more than 5,000 families after major hurricanes, and explains why planning before disaster strikes is critical. He shares lessons from Princeville, North Carolina, a historic community that has faced repeated flooding, and highlights how trust, engagement, and local choice shape successful outcomes.
The conversation also explores international collaboration with Australia and New Zealand, where different approaches to funding and planning offer valuable insights. At the center of it all is a simple truth, this work is about people, place, and the long road toward resilience.
So take a listen to hear what he has to share.
Head to www.smartfirefighting.com to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
Thursday Mar 12, 2026
Thursday Mar 12, 2026
What happens when the people who design buildings and the firefighters who respond to emergencies inside them stop talking to each other?
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy.
Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA, and Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience Conference in Perth, Australia.
In this episode, Fiona Perrin - Principal Risk Engineer for Zurich Insurance - shares her perspective on the critical relationship between fire engineers and the fire service.
Drawing on experience in both the United Kingdom and Australia, she explains how the Institution of Fire Engineers brings together professionals across the fire ecosystem to strengthen collaboration and professional learning.
The conversation explores how building design decisions affect emergency response, from complex facilities like airports to emerging risks such as EV charging infrastructure. Fiona also speaks candidly about the importance of mentorship, visibility, and workplace support for women in fire engineering.
Her message is simple but powerful. Do not doubt yourself. Step up to the next challenge and keep moving forward.
So take a listen to hear what she has to share.
Head to www.smartfirefighting.com to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
Thursday Mar 05, 2026
Thursday Mar 05, 2026
Aviation is one of the safest forms of transportation in the world, but that safety depends on careful preparation for events everyone hopes will never happen.
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy.
Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA, and Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience Conference in Perth, Australia.
In this episode, Greg Pobar of Regional Airport Management Services shares lessons from a career in emergency services and aviation planning.
He explains the concept of the crash community, the wide network of agencies that must coordinate during an aviation emergency, including airports, airlines, police, fire, medical teams, and government partners.
Greg also describes a real incident in remote Western Australia that revealed how quickly passenger care, injuries, and limited resources can create complex challenges.
The conversation also explores emerging concerns for responders, including new aircraft materials, evolving firefighting approaches, and the growing partnership between engineers and firefighters working to improve safety before emergencies occur.
So take a listen to hear what he has to share.
Head to www.smartfirefighting.com to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
Friday Feb 27, 2026
Friday Feb 27, 2026
What if every fire agency could detect a wildfire within minutes of ignition and track it in near real time?
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy.
Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA, and Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience Conference in Perth, Australia.
In this episode, Karen O’Connor of Earth Fire Alliance shares how a nonprofit partnership is building satellites designed by firefighters for firefighters.
Shaped by direct input from agencies in Australia, the United States, and Portugal, the system is built to detect small hotspots, cover wide landscapes, and see through smoke. The goal is simple: give agencies reliable, purpose built data to support faster, more confident decisions.
As wildfire grows more intense and expands into new regions, Karen reflects on how our relationship with fire must evolve. She discusses the value of global collaboration, standardized information, and learning across borders.
The conversation also highlights how modern satellite technology can complement Indigenous land management practices. At its core, this effort is about reducing disasters and strengthening the protection of communities and ecosystems.
So take a listen to hear what she has to share.
Head to www.smartfirefighting.com to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
Why do cooking fires keep happening even when people know better?
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy.
Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA, and Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience Conference in Perth, Australia.
Cooking fires remain one of the most common reasons firefighters respond to homes. In this episode, Kevin Callahan and Will Boake from Pioneering Technology Corp share what they have learned through years of working directly with fire services across North America and internationally.
They discuss why unattended cooking continues to create risk in residential environments, particularly in social housing, and how engineering based solutions can stop fires before they start. Drawing on real world experience, they explain how collaboration with fire services helped shift safety standards, reduce repeat incidents, and protect both residents and first responders.
The conversation also expands into wildfire challenges, community risk reduction, and the importance of mission based work that focuses on prevention instead of reaction. This is a grounded discussion about building safer communities by designing systems that support human behavior rather than relying on luck.
So take a listen to hear what they have to share.
Head to www.smartfirefighting.com to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
How many decisions do you make in seconds on the fireground, and what happens if technology slows you down?
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy.
Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA, and Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience Conference in Perth, Australia.
In this episode, Peter Dekkers from Teledyne FLIR talks about one idea that continues to define public safety operations: time. From interior fire attack to wide area search and wildland operations, Peter explains how thermal imaging helps first responders make faster and better decisions when every second carries weight.
He shares what’s new inside FLIR’s latest K Series fire cameras, including a major shift in responsiveness that removes image delay when moving across temperature ranges, allowing crews to stay focused without missing critical details. The discussion also explores the Scout Pro and its role across fire and law enforcement, from missing person searches and maritime response to supporting wildfire suppression from the ground.
The episode closes with a clear message about trust, not as a slogan, but as a responsibility. When first responders carry technology into dangerous environments, their lives depend on it working exactly as promised, every time.
So take a listen to hear what he has to share.
Head to www.smartfirefighting.com to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
Friday Jan 09, 2026
Friday Jan 09, 2026
What does a farming background teach you about firefighting, risk, and resilience?
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy.
Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA, and Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience Conference in Perth, Australia.
In this episode, we sit down with Sophia Curnow, a Western Australia firefighter with more than 22 years of operational experience. Sophia shares how her background in farming and land management shaped her approach to firefighting, risk reduction, and water use, along with lessons learned from incidents like Cyclone Seroja and asbestos contamination events.
The conversation explores practical technology that reduces firefighter exposure, the value of science and engineering for operational crews, and why living with fire, rather than fighting every ember, matters. Sophia also reflects on the importance of listening to those with deeper knowledge, including Indigenous communities whose understanding of fire spans generations.
So take a listen to hear what she has to share.
Head to www.smartfirefighting.com to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
Monday Dec 22, 2025
Monday Dec 22, 2025
What happens when a building is not as safe as everyone assumed it was?
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy.
Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA, and Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience Conference in Perth, Australia.
Former London Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner Richard Mills joins the show to share what changed after Grenfell and what still needs to change now.
Richard walks through the hard reality of high rise fires, including the human impact on residents, firefighters, control operators, and command staff. He explains how operational learning turned into real policy shifts, including improved procedures, better training, stronger connections between the fire ground and control, and the push for respiratory protection tools like breathing apparatus telemetry and public fire escape hoods.
This conversation is a clear reminder that fire safety cannot be treated as an afterthought. From design to maintenance to operations, every role matters, and the cost of getting it wrong lands on the public and the crews who respond. Richard also shares what gives him hope, and why his personal rule for life and leadership is simple: keep moving.
So take a listen to hear what he has to share.
Head to www.smartfirefighting.com to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
Monday Dec 22, 2025
Monday Dec 22, 2025
What happens when fire leaders from around the world sit down with one shared purpose: to protect communities before disaster strikes?
Hello Smart Firefighting Community!
Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy.
Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA, and Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience Conference in Perth, Australia.
In this episode, Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell reflects on the momentum sparked by the first World Fire Congress and what it revealed about the future of global fire leadership. With 56 nations represented, the Congress was not a conference but a working conversation built on trust, accountability, and shared responsibility. The discussion highlights why collaboration across borders is essential as fire risks accelerate worldwide.
Drawing from recent events in Lahaina and Los Angeles, Dr. Moore-Merrell explains why response alone can no longer protect communities from wildfire initiated conflagrations. She shares why mitigation around homes, community focused planning, and emerging technologies are critical to resilience. At its core, this episode is a reminder that service, humility, and shared learning are the foundation of a stronger global fire service.
So take a listen to hear what she has to share.
Head to www.smartfirefighting.com to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is, or review our curated resources.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn