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.
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Episodes
Thursday Feb 16, 2023
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
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
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
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
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
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
Tuesday Nov 22, 2022
Tuesday Nov 22, 2022
Tech won't solve all of your problems, but will help you find solutions if you know how to use it...
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 fourth 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 Technology Summit International (TSI)?
What is the difference between being data-driven and data informed?
Why is funding still the biggest challenge?
Learn from Scott Roseberry, an experienced Battalion Chief with a demonstrated history of working in the public safety industry. Skilled in not only Fire Service, Emergency Management, Disaster Response, Leadership, and Project Management, Scott is strong military and protective services professional with a Master of Public Administration - MPA focused in Public Administration from University of Texas - Permian Basin.
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 Nov 17, 2022
Thursday Nov 17, 2022
By the way: CRR = community risk reduction!
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 third 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:
How the definition of "emergency" is changing
How to use technology to run high call volume
Why limiting resource strain should be the goal
Get some insight from San Antonio Fire Department's Chief Bryan Norris. Chief Norris has served SAFD for the past 20 years, moving up the ranks from firefighter to Division and then Assistant Chief before he became Deputy Chief in 2022. Given his background, he's had a wide range of responsibilities, such as but not limited to planning and analytics, administrative functions for the Emergency Services Division, plus safety, communications, and technical services for the Community Risk Reduction Division and Office of Emergency Management.
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
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
How can you maximize brain power - and what does that really mean?
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 second 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:
How to use data to make informed decisions
Why customer feedback should be the design philosophy
How to reduce first responders' cognitive load
Hear from Alex Gorsuch, the co-founder and CTO of Ascent Integrated Tech which builds the unifying command dashboard for warfighters, firefighters, and SWAT officers by providing actionable insight on the health, environment, and location of the operator.
Alex led the development and deployment of many low SWaP-C ruggedized autonomous systems, diagnostics, human performance technology, and sensor arrays for defense and first responder operators. He also taught customer discovery plus tech and venture development for 5+ years, for the Army Research Lab, Department of Homeland Security, National Science Foundation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and more. Currently, Alex is writing "Hyenas Eat Unicorns: A Carnivore's Workbook for Mission-Driven Tech Entrepreneurship".
Follow Ascent Integrated Tech: LinkedIn | Twitter
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 Nov 03, 2022
Thursday Nov 03, 2022
Sometimes you don't need to go bigger, but just need to start small...
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 first 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:
- How to find a clear solution to a defined problem
- Why understanding the science behind fire enables fast decision-making
- How to plan without a budget
Current Secretary of the IAFC Tech Council and Battalion Chief Cory Claborn joined the fire service in 2020 as a volunteer firefighter while attending Stephen F. Austin State University. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration. After college, he went to a fire academy and paramedic school before getting hired by Wylie Fire Rescue in 2004.
At Wylie Fire Rescue, Cory is in all aspects of emergency response, including special operations. He has also had a heavy focus on technology throughout his career, like managing most aspects of technology - such as the GIS, mapping, and addressing components - for the fire department throughout the past decade. Additionally, in 2019 Cory was a team member that helped present the Emergency Services Technology Symposium.
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