Key the Mic: The Daily Dispatch Podcast

Western Fire Chiefs Association has retired the Key the Mic podcast. Please check out their newest podcast Fire Headlines!

So your agency passed a bond measure, now what happens? In this follow-up episode, Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue Chief John Oliver goes into detail about what an agency needs to consider after the voters accept a bond. Regardless of your agency's size, Chief Oliver has tips to help you improve your chances of success, and provides ideas so you can get that money working for your agency after the bond passes.

What happens when 9 out of your 10 fire stations need structural improvements or outright replacement? In this episode, Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue (CKFR) Chief John Oliver explains how his special district was able to pass a $60M capital facilities bond, the 2nd largest in Washington State history, in order to fund essential upgrades for 90% of CKFR's buildings. Regardless of size or budget, Chief Oliver has tips to help your agency prepare bond measures and levies in a new and highly effective way.

Less than one year ago, Mark Niemeyer became the Chief of the largest fire department in Idaho: the Boise Fire Department. Looking back over his first 200 days as Boise's Fire Chief, he discusses his experience transitioning to a different department, and shares the skills and mindset needed for new Chiefs to succeed.

What if fire suppression was automatic, keeping families and first responders safe from harm before a fire can spread? In today's episode, we discuss the Auto Fire Guard (or “FireBall”) with its inventor, Grant Van Der Jagt. Learn how Grant developed a new technology for fire suppression, which offers a safe, non-toxic, and hands-free option for extinguishing fires, no maintenance or personal proximity required.

Fire Chief Douglas Schrage knew that a community-centered solution was needed to improve sudden cardiac arrest survival rates and response times in his remote Alaskan borough. Tune in to hear how Fairbanks was able to educate citizens and pull together 11 mostly volunteer fire departments to successfully rollout PulsePoint, resulting in a sustainable, impactful program.

Scheduling time for creativity helps Bob Horton navigate the challenges and opportunities facing chiefs across the nation. The simple practice of “leaving room for thinking” has enabled him to enhance his performance as a leader and bring about innovative problem solving for his district. In today's episode, you'll hear CEO and Fire Chief of Jackson County Fire District #3 discuss some of the challenges fire service leaders are tackling, and offer up advice for adapting and excelling.

You've seen his hilarious videos on YouTube, but have you heard about career firefighter Jason Patton's next big project? Through a multi-media approach that will include video and in-person trainings with local CPR, EMT, and paramedic instructors around the country, Jason wants to teach 22 MILLION people CPR through comedy. Learn how Jason became a firefighter 'on a whim', how he produces his popular Fire Department Chronicles videos, and how he's developed a proven method for helping people learn CPR and other life-saving skills.

Fire officials across the country are quickly realizing the benefits drones can offer emergency response. In this episode, Engineer Paramedic Kevin Dykes and Engineer A-EMT Nick Robinson walk us through their experience starting a drone program at the Depoe Bay Fire Department in Oregon. Kevin and Nick explain just how easy drones are to use, the training and investment required, and how drones are helping them respond to emergencies in new ways while reducing costs for their agency.

Exposure to toxins while on the job is a serious concern for firefighters. Repeated contact with harmful chemicals can have lasting adverse impacts on health, and can lead to illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, and may cause birth defects. Turnouts are designed to protect a firefighter from many of those toxins; however, cleaning the gear itself has proven to be a challenge – until now. Mike Duyck, Vice President of Emergency Technical Decon (ETD), joins us to discuss the science behind liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) cleaning of firefighter turnout gear, and why it is gentler, more efficient, and over 99% effective.

Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr is a fourth generation firefighter who has achieved numerous ‘firsts' in her nearly 40-year career. Not only has she served as the first female Fire Chief in more than one department, she served as the President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) in 2015, the first woman to do so in the Association's 148-year history. Chief Kerr joins us to discuss her journey, the importance of leading by example, and how fire service leaders can foster inclusion within their departments.

Meet Rip Esselstyn, a pioneer for the advancement of plant-based eating. He's a world-renowned triathlete, best selling author, and former firefighter, all of which has been powered by a Plant Strong lifestyle. Rip joins us to talk about his plant-based journey, food culture in the fire service, and the inextricable link between health and performance.

In this episode, we continue our discussion with COVID-19 innovators. Chiefs Jerry Wendt and Tyler Off tell us about their respective innovations in firehouse sanitization. Chief Wendt, with the Jefferson Fire Department in Wisconsin, used inexpensive, everyday items to devise a solution to disinfect ambulances. With careful research and testing, Chief Off and South Fork Fire & Rescue in Colorado were able to build a simple and effective decontamination chamber for N95 masks. The specs allowed for easy scalability and replication, helping to preserve PPE for the department at a very low cost.

In 2020, a highly contagious virus, shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), and changing funding structures radically altered many of the day-to-day operations of fire departments across the United States. In response to COVID-19 and its various impacts, first responders and innovators across the country have stepped up to meet the challenge. These inventive thinkers have developed new tools and methods for providing care, while also protecting crews on the front lines of response. In this episode, we speak with Bill Amador, a retired Fire Chief and current Director for Capture Management at Constellis. Bill discusses the benefits of UV light technology, and how it can be used by first responders to effectively combat the spread of COVID-19.