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Across The Street Productions

Fire command and leadership conversations for B Shifters and beyond (all shifts welcome)!

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S7 · E60
Today · 44 min
Multi Agency Incident Audio and Blue Card Rundown
Send us Fan Mail We break down what it really takes for multiple departments to operate as one on the fireground, from standardized SOPs to the hard conversations that keep mutual aid safe. Then we play condensed incident audio from Colerain Township and explain why clear size-up, smart staging, and disciplined deployment end problems fast instead of creating bigger ones. • expanded command and division operations expectations for ICs, division bosses, and support roles • mutual aid as the default reality for most communities and why training must cross borders • standardizing equipment and communications to reduce friction and improve firefighter safety • accountability through after-action reporting that reinforces what went well and fixes what did not • closest appropriate response and what to do when a partner goes rogue • incident audio showing early size-up, quick assignments, and fast fire control • what a dedicated dispatcher on the TAC channel changes during a working incident • level one staging and on-deck depth to keep options open without over-committing crews • two-deep deployment and forecasting resources to prevent Maydays and manage escalation • Fire Command Third Edition notes, bulk discount details, and what readers are praising Please go to BShifter.com, go to our events page, and you can see what’s coming up there. Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com Share this podcast with your friends, and don't forget to like and subscribe! Thank you for listening!
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S7 · E59
August 28 · 1 hr 2 min
Chris Ferrara & Specialized Resources For A Modern Fireground
Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Chris Ferrara of U.S. Fire Pump and get a clear look at what industrial firefighting really takes when a facility fire outgrows municipal capability. We walk through big water, foam strategy, logistics, and the mindset shift that keeps incident commanders from committing to a plan they cannot sustain. • what U.S. Fire Pump does and why high capacity pumping changes outcomes • real world incidents from tank fires to ship fires, landfills, and lithium battery recycling facilities • deciding when to call an industrial firefighting company and why early engagement matters • water supply realities for warehouses and why alternative sources beat small streams • unified command expectations, access needs, and how we set contractors up for success • foam evolution from AFFF to SFFF and what that changes in tactics and safety • training and education that helps municipal and industrial teams speak the same language • apparatus manufacturing, reliability choices, and what “old school” looks like on purpose Check out the resources and capabilities of U.S. Fire Pump here: https://usfirepump.com/services/foam-school/ Please go to BShifter.com, go to our events page, and you can see what’s coming up there. Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com Share this podcast with your friends, and don't forget to like and subscribe! Thank you for listening!
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S7 · E58
August 20 · 48 min
Silverback Leadership: Boss Power (Part 2)
Send us Fan Mail Terry Garrison, Nick Brunacini, and John Vance (The Silverbacks) are back with a new Silverback module (available to all Blue Card subscribers). We pick up part two of Boss Power and get blunt about how a leader’s angels and demons shape firefighter behavior and department culture. We keep coming back to one simple filter that prevents most boss mistakes: focus on the work, use the process, and do not let ego drive decisions. We talk about: • angels versus demons as a practical leadership model • why boss misconduct carries bigger consequences than worker misconduct • how demon-led management triggers sabotage, rumor, and malicious obedience • positional power versus informal workforce power • focusing on the work as the cleanest way to lead and correct behavior • inclusive communication that brings the workers in early • why you do not know someone until they have power over you • cosplay leadership and the danger of not understanding fireground work • tradition, SCBA, and the cost of unnecessary risk • line of duty death learning, accountability, and executive responsibility • “Take the process seriously, not yourself” as a leadership anchor • discipline that stays human while following a clear process Please go to BShifter.com, go to our events page, and you can see what’s coming up there. Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com Share this podcast with your friends, and don't forget to like and subscribe! Thank you for listening!
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S7 · E58
August 11 · 51 min
Silverback Leadership: Boss Power (Part 1)
Send us Fan Mail Terry Garrison, Nick Brunacini, and John Vance (The Silverbacks) are back with a new Silverback module (available to all Blue Card subscribers). We break down Boss Behaviors and the reality of boss power in the fire service, where leadership lives between City Hall pressure and the crews delivering the work. We argue there’s no neutral gear for a boss, and we share practical ways to protect credibility, service delivery, and values when budgets and politics get loud. • new Silverback Leadership module built from Alan Brunicini’s functional boss behaviors and no-brainer management • leading for service delivery rather than ego, ceremony, or titles • why fire chiefs cannot delegate away responsibility, only tasks • political leadership versus operational leadership and why operations must make sense • how community connection makes budget cuts harder to justify • what management wants versus what workers want and how to navigate both • value-based decision making when staffing cuts clash with safety • explaining staffing, response times, and resources by describing the work • a real efficiency committee story that ends with support for more funding • overtime and MOU realities and the importance of early notification • credibility loss, absentee leadership, and getting stuck in the middle • angels and demons as daily boss impulses, with “be nice” as a powerful discipline Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com Share this podcast with your friends, and don't forget to like and subscribe! Thank you for listening!
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S6 · E57
July 30 · 1 hr 1 min
The IAFF's Evidence-Based Fireground Operations
Send us Fan Mail The panelists on this B Shifter Podcast include: Grady Valencis, Jeff Seaton, John Ceriello, Chad Christensen, Sean Gray, Michael McCarthy, Ian Bennett, Sean Decrane, and it is hosted by Chris Stewart and John Vance. We talk with a nationwide IAFF instructor cadre about how evidence-based fireground operations turn UL FSRI research into decisions you can make on your very next incident. We break down why live fire and psychomotor reps create buy-in, tighten tactics, and help firefighters stay aggressive while improving safety and victim outcomes. The discussion includes: • why the IAFF builds an evidence-based fireground operations program and how the cadre forms • what changed when Houston hosts the first train-the-trainer delivery • why “tell them, show them, let them explain it back” beats PDFs and videos • course options from awareness to operations to train the trainer • what a host site needs for live fire demonstrations and rotations • how to scale regionally so small departments can afford the training • how we adapt the class to local buildings, staffing, and common incident profiles • why command officers must be in the room to prevent tactical and strategic gaps • hands-on stations covering fire behavior, stream mechanics, thermal imaging, search methods, and fire attack • what surprised us most about veteran buy-in and the humility that drives culture change Learn more about the Evidence-Based Fireground Operations program here: https://www.iaff.org/fire-ground-operations/ Learn about the IAFF Fire Ground Survival program here: https://www.iaff.org/fire-ground-survival/ Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com Share this podcast with your friends, and don't forget to like and subscribe! Thank you for listening!
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S6 · E56
July 16 · 58 min
Strategic Decision Making & Blue Card (Permission To Kick A** With A Plan)
Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Worcester Fire’s (and Blue Card lead Instructor) Gary Fleischer, plus Blue Card lead instructors Eric Phillips and Chris Stewart, to unpack how strategic decision-making and critical thinking make Blue Card work on real calls. We connect the “why” to NIOSH lessons, legal risk, and the day-to-day habits that help crews put water on the fire faster and go home safe. • Worcester’s repeated NIOSH recommendations shaping a clear why for change • Rolling Blue Card out with chief-level support and SOP alignment • Why the rank and file needs the full picture, not just the mechanics • How the strategic decision-making model becomes trainable and repeatable • A real Worcester working fire story that validates the system • Sustaining the command system through daily use and refreshers • Integrating command, radio traffic, and critical factors into any drill • Avoiding training scars by finishing evolutions through the full problem • Measuring outcomes that matter, including faster water and better search • Keeping hard chargers aggressive while staying coordinated and accountable • Leadership that stops bad things from happening, even when unpopular Check out the B Shifter Podcast with Worcester Fire Chief Martin Dyer here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1785403/episodes/18879949 Check out Ed Hartin's 10 Minute Command Training here: https://bshifter.com/10-minute-training-first-due-at-a-structural-collapse-with-trapped-victims-whats-your-plan/ Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com Share this podcast with your friends, and don't forget to like and subscribe! Thank you for listening!
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S5 · E55
July 2 · 41 min
The Cyanokit Conversation: What Firefighters Need to Know
Send us Fan Mail This episode features Dr. Dustin Calhoun, Scott Williams, Steve Lester and John Vance. About our guest: Dr. Dustin J. Calhoun, MD, FAEMS is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Associate Director of the Division of Emergency Medical Services at the University of Cincinnati. A board-certified emergency physician and EMS physician, he practices at UC Medical Center and West Chester Hospital. Dr. Calhoun serves as the Medical Director for the Springdale Fire Department and the Cincinnati Fire Department and provides medical direction for numerous other fire, EMS, law enforcement, and special operations agencies throughout the Cincinnati region, including airport fire-rescue, SWAT teams, and multiple suburban fire departments. He is also a flight physician with Air Care and Mobile Care and serves as Medical Director for Emergency Management at UC Health. Nationally recognized for his expertise in prehospital emergency medicine, disaster preparedness, and tactical EMS, Dr. Calhoun is a frequent instructor and speaker on EMS leadership, special operations medicine, and emergency response. We break down how Cyanokit (hydroxycobalamin) fits into fireground care when smoke inhalation includes the toxic twin threat of hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide. We focus on patient selection, rapid delivery to the front yard, and the practical steps that help incident commanders, EMS crews, and hospitals work from the same playbook. • what Cyanokit is and why older cyanide antidotes were risky with carbon monoxide exposure • where hydrogen cyanide comes from in structure fires, smoldering, and overhaul plus dermal absorption risks • why time to administration matters, especially for altered mental status and fireground cardiac arrest • how departments deploy kits on district cars, battalion chiefs, engines, and ALS rescues to reduce delays • real incidents and outcomes, including pediatric rescues and lessons when kits are limited • IV and IO administration considerations, including push-pull delivery and flushing the line • what the incident commander does to stage medical resources and get the kit to the patient fast • what information helps the emergency department when there is no rapid cyanide test • balanced use, costs, side effects, and why training should prevent wasting kits • training approaches, trainer kits, and restock plans that keep programs sustainable Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com Share this podcast with your friends, and don't forget to like and subscribe!
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S5 · E55
June 25 · 1 hr 2 min
Big Box To Mega
Send us Fan Mail This episode features National Fire Sprinkler Association President Shane Ray, Assistant Chief Scott Williams, Blue Card Program Director Josh Blum, and John Vance. We break down why today’s mega warehouses and cold storage facilities create fireground problems that residential tactics cannot solve, especially when fires start on the roof or exterior and burn inward. We share field-proven steps that keep firefighters alive by supporting sprinkler systems, slowing the pace, and managing the incident like a strategic operation instead of a quick interior push. • why “big box” and “mega warehouse” are different hazards • how roof and exterior fires drive bad sprinkler narratives • the Ohio case study where training and patience prevent firefighter losses • building the “big four” before entry: FDC supply, attack team, roof report, on-deck crew • why sprinkler-controlled fires are not compatible with routine ventilation • reading the riser plate, fire pump, and alarm panel to measure fire growth • requesting sprinkler and alarm contractors plus the water utility early • what NFPA 13E and NFPA 1700 change in SOPs, preplans, and training • why codes, owners, and access decisions shape outcomes long before dispatch Links shared / talked about by Shane Ray: NFPA Warehouse Fires Report: https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/research/nfpa-research/fire-statistical-reports/warehouse-structure-fires NFPA Challenges In Storage facilities: https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/research/fire-protection-research-foundation/projects-and-reports/identifying-challenges-to-fire-service-response-in-storage-facilities Indiana Fire In Large Distribution Center: https://www.firehero.org/2026/01/14/plainfield-fire-territory-warehouse-fire/ The Blue Card Big Box Bulletin: https://conta.cc/3QpvT8u Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com Share this podcast with your friends, and don't forget to like and subscribe
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S5 · E54
June 18 · 58 min
Blue Card Updates Plus Incident Audio From Harrison, Ohio
Send us Fan Mail We talk through mid-year Blue Card updates, why command training is worth paying for, and how regional leaders keep a shared system alive even when departments change chiefs. We also dig into big box fire realities and then break down working-fire radio audio that shows what clear size-up, assignments, and command transfer sound like. • Blue Card as a decision-making and incident organization system rather than a tactics class • Common myths about Blue Card and how bad information spreads • The real cost of training and why “free” is not a plan • Liability exposure tied to weak command training and predictable failure points • Sustaining a command program through leadership commitment and ongoing verification • ARFF program growth, upcoming train-the-trainer dates, and open seats • A regional collaboration model from the Seacoast Chiefs and why standard language matters • Big box and mega warehouse fires, sprinkler limits, FDC considerations, and defensive discipline • Working-fire audio breakdown: initial radio report, 360, patient handling, CAN reports, and command transfer • Timeless tactical truth on forecasting and doing now what saves time later The Ladder 11 Shirt is here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/ladder-11-shirt Check out the Big Box Bulletin here: https://conta.cc/3QpvT8u Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, visit: https://bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter: https://bshifter.myshopify.com Thanks for listening!
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S5 · E53
June 11 · 1 hr 17 min
The Silverbacks On Performance Management
Send us Fan Mail The Silverbacks are back, talking about performance management as an essential tool for fire service leaders. This episode features Nick Brunacini, Terry Garrison, and John Vance. We lay out a practical performance improvement model that keeps looping through SOPs, training, field application, monitoring, and revision so the work gets better every time. We also get blunt about what breaks the system: outdated policies, ego-driven resistance to change, weak critiques, and leaders who stop training. • circular performance improvement model tied to service delivery • why outdated SOPs create operational risk and legal exposure • keeping SOPs simple, task-focused, and grounded in real standards • making shared SOPs work across automatic aid departments • change resistance driven by ownership and ego, and how leadership pushes through • what makes an after-action review honest, consistent, and useful • critique pitfalls like pet peeves, grandstanding, and excluding firefighters • why leaders must keep training and prove competence at strategic levels • decision-making truth: no perfect choices, only best upside with least downside You can download all your operational SOPs off bluecard.com right now Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, visit: https://bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter: https://bshifter.myshopify.com
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S5 · E53
May 28 · 59 min
Dan Madrzykowski And Fire Dynamics On The Exterior
Send us Fan Mail We talk with UL FSRI’s Dr. Dan Madrzykowski about how fire dynamics drives outcomes at outside fires, vehicle fires, and “container” incidents just as much as it does in homes. This episode connects real case studies to practical command decisions so crews stop feeding the fire with ventilation and start controlling conditions with effective water application and better size-up. In this episode: • AFG grant window timing and why command training remains a high priority • Fire dynamics basics that still get missed in structures • Why ventilation can increase smoke production and fire growth • Exterior fire spread that re-enters and traps interior crews • Lagrange incident lessons and the need to flow and move • Critical factors for IC1 and IC2 — because the fire gets a vote • EV fire response priorities: life hazard, approach angle, water supply, and exposures • When letting EV batteries burn out may reduce overall risk • Trailer and container fires as ventilation-limited pressure vessel problems • The “two-question pause” before giving orders and avoiding autopilot decision-making • Stored energy hazards including large tire explosion blast radius and positioning • CNG vehicle differences and why preplans matter • Using monitors and stream reach to gain standoff and improve visibility • Warehouse fire ventilation errors when water is not yet effective Resources Mentioned: Chula Vista Fire Report: Analysis of a Near Miss in a Warehouse Fire – California https://doi.org/10.60752/102376.30402382 Lagrange Fire Report: Four Firefighters Burned in Residential House Fire – Georgia https://dx.doi.org/10.54206/102376/GEKK4148 Lagrange Incident Video https://training.fsri.org/resources/409/residential-fire-near-miss-in-lagrange-ga-incident-video LaGrange Discussion Tool https://training.fsri.org/resources/53/026-near-miss-lagrange-continuing-the-conversation Online Course https://training.fsri.org/course/105/residential-fire-near-miss-incident-in-lagrange-ga Blue Card Lithium Ion Battery Fire SOG: https://bshifter.com/download/lithium-ion-battery-incident-sample-sog/ Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, visit: https://bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter: https://bshifter.myshopify.com About Dan: Dr. Daniel Madrzykowski is a Senior Research Engineer with the UL Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) and one of the leading fire dynamics researchers in the world. His work has helped shape the modern fire service’s understanding of fire behavior, ventilation, wind-driven fires, exterior fire attack, and tactical decision-making on the fireground. Over the past two decades, Dr. Madrzykowski has led and contributed to groundbreaking research focused on firefighter safety, fire spread, and modern building performance under fire conditions. His work has directly influenced operational tactics, training programs, and national conversations surrounding modern fire attack and command operations. Dan has worked extensively with fire departments across the United States, translating complex fire science into practical, street-level applications firefighters and incident commanders can use every day. His research continues to play a major role in improving firefighter safety and customer outcomes in both residential and commercial fire incidents.
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S5 · E52
May 15 · 48 min
Blue Card Is A Safety System
Send us Fan Mail This episode features Josh Blum, Chris Stewart and John Vance We argue that firefighter safety on the fireground works best as a built-in system, not a lone safety officer trying to play catch-up outside the hazard zone. We connect real injury and fatality patterns to supervision, accountability, communications, and command decisions that match conditions in both residential and commercial buildings. In this episode: • Strategic Decision-Making Workshop overview and how it builds repeatable decision reps • New continuing education module on the eight functions of command for technical rescue • New first responder firefighter online module for non-IC roles and better scene communications • Why “safety is a system” and why a single roaming safety officer cannot prevent all bad outcomes • Residential fire threats including collapse and severe thermal events • Commercial fire threats including disorientation, getting lost, and air management failures • How Blue Card embeds safety through task, tactical, and strategic supervision • Division boss and support officer pairing for accountability, work-rest cycles, and resource control • SOPs, training, and performance monitoring as the foundation of incident safety • NIOSH top contributing factors and why incident command owns the fix • Recommended next steps, including Fire Command, Command Safety, and division ops training Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com
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S4 · E51
May 7 · 40 min
Food Plant Fire In Ohio
Send us Fan Mail This episode features Fire Chief (Ret.) Thomas Lakamp, Assistant Chief Scott Williams, Blue Card Program Director Josh Blum, and John Vance. Thomas Lakamp, Fire Chief (Ret.), Fairfield (Ohio) Fire Department Chief Thomas Lakamp is the fire chief for the City of Fairfield, Ohio. He retired from the Cincinnati Fire Department as an assistant fire chief after almost 35 years of service. Tom holds an associate degree in Fire Science Technology and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Cincinnati. He also holds a master’s in homeland security from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. Tom is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program and was formerly a Task Force Leader for FEMA Ohio Task Force 1—Urban Search and Rescue Team. He is currently the commissioner for the Hamilton County, Ohio—Region 6 USAR Team. Scott Williams, Assistant Fire Chief, Springdale (Ohio) Fire Department Scott Williams has been in the fire service for 30 years and is a certified Ohio State Fire and Emergency Service Instructor II and a Live Fire Instructor. He is a Blue Card instructor, a national registered paramedic and a trained IAFF Peer Supporter. He has served the Springdale (Ohio) Fire Department for 22 years, holding the ranks of firefighter/paramedic, chief fire inspector and fire captain before his current position as the assistant fire chief. Chief Williams oversees fire department operations and develops the department’s SOGs. He is always looking to better himself and the fire service, supporting continuous improvement of fireground skills and operations through regular and consistent training. He is known for his honest approach and for teaching others through his first-hand experiences. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We break down the Koch Foods plant in Fairfield, Ohio and the lessons that come with a 600,000 square foot commercial incident involving thermal fluid, ammonia, multiple alarms, and critical injuries. We share how a regional command system, disciplined big box tactics, and drone intelligence helped protect firefighters and save most of the facility. We discuss: • Setting the scene at Koch Foods and the early alarm upgrade to a high hazard response • The report of a worker still inside and the rapid shift to defensive operations after untenable conditions • How a delayed roof report revealed extreme fire involvement and changed tactics • Thermal fluid flash conditions and why fire spread outran parts of the sprinkler system • Water supply challenges, extended FDC pumping, and coordination with public utilities • Managing ammonia tanks, cooling operations, and air monitoring as a hazmat problem • Building a scalable command team with Blue Card, unified command, HazMat and EMA integration • Using a regional drone team for situational awareness, leak location, and aerial placement • Cross-county mutual aid that works because of shared SOGs, training standards, and linked CAD • Why big box fires require abandoning residential tactics and slowing down before entry Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com
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S4 · E50
April 28 · 27 min
Three Levels Of Air Management
Send us Fan Mail Our guest this week is Battalion Chief Ryan Eldridge, Blue Card Lead Instructor Ryan Eldridge is a dedicated fire service professional with a career spanning over three decades. He began his journey in 1995 when he joined the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Explorer Program. Directly out of high school, he worked for the Las Vegas Bureau of Land Management office as a wildland firefighter on a hand crew. From 1997 to 2002, he served as a reserve firefighter in Boulder City, Nev. Ryan joined Las Vegas Fire and Rescue as a firefighter in 2002. Throughout his career, he pursued further education and training, becoming an Honor Guard member in 2003 and serving as co-commander; an LVF&R Technical Rescue Team member in 2005; and a certified paramedic in 2006. He served as an Executive Board member for Local 1285 and chaired the EMS Committee for over 10 years. In 2014, Ryan was promoted to captain, serving Battalion 1 at Station 10. Ryan was promoted to battalion chief in January 2024 and serves LVF&R Battalion 10, B-Shift. He considers being a Blue Card lead instructor an honor and is proud to represent Big Al’s legacy. Ryan has been married for 28 years and has two awesome young adult children. We break down how firefighter air management actually works from a morning bottle check to the moment you decide it’s time to leave. Ryan shares practical ways to measure real SCBA work times and shows how company officers and incident commanders can build a rotation system that prevents low-air alarms inside IDLH. • treating air management as a Mayday prevention skill • starting the shift with maximum cylinder pressure and consistent SCBA checks • setting clear low-air communication methods between firefighters and officers • understanding personal air consumption and the round-trip ticket mindset • running realistic air consumption drills and tracking amber-to-vibra time • company officer ownership of crew air and exit timing • IC tools like elapsed-time “pokes” and CAN reports to catch problems early • using on-deck and three-deep layering to keep crews cycling safely • reinforcing the rule that there is no harmless smoke Download the Air Consumption Drill Here: https://bshifter.com/download/air-consumption-exercise/ Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition This episode was recorded at the Alan V. Bruncini Command Training Center in Phoenix, AZ on April 16, 2026 For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter Please remember to share with a friend. Like and subscribe if you can. That helps us out!
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S4 · E49
April 16 · 1 hr 27 min
Fire Command, 3rd Edition
Send us Fan Mail This episode features Nick Brunacini and is hosted by John Vance. We trace the origin of the Fire Command textbook from Alan Brunacini and why standardizing incident command changes everything from water-on-the-fire decisions to firefighter safety. We walk through what’s new in Fire Command 3 and how Blue Card training turns hard lessons into a repeatable system that works under pressure: • why freelancing and arrival-order deployment fail under stress • how Alan Brunacini’s early fireground experiences shaped Fire Command • the shift from slide programs and VHS to a teachable command textbook • how Fire Command fits alongside NIMS and FEMA for different incident types • what changed from the first edition to the second edition and why “deployment” matters • how Southwest Supermarkets influenced command safety and tactical supervision • why third edition puts deployment first and expands it to service delivery and aid agreements • how embedded safety and accountability replace late-stage fixes • what fire science changes about offensive strategy and exterior water application • how the Mayday chapter is designed to work without rebuilding the system mid-incident Come By The Booth At FDIC, Hoosier Corridor Booth Number 13011 Order the 3rd Edition of Fire Command here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com/products/new-fire-command-3rd-edition This episode was recorded at the Alan V. Bruncini Command Training Center in Phoenix, AZ on April 15, 2026 For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter Please remember to share with a friend. Like and subscribe if you can. That helps us out!
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S4 · E48
April 9 · 1 hr 7 min
Strategic Decision-Making For Commercial Fire Operations
Send us Fan Mail Commercial fires will expose weak decision-making—fast. In this episode, we break down why commercial fire operations demand a completely different mindset than house fires—and how the Blue Card strategic decision-making model keeps us out of trouble. We focus on size-up, realistic life safety expectations and the command choices that keep us from doing the wrong thing harder. In this episode: • Size, height and occupancy as your first strategic drivers • Why residential tactics fail in large commercial compartments • Reading sprinkler performance and recognizing when something is off • Slowing down your size-up to avoid dangerous assumptions • Confirming evacuation vs chasing unlikely rescues • Standing up divisions early for better supervision and safety • CAN reports, face-to-face coordination and radio discipline • Knowing when to change the IAP and move to Plan B • Air management, maximum depth and the round-trip ticket mindset • Understanding capability limits—and where building systems must do the work Buy “Timeless Tactical Truths from Alan Brunacini” at bshifter.com in our store for only $10! This episode was recorded on April 9, 2026. For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter Please remember to share with a friend. Like and subscribe if you can. That helps us out!
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S4 · E47
April 3 · 44 min
Blue Card Rundown for April, 2026
Send us Fan Mail We share the April 2026 Blue Card rundown, from FDIC plans to major updates in training, online content, and continuing education. We dig into what’s changing in Fire Command, why objective after action reviews matter, and how we keep the whole response system stronger from dispatch to the fireground. • FDIC plans in the Hoosier corridor and who you can meet at the booth • Third edition Fire Command textbook release and why the update matters • Blue Card Online update planned to align with the new textbook • After Action Reporting system overview and what it measures • How non-instructors get AAR access and how the subscription pricing works • New traffic incident management CE module tied to apparatus positioning and safety • New dispatcher CE on mass casualty support and catching missed Maydays • ARFF program growth, new CE and simulations, and the August Phoenix class dates • Train the Trainer schedule, workshop dates, and why early booking matters • New command awareness program for firefighters, operators, and EMS partners • Helmet wall update and how departments can contribute Buy “Timeless Tactical Truths from Alan Brunacini” at bshifter.com in our store for only $10! This episode was recorded on April 2, 2026. For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter Please remember to share with a friend. Like and subscribe if you can. That helps us out!
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S4 · E46
March 20 · 58 min
Worcester Fire Chief Martin Dyer
Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Worcester Fire Chief Martin Dyer to talk about what real officer accountability looks like and why the front seat cannot be a part-time leadership role. We break down how a disciplined incident command system, integrated training, and sustained culture change make firegrounds safer and service delivery sharper. • Worcester’s history and how tragedy drives learning • Department profile, staffing model, and command structure • Ending “ride up” coverage in officer seats • Accountability, supervision, and what the officer rank means • Blue Card command training tied to civil service promotion • Integrated drills that connect strategy, tactics, and tasks • Lessons learned on implementing change and sustaining it • Communication tools, early adopters, and credible internal trainers • Triple deckers, balloon frame hazards, and resource planning • Early alarm policies, command depth, and level one staging • Advice for aspiring company officers and future chief officers • Fire dynamics, FSRI, and professionalism as customer service Buy “Timeless Tactical Truths from Alan Brunacini” at bshifter.com in our store for only $10! This episode was recorded on March 19, 2026. For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter Please remember to share with a friend. Like and subscribe if you can. That helps us out.
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S4 · E45
March 12 · 56 min
Recruits and Command
Send us Fan Mail This episode, Josh Blum, Chris Stewart and John Vance connect recruit training to stronger incident command by showing how day-one decision making, radio discipline, and functional evolutions create safer firegrounds. Along the way we share first-arriver expectations, Mayday triggers, air management, and the myth of “just do work.” • day-one radio use and communication norms • building decision-making through functional evolutions • size-up, critical factors, and risk choices • priority traffic, Mayday structure, and channel discipline • problem solving under pressure • air management triggers and round-trip ticket planning • accountability at task, tactical, and strategic levels • aligning field training officers with academy standards • clarifying “alien abduction” and preventing freelancing Reach out if you want to host a Train-the-Trainer or Mayday Workshop. Our schedule is filling up fast. bshifter.com has all the dates Buy “Timeless Tactical Truths from Alan Brunacini” at bshifter.com in our store for only $10! This episode was recorded on March 10, 2026. For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter Thanks for listening - please subscribe and give us your support!
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S4 · E44
February 27 · 56 min
Identifying Critical Fireground Factors at the Beginning of an Incident
Send us Fan Mail Josh Blum, Chris Stewart and John Vance look at how disciplined size-up and tight language reveal true critical factors and shape an incident action plan that works. We share tools for integrating risk management into strategy, avoiding busy work, and matching tactics to real resources. • why critical factors drive the incident action plan • three core size‑up questions that focus decisions • standard terms for fire conditions and why they matter • 360 and interior reports as continuous size‑up • overlaying risk management on strategy in real time • aligning tactics with actual staffing and capability • stopping duplication, avoiding busy work, keeping crews safe • leadership that prevents bad outcomes and sets clear limits Join us live March 11, 2026 for the instructor webinar on the download center and Blue Card resources. Sign up via the show notes to watch live, ask questions, or get the on‑demand replay. Sign up here: https://streamyard.com/watch/28zvKcGuWhZQ Buy “Timeless Tactical Truths from Alan Brunacini” at bshifter.com in our store for only $10! This episode was recorded on February 27, 2026. For Waldorf University Blue Card credit and discounts: https://www.waldorf.edu/blue-card/ For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter Thanks for listening - please subscribe and give us your support!
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