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.
Episodes

Apr 27, 2023
Apr 27, 2023
6 min
Part 3 of our FRST Challenge - Phase 4 Mini Series:
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 create solutions that are affordable, scalable, flexible, and usable
What are the most important factors when implementing technology into public safety?
What are the end goal aspirations for the FRST Challenge?
Hosted at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, the FRST Challenge is a competition focused on producing marketable prototypes that demonstrate indoor localization tracking and tracking of first responders within 1-meter accuracy without any pre-deployed infrastructure. The challenge is administered by the Indiana University Crisis Technologies Innovation Lab and funded by the NIST Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) division.
So take a listen to our chat with Seth Burton, a firefighter for the Columbus Fire Department.
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!
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Apr 18, 2023
Apr 18, 2023
18 min
Part 2 of our FRST Challenge - Phase 4 Mini Series:
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 create solutions that are affordable, scalable, flexible, and usable
What are the most important factors when implementing technology into public safety?
What are the end goal aspirations for the FRST Challenge?
Hosted at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, the FRST Challenge is a competition focused on producing marketable prototypes that demonstrate indoor localization tracking and tracking of first responders within 1-meter accuracy without any pre-deployed infrastructure. The challenge is administered by the Indiana University Crisis Technologies Innovation Lab and funded by the NIST Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) division.
Hear from our 2nd competitor Alex Gorsuch, the co-founder and CTO of Ascent Integrated Tech.
Alex and his team build the unifying command dashboard for warfighters, firefighters, and SWAT officers by providing actionable insight on the health, environment, and location of the operator. He has 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.Alex also taught customer discovery as well as tech and venture development for 5+ years, and is currently writing a book about mission-driven tech entrepreneurship.
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

Apr 13, 2023
Apr 13, 2023
13 min
Part 1 of our FRST Challenge - Phase 4 Mini Series:
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 create solutions that are affordable, scalable, flexible, and usable
What are the most important factors when implementing technology into public safety?
What are the end goal aspirations for the FRST Challenge?
Hosted at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, the FRST Challenge is a competition focused on producing marketable prototypes that demonstrate indoor localization tracking and tracking of first responders within 1-meter accuracy without any pre-deployed infrastructure. The challenge is administered by the Indiana University Crisis Technologies Innovation Lab and funded by the NIST Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) division.
Chief Technology Officer Dale Rolfson is the first of many competitors you'll hear from!
He's been with the Indianapolis Fire Department for almost 35 years, starting off as a recruit firefighter, drove a Ladder Truck for 14 years, and then worked as a Deputy Fire Marshal for 10 years with duties including Fire Investigation, Code Enforcement, Public Education, Communications Chief, and many other technology duties. He has been the CTO for IFD since April of 2012.
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

Mar 23, 2023
Mar 23, 2023
52 min
How can we translate science into action?
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:
Is it possible to create a fire safe world?
Why is communication between prevention and response stakeholders so important?
How to keep asking "Why?" until you can't anymore
Fire Safety Engineer Wojciech (Woj) Węgrzyński tells us more!
An Associate Professor and a Deputy Head of Fire Research Department at the Building Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland, Woj earns his living by, "setting stuff on fire and trying to model that with a computer." He's passionate about fire safety and engineering plus loves experimenting and combining knowledge from different disciplines. His latest research areas are visibility in smoke, smart smoke control systems, and wind and fire coupled modeling. Waj is also an author of 25 peer-reviewed papers and 200+ technical expertise related to buildings - including large road tunnels, shopping malls, and some of Europe's highest skyscrapers.
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

Mar 17, 2023
Mar 17, 2023
30 min
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

Mar 11, 2023
Mar 11, 2023
15 min
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

Mar 2, 2023
Mar 2, 2023
37 min
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

Feb 23, 2023
Feb 23, 2023
40 min
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

Feb 16, 2023
Feb 16, 2023
35 min
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

Jan 20, 2023
Jan 20, 2023
16 min
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






