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:

  • Apple Podcasts
  • Podbean App
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
  • iHeartRadio
  • PlayerFM
  • Podchaser

Episodes

Friday Mar 17, 2023

Here's some tips for positively transforming your fire house's culture:
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!
In this episode:
What is change management of technology?
Why fire service leadership starts from the top down
How to implement real change in the fire service
Learn from the expert in dynamic and progressive executive leadership Daniel (Danny) Kistner!
The retired fire chief used his 40+ years' experience in public safety to create DTK Consulting - a coaching and executive education for adaptive leadership, innovation, mobile integrated healthcare (community para-medicine), and other topics related to organizational development with an emphasis on public safety subjects.
Join our SFF Community!
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

Saturday Mar 11, 2023

Why do masks never seem to fit right?!
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!
In this episode:
What is 3D Fit?
The challenges of masks fitting properly on public health & safety workers
How technology can improve the fit of masks
Find out from Mike Gugino, inventor of 3D FIT!
Mike has worked in the respiratory protection fit testing process for many years and has oversaw thousands of annual fit tests. Mike knows the frustrations around fit testing all too well and while he was working in this role, he decided that there had to be a better way. So he created the app 3D FIT (still in development!) as an alternative respiratory protection fit test that only utilizes a smart device. Thanks to his innovation, Mike will help save first resopnder and medical workers time while making them safer with better fitting masks!
Join our SFF Community!
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 02, 2023

Here's how to remain true to yourself as you move up the ranks of the fire service.
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!
In this episode:
How to have a healthy balance of disagreement amongst peers
Various tactics to become a better leader
Why does change management of technology matter?
Learn from Dr. Jeffrey L. Buchanan - a retired Fire Chief with more than 21 years of public safety and government experience.
Jeff is a consultant and principal at The.Buchanan.Group LLC. As the Fire Chief for Las Vegas Fire and Rescue (LVF&R), Jeff had oversight of day-to-day operations for more than 800 employees and a total budget that is in excess of 200 million dollars. Amongst many other things, he is also an adjunct instructor in the Master of Urban Leadership program at UNLV and an instructor at the College of Southern Nevada, where he has taught for 11 years. Jeff is committed to education and holds a Master of Business Administration, Master of Public Administration, and a Doctorate in Public Policy (DPP). Lastly, he is a member of the fire emergency service higher education (FESHE) committee and various other advisory boards and groups that impact the fire service.
Join our SFF Community!
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 Feb 23, 2023

Want to know about emerging cases of AI? You're in the right place...
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!
In this episode:
What’s the difference between narrow vs broad AI?
What is hybrid intelligence?
What does true innovation mean?
Find out from Bart van Leeuwen - owner of Netage B.V., Station Instructor at Brandweer Amsterdam-Amstelland & Certified Situational Awareness Master Instructor for SA Matters.
Bart combines more than 20 years of experience as an operational fire fighter, and over 20 years of leading Netage. Netage is a software tool used to deliver Smart Data for Smarter Firefighters, and operates on a global scale for fire services and related organizations. Currently, it is heavily involved with the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) on various smart data topics.
Bart's unique background gives him the opportunity to identify relevant research and its application in real world scenarios, so you definitely want to take a listen!
Join our SFF Community!
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 Feb 16, 2023

What is arguably the most important skill for firefighting? Problem solving.
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!
In this episode:
How can classrooms integrate technology?
How can we adapt along with the evolving fire service?
How can education systems teach better problem solving?
Hear from Western Wake Fire & Rescue's Caption and the Fire Academy Instructor at Chapel Hill - Carrboro City Schools: Travis Adkinson.
At the age of 18, Travis found himself applying to volunteer as a firefighter alongside a friend; and almost 20 years later, Travis finds himself teaching students the intricacies of fire prevention and fire safety. This interesting conversation covers aspects of education trends in the classroom, how to use immersive learning as a tool for public safety, and how to adapt to the ever-changing first responder landscape.
Join our SFF Community!
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 20, 2023

Bringing everyday solutions to the South Asian Fire Service...
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!
In this episode:
How to ask customers the right questions
How to ensure solutions consider local & cultural contexts
The history & evolution of Brijbasi
Get in the know with Udit Agrawal - the Director at Brijbasi who is passionate about understanding the challenges firefighters face on a daily basis.
Brijbasi supports the Indian Fire Service in terms of Training, Fire Apparatus, Equipment or any other solution. With over 50 years of working together, the firefighting fraternity has made Brijbasi who they are today. Brijbasi’s wide range of products and solutions include Aerial Ladder Platforms, Turbo Hydro Jet Fire Fighting, Mobile Water Transport (Hydraulic Submersible Pumps), Airport Crash Fire Trucks, Industrial & Municipal Fire Trucks, Defense Application Trucks, Drones, Robotic Fire Fighting, Virtual Reality Fire Fighter & Apparatus Operation Training, Rescue Tools & Equipment.
Join our SFF Community!
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 05, 2023

Want to know how to get involved with advancing public safety?
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!
This is the eighth episode of our TSI Mini Series. Hosted in Texas during October 2022, Technology Summit International - IAFC's newest conference - brought the tech of the future to today’s fire and emergency service professionals — helping them reduce risks to their communities, improve their ability to respond to emergencies, and save lives.
In this episode:
What is TEEX Tested?
How TEEX guides start ups & public safety through technology adoption
How to get involved & vet your technology at Disaster City
Find out from Ray Ivie: Test & Eval Director at Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service - TEEX. Working across A&M system facilities - including Brayton Fire Training Center, Disaster City, Bush Combat Development Center, Internet Tech Eval Center, A&M Engineering, Bush School of Public Service and Health Science Colleges - to support research and conduct assessments, Ray plans, coordinates, & executes operational assessments of products & solutions for the emergency responder / public safety communities. He additionally teaches undergrads at the Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership and grad students at the Bush School of Public Service.
To name just a bit of his quite extensive background, Ray was the former Senior VP / GM of Network Solutions Group at CACI International; led groups of business divisions providing expertise & technologies for enterprise IT solutions for IC, DOD & other USGOV agencies; plus served as President of the Integration & Operations Solutions Group a LGS Innovations (former Bell Labs-Federal), and Director of Geospatial Solutions for General Dynamics Mission Systems, Advanced Information Systems - leading strategic opportunities with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), other IC agencies & DoD.
Join our SFF Community!
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 Dec 30, 2022

Since we cannot deinstall and reinstall the fire department...
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!
This is the seventh episode of our TSI Mini Series. Hosted in Texas during October 2022, Technology Summit International - IAFC's newest conference - brought the tech of the future to today’s fire and emergency service professionals — helping them reduce risks to their communities, improve their ability to respond to emergencies, and save lives.
In this episode:
Why are global meetups important?
How can the fire service explore evergreen solutions?
How is adopting technology a big challenge AND solution?
SFF met up with Stefan Truthän - the progressive driving force and visionary behind hhpberlin who has been responsible for the operational and strategic development of the company since 2008. As Chief Organizational Architect, Stefan has been an integral part of the engineering firm since 2002. With his unconventional solutions and great passion, he helped hhpberlin grow rapidly and wants to set decisive impulses for the future of public safety.
Over the past 30 years, Stefan has also been a volunteer firefighter in various roles plus joined the advisory board of INTERSCHUTZ in Hanover as well as the conference advisory board of INTERSCHUTZ USA.
Join our SFF Community!
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 Dec 22, 2022

How can we ensure that technology is relevant for public safety operations?
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!
This is the sixth episode of our TSI Mini Series. Hosted in Texas during October 2022, Technology Summit International - IAFC's newest conference - brought the tech of the future to today’s fire and emergency service professionals — helping them reduce risks to their communities, improve their ability to respond to emergencies, and save lives.
In this episode:
What is the 3 horizon framework?
How can we improve that framework?
How can we embrace ambiguity?
Hear from Microsoft's Director of Technology Strategy and Public Safety & Justice Sai Narain.
Sai has led high performing project teams developing technology strategies to solve strategic planning problems for Fire Chiefs, EMS Managers & 911 Centers across North America. Given his successful track record in technology leadership, sales & marketing, program/account management, and strategic planning in the Public Safety industry, Sai clearly possesses a strong background in technology innovation, a talent for connecting people and ideas, and experience in leading organizations reach new levels of success through technology management and solutions-based architecture.
Join our SFF Community!
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 Dec 16, 2022

If we don't ask the hard questions, then we won't solve the hardest problems...
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!
This is the fifth episode of our TSI Mini Series. Hosted in Texas during October 2022, Technology Summit International - IAFC's newest conference - brought the tech of the future to today’s fire and emergency service professionals — helping them reduce risks to their communities, improve their ability to respond to emergencies, and save lives.
In this episode:
A peak into new technology that provides the ability to see through smoke
Should first responder rethink how to use their hands & eyes during fires?
Why is it important to consult first responders throughout the engineering process?
Get the scoop from Andrew Leaman, Canadian entrepreneur & VP of Fire & Defense Solutions at Longan Vision. Based at McMaster Innovation Park in Hamilton, Ontario, Longan Vision is a provider of design and sales of enhanced vision and communication devices. They provide advanced products to face extreme challenges, and are building an ecosystem of linked products to enhance communication and efficiency.
Leaman's focused on making first responders' lives safer with technology and team building. At Longan Vision, one of their key values is working with their community partners to continue to adapt, evolve, and work together to make lives better.
Join our SFF Community!
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

Smart Firefighting

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Version: 20241125