Smart Firefighting

Episode 78: Community Risk Reduction with Brent Faulkner

Kevin sits down with Brent Faulkner a battalion chief in southern California and CEO of Virtual CRR Inc. They discuss the 5 E’s of community risk reduction education, enforcement, engineering, economic incentives, emergency response. Brent explains why CRR is so important and gives detailed examples of communities practicing proper use of CRR. Kevin learns how individuals can play a role in improving community safety and what 2020 and 2021 could look like.
Virtual Community Risk Reduction is an organized, cost-effective, and a metrically based way for any size organization to have a high-quality Community Risk Reduction program. It is tailored to the organization, providing your high-quality information to your communities, while gathering the valuable information you need.

Episode 77: INTERSCHUTZ 2021 ”Digitalization & Transformation”

Kevin sits down with Stefan Truthan to talk about the postponed Intershutz show. They discuss the lessons learned around first responders, why Intershutz was postponed until 2021 instead of cancelling. How first responders are facing similar challenges around the world and need to explore ways to share best practices and learn from one another. They wonder what the future smart city looks like. How innovation can appear with big impacts and small.
INTERSCHUTZ is the world’s leading trade fair for the fire and rescue services, civil protection, safety and security. It is a magnet for companies from all around the world seeking to develop new markets for their solutions. It’s also the go-to show for pros wanting to learn about the latest innovations and share expertise with their international peers. INTERSCHUTZ is in a class of its own internationally when it comes to the quality and number of visitors and exhibitors it attracts.
Additional show notes:
https://www.interschutz.de/en/news/news-articles/we-need-change-in-more-ways-than-just-digital-2817https://www.emergency-live.com/civil-protection/interschutz-2020-the-future-is-connectivity/
https://www.handelsblatt.com/today/companies/industry-4-0-four-mittelstand-firms-that-get-the-digital-economy/23572886.html?ticket=ST-295093-v6MOLPe3jfmyjd06orQY-ap2
https://www.mainpost.de/regional/kitzingen/Werkfeuerwehren-blicken-in-digitale-Zukunft;art773,10218167

Episode 76: Using Policies to Manage Risk with Scott A. Eskwitt

Kevin sits down with Scott Eskwitt of Director of Lexipol. They talk about risks in the fire service and which ones can be better managed. Do we need to change the culture and behavior of the fire service? Should policy chase behavior or should behavior chase policy? They dive into the difference between behavioral and policy problems and talk about what departments should do and have done to fix these issues.
Scott is a former chief of the Fair Haven New Jersey fire department. Scott works for Lexipol, which is a company that serves public safety and local government by creating solutions for policy or training shortfalls. They use technology and years of experience to tackle their current challenges.

Episode 75: The Fire Service Culture and Training with Brian Brauer

Kevin sits down with Brian R. Brauer, Associate Director, at the Illinois Fire Service Institute. They discuss the role of the Fire Service Institute in the fire industry, they also dive into the fire service culture and how it has evolved over time. The fire service has been subject to many changes over the past few decades and that has changed the way firefighters are trained and what they are trained. To meet the challenges of todays fire training the Illinois Fire Service Institute has embraced technology and assimilated it in their training. Finally, they talk about the mental heath and cancer issues facing members of the fire service today.
As the statutory fire academy for Illinois, the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) serves firefighters throughout Illinois and the world. World-class instructors deliver more than 14,000 class hours to students online, on campus and at regional training centers throughout the state.

Episode 74: Wellness in Fire Departments with Gamaliel Baer

Kevin sits down with Gamaliel Baer the Department Health and Wellness Coordinator for the Howard County Department of Fire & Rescue Services. They discuss health and wellness education in fire departments and what they are doing to help firefighters understand health risks. Gamaliel talks about the challenges he’s faced when trying to promote health education. Until recently firefighters didn’t make learning about cancer and cardiovascular disease in the fire industry.
The Howard County Department of Fire & Rescue is a combination system of nearly nine-hundred career and volunteer providers operating from thirteen stations across the County. The department is statutorily responsible for the administration of the affairs for the county in fire suppression and prevention, fire training, arson investigation, rescue services and emergency medical services.
The bottom line is that health and wellness in the fire service needs to be a priority going forward. Data collection now will be paramount in saving the lives of fire service members in the future.
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
First Responder Center for Excellence

Episode 73: Exploring the Benefits and Limitations of Technology in the Fire Industry with Stephen Kerber

Kevin sits down with Stephen Kerber, Vice President of UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute. Together they discuss the role of UL in the fire industry, different research campaigns UL is involved in, benefits and limitations of technology, evolving fire standards, the challenges of training around the new NFPA 1403 training standards, the false sense of security technology sometimes creates, and more.
UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute (FSRI) advances fire research knowledge and develops cutting edge, practical fire service education aimed at helping firefighters stay safe while more effectively protecting people and property. Working in partnership with the fire service, research departments, and agencies, UL FSRI executes firefighter research and makes the results widely available to the global fire community. With a team of pioneering experts and access to UL’s leading infrastructure, equipment, and vast knowledge and insights, UL FSRI conducts and disseminates research and training programs focused on the changing dynamics of residential, commercial, and industrial fires and the impact they have on strategies and tactics throughout the fire service.
UL Xplorlabs is an educational platform designed to encourage students to “solve through science.” It is especially focused on engaging middle-school students during a time in their educational lives when interest in science is shown to decrease dramatically.

Episode 72: Virtual Reality and 360 Photography with Paul Speight

Kevin sits down with Paul Speight, Paul is the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Watch Manager. Paul works with emerging technologies such as virtual reality and 360 photography. In this episode they discuss Immersive learning training using 360 videos, the environmental, cost, and health benefits of virtual training. They also dive into interactive photorealistic training for arson investigation, and the case study of Leicestershire’s fire service using VIVE.
#VR #VirtualReality #VIVE #360Video #virtualtraining

Episode 71: The Evolution of Technology and Firefighters with Chief Dan Munsey

Kevin sits down with Chief Dan Munsey to talk about technology and where it is leading us. Are we leading technology or following it? How is the next generation of firefighters using this technology? What can a departments leadership do to encourage sustainable technology adoption? All this and more on this episode of the Smart Firefighting Podcast.

News, Technology, and More January 2020

Kevin and Mike shake up their podcast format to bring you their personal experiences at CES, which includes deepfakes, 360 videos, drones, and more. They talk about recent news in the fire industry, including a partnership between Haas Alert and Pierce. They dive into what they are looking forward to this year and more on this episode of the Smart Firefighting Podcast.
To contact Kevin Sofen email KevinSofen@Darley.com
and Mike Mocerino at MikeMocerino@Darley.com

Episode 69: Drone Sense the Next Step in Your Drone Program

Kevin sits down with Joshua Pruitt of Drone Sense to talk about soft ware options for a departments drone program. They discuss Drone Sense and the features they provide to make maintaining a drone program easier.
DroneSense is a comprehensive solution that empowers public safety organizations to build, manage, and scale its drone program. DroneSense have partnered with first responders from day one to design a mission-critical software platform that enables you to leverage the full capabilities of drones in first responder operations. Whether departments have already obtained a few drones, or are contemplating how to start a program, DroneSense can help departments become fully operational.
If you want to learn more about Drone Sense visit their website here.