Smart Firefighting

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!
How can alerting firefighters differently help them get in the zone?
In this episode:
- How do audible alerting systems affect a firefighter’s health?
- How can tactile alerts improve efficiency for firefighters?
- Why is alerting redundancy so important?
And who better to share new tactical notification systems that better dispatch and alert firefighters than the father-son duo behind-the-scenes?
Blake Richardson grew up around the firehouse. His dad, Brad Richardson, is a captain and paramedic for a fire department in northern Florida. Brad became the inspiration behind EaseAlert when Blake noticed the toll that firefighting was taking on his dad each day that he returned from duty. Blake wanted to come up with a way to make his dad’s job less stressful. EaseAlert is that solution. Blake and co-founder/COO, Elezar Tonev began working on EaseAlert in 2019. With its suite of tactile alerting devices, EaseAlert is redefining alerting systems and setting the bar for heart smart alerting in the fire service. Today, they have a fully functional system and their brand new Firefighter Alerting System is beginning to catch the attention of fire departments around the United States.
Connect with Blake: LinkedIn
Follow EaseAlert: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Episode Resources:
- More podcast interviews: Fireground Fitness | Fire Engineering
- WCJB Article
- News4Jax Article
- St. Augustine Article
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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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!
Firefighters do their part in ensuring our safety, so it's time we do our part and ensure theirs...
In this episode:
- How have fire service training tactics evolved with modern day technology?
- What training challenges exist with current restrictions?
- Why is it critical to leverage technology to enable “sets & reps”?
Let's hear more about immersive training environments to prepare those who serve from the man who sells the training himself Evan Wing. Given Evan has been Middleton Fire District's Fire Lieutenant for almost a decade, he not only understands but feels the consequences of the lack of training technologies for firefighters. As the VP of Sales North America at Flaim Systems, Evan has a strong desire to utilize new technologies in order to better prepare the fire service to ensure safety in the field.
Connect with Evan: LinkedIn
Episode Resources:
- Flaim Trainer Offers Firefighter Safer, Affordable, and More Realistic Training
- Virtual Reality Training: It's Not a Video Game
- Fighting Wildfires with Virtual Reality
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

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!
CALLING ALL INNOVATORS!! Have you heard of the FRST challenge yet?
In this episode:
- What is the FRST challenge?
- How to leverage the community to crowdsource the best innovation
- Why you shouldn't be afraid to fail
SFF got to hear from innovator, entrepreneur and designer Sonny E. Kirkley who is the Director of User Experience for Crisis Technologies Innovations Lab (CTIL). With extensive experience managing complex projects and programs, he enjoys taking an idea from a concept to development and working with stakeholders on effective implementation. Much of his career has been focused on learning technologies and implementing programs in diverse settings (e.g., Fortune 100 to K- schools), while Kirkley particularly enjoys working with emerging technologies such as augmented reality, mixed reality, AI and IoT.
CTIL is hosting the first-ever First Responder Smart Tracking (FRST) Challenge, a national series of competitions for companies, entrepreneurs and students to find the best solution for indoor 3D tracking for first responders. The competition is focused on smart, accurate, in-building location tracking for first responders since tracking has been a big issues for first responders for a long time with no such technologies currently available.
Connect with Sonny: LinkedIn | Twitter
Follow FRST Challenge: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
Episode Resources:
- CTIL Competition Details
- Competition contact email: info@frstchallenge.com
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

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!
Imagine how many more lives could be saved if public safety training technologies mimicked real life crisis scenarios to more accurately prepare emergency responders. Well, Tammy McLean had the same thought...
In this episode:
- How is TechX unique?
- Who should participate?
- What will participants learn?
- How can we register?
Founder and CEO of Global Convergent Technologies LLC, Tammy is the visionary behind TechX experiences. TechX events, beginning with #TechX2021, are immersive, hands-on experiences that train public safety professionals to use state-of-the-art technologies to solve complex crisis challenges. With extensive experience in global corporate event-planning and marketing, Tammy manages TechX experiences worldwide and leads private and public organizations in innovative strategic development initiatives that employ technology-driven solutions to maximize engagement, revenue and participation.
Follow Global Convergent Technologies: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn
Connect with Tammy: LinkedIn
Episode Resources:
- #TechX2021 Event Registration
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

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!
People tend to think that only the bad can teach a lesson, but wouldn't talking about the good also help keep the community safe?
In this episode:
- What is community risk reduction?
- How can it be applied to improve safety?
- How to do a risk assessment that helps you first understand your community, then take the best action
Sharing his best practices with us is the approachable, positive, and proven industry leader Joe Powers. Accomplished in developing strategic partnerships for sustainable community outcomes and success in designing and leading organizational change, he is internationally known as a visionary in organizational change, community risk reduction, and creative data solutions for decision-making and service delivery.
With 27 years of innovative experience in the fire service, Joe is the current City Fire Marshal, Appointed Fire Official and Deputy Fire Chief of Community Risk Reduction for the City of Charlottesville, Virginia. Additionally, he is an instructor, peer reviewer and peer assessor for the Center Public Safety Excellence, a Steering Committee and Technical Advisor for Vision 20/20 and a Board Member of IAFC's Fire and Life Safety Section.
Connect with Joe: LinkedIn
Episode Resources:
- Daily Progress Article
- Emergency Reporting by ESO YouTube Channel: Episode 3 - Creating a World Class Community Risk Reduction Program
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

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!
Just how does National Fallen Firefighter Foundation (NFFF) help firefighters, their families and fire departments?
In this episode:
- What is the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation’s core mission?
- How to support and honor first responders
- What are trends for the best fireground operations tools?
- How to engage with and innovate for fire service members?
Let's learn from the man who took over as Executive Director of NFFF in 2001 Chief Ron Siarnicki! Chief Siarnicki's wealth of knowledge stems from being raised in a fire service family along with his over twenty years of experience in the service. As Executive Director, he manages the day to day operations of the Foundation and included managing the National Memorial Services, construction of the National Memorial Park and the renovation of the Fallen Firefighters Memorial Chapel as part of his role. He additionally created the catalyst for the development of the Everyone Goes Home® Program designed to reduce the number of firefighter line-of-duty deaths that occur each year in the United States.
Chief Siarnicki delivers presentations at fire and emergency conferences and meetings across the country, increasing awareness of the Foundation, the efforts of its prevention work and support for the families of the fallen. In recognition of his outstanding leadership with the Foundation’s and the fire service as a whole, he has been recognized by various groups and organizations, including but not limited to: The Fire Engineering Lifetime Achievement Award; Alan Brunacini Fire Services Executive Safety Award from the International Association of Fire Chiefs; and Metropolitan Fire Chiefs’ Presidents Award of Distinction.
Episode Resources:
- NFFF's Connect Program
- NFFF's Vulnerability Program
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

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 final episode of our IAFC Technology Council Outreach Mini Series!
Attention all entrepreneurs looking to support first responders...
In this episode:
- What 21st-century communication challenges exist for buildings?
- What's the unique issue when first responders come together from a large response area?
- How to utilize Project 25 to explore open architecture solutions
SFF got to hear from Hickory Fire Department's Accreditation Manager-Captain Marcus Scott, Chief Matt Hutchinson and Battalion Chief Jason Lowrance to find out how fire ground operations can be conducted so all the operations work in conjunction with one another. Marcus Scott has been Hickory's Accreditation Manager for over 5 years and has previous specialization in Fire Systems Data while Jason Lowrance has been with Hickory's department for over 18 years, currently serving as the Chief of Support Services. Their leader Matt Hutchinson has a rich history in the fire industry ever since he joined the department in 2003. In addition to his many other certifications and degrees, Matt Hutchinson completed the prestigious 4 year Executive Fire Officer Program through the National Fire Academy (NFA) and is also a graduate of the Fire and Rescue Management Institute through UNC-Charlotte which provides instruction in leadership, team building, management skills, strategic planning, communication skills and personnel management. The program is designed to prepare participants to become more effective in the increasingly challenging and complex world of fire and rescue management.
Connect with Marcus: LinkedIn
Connect with Matt: LinkedIn
Connect with Jason: LinkedIn
Episode Resources:
- Project 25
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

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 IAFC Technology Council Outreach Mini Series!
Now what does behavioral economics have to do with the fire service?
In this episode:
- What is behavioral economics and how can we rethink the approach?
- Explore the significance of framing, relativity, loss aversion and conformity
- Who can effectively integrate behavioral economics into fire departments?
SFF heard from fire chiefs who have brought behavioral economics into their departments to find out just how it applies to the fire industry. Fire Chief Dan Munsey has been with the San Bernardino County Fire Department for over 26 years, is a chairperson of the CalChiefs Operations Section - a subsection of the California Fire Chiefs Association providing specialized support to the parent body and subject matter expertise to its members in the area of fire operations - and is also a chairperson for IAFC Technology Council. Battalion Chief Scott Roseberry has served the Garland Fire Department in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for the past 22 years and is also an Advisory Council Member for FEMA and a Board Member of the Emergency Services Tech Symposium.
Connect with Dan: LinkedIn
Connect with Scott: LinkedIn
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

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 7th episode of our IAFC Technology Council Outreach Mini Series!
Ever wanted to tell your story exactly how it is, but couldn't figure out how?
In this episode:
- Why you shouldn't fake your story
- How to engage with first responders where they are
- Tips and tricks to succeed in public safety
SFF heard from marketing guru Dillon Corbet to learn about his authentic marketing practices for the emergency responder community. Director of both Business Operations and Social Media Services for Rogue Monkey Media, Dillon enjoys finding creative solutions for his clients needs that simultaneously boosts their ROI. Rogue Monkey Media prides themselves in - as the name suggests - influencing out-of-the-box marketing methods that stray away from "what has always been done" to encourage new corporate / organizational behaviors. They offer various services from content creation to virtual production, advertising consulting and even video production utilizing drones.
Connect with Dillon: LinkedIn
Episode Resources:
- The Tale of the Rogue Monkey: the story behind Rogue Monkey Media
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

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 IAFC Technology Council Outreach Mini Series!
Want to learn how to fly with a click of a button?
In this episode:
- How can first responders maintain constant situational awareness while on scene?
- How to avoid the need for a part 107 license
"Built for first responders," Fotokite provides public safety teams with mission-critical situational awareness from elevated perspectives. Their actively tethered UAS (unmanned aerial system) saves team resources by launching, flying and landing with the single push of a button - no piloting necessary. Fotokite is authorized and recognized by aviation authorities as a safer alternative to traditional tethered drone and free-flying public safety drone systems.
SFF spoke with Fotokite's Business Development and Team Logistics Director Nate Bazydlo and their Program Director Bradford Morse to discover exactly how tethered drones work. Nate supports the company's growth through business development and logistical coordination while providing value to team in anyway needed within such a robust start-up culture. Bradford has 20 years of experience providing direction to high performing teams with a proven track record of 7 US patents and 8 products that have delivered lucrative results for Eaton, General Electric and Motorola.
Connect with Nate: LinkedIn
Connect with Bradford: LinkedIn
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