The Cool Fireman Podcast
The Cool Fireman Podcast
✓

Learning From Loss: A Firefighter's Legacy & Lessons From a LODD

· transcript
01:03:10
Podcasts
RSS
Link

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Learning From Loss: A Firefighter's Legacy & Lessons From a LODD

Learning From Loss: A Firefighter's Legacy & Lessons From a LODD | Episode 182

What happens when a line-of-duty death hits close to home? And more importantly, how do we make sure the lessons learned aren't forgotten?

This week on The Cool Fireman Podcast, Brian, Doug, and Adam welcome special guest Mikey Hillman, a 19-year fire service veteran, to share the story of his close friend and fellow firefighter, Bryce, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty.

This isn't just another discussion about firefighter safety. It's a deeply personal conversation about brotherhood, loss, leadership, aggressive firefighting, and the responsibility we have to learn from those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Mikey takes us through his friendship with Bryce, their time working together, and the devastating fire that changed his life. He explains how an overlooked basement fire became a deadly situation and how that incident has influenced fireground operations, training, and decision-making within his department.

One of the biggest lessons Mikey shares is something he calls "THROTTLE CONTROL."

As firefighters, we're trained to be aggressive, move quickly, and get the job done. But knowing when to slow down, evaluate conditions, and make informed decisions can be just as important as knowing when to push forward.

The guys also discuss the importance of completing a proper 360, identifying basement involvement, keeping radio communications clear, trusting your crew, and developing the next generation of firefighters.

But beyond the tactical lessons, this episode is about remembering the person behind the badge.

Mikey shares what made Bryce such an incredible firefighter, friend, and family man, and how his legacy continues through the work they're doing to educate firefighters and improve the fire service.

This episode has some laughs, some difficult moments, and an important reminder that every line-of-duty death represents more than a statistic. It's a person, a family, a crew, and an opportunity for all of us to learn.

Take the lessons. Share the knowledge. Honor the fallen.

A huge thank-you to Mikey Hillman for being vulnerable, sharing Bryce's story, and helping us continue the conversation about firefighter safety and training.

Check out Mikey's business, Coverings LLC, and the work they're doing to honor Bryce's legacy.

As always, support The Cool Fireman Podcast by joining our Patreon community, sharing the episode, and keeping the conversation going.

Stay safe, take care of your crews, and never stop learning. 🚒

Support the show

Careers
Business
Government
English
United States
Use API to fetch this episode in JSON

IN THIS EPISODE

Edit these tags

TRANSCRIPT 🔗

WEBVTT
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:11.279
Welcome to the Cool Fireman Podcast, a virtual firehouse kitchen table with Matt, Adam, Brian, Doug, and Freddie, where they discuss everything that matters in today's fire service.
00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:12.960
Now let's get to the show.
00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:14.080
Hey, what's up, y'all?
00:00:14.160 --> 00:00:15.759
It's it is Brian.
00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:18.320
And we this is the Cool Fireman Podcast.
00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:24.960
And if you recognized a very unique voice that was throwing a little salt, that's our buddy Mikey Hillman.
00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:29.039
He is today's guest here on the Cool Fireman Podcast.
00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:31.280
We're actually going to be talking about a very serious topic.
00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:34.240
And of course, you've got Doug and Adam and Matt.
00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:37.280
He's off tonight doing some family stuff.
00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:39.920
And so I know I'm glad to be back this week.
00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:46.640
Adam and I, behind the scenes on Patreon, we talked about how blessed we were to take a couple of weeks off.
00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:51.920
I know at least one for me and one for him to kind of catch up on some things.
00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:56.159
Doug, Greg, Greg stepped in last week, did a phenomenal job.
00:00:56.320 --> 00:00:59.600
Man, this week's episode, I could like go on a rant.
00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:03.200
Like I literally shared that episode because I thought it was that good.
00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:05.920
So shout out to you three, Doug.
00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:09.280
Y'all, y'all crushed it on last week's episode.
00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:10.319
I love talking to Greg.
00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:12.159
Anytime we can talk to Greg, it's great.
00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:13.439
A hundred percent.
00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:14.079
Really good.
00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:17.439
If you didn't, if you didn't listen to last week's, go back and listen to it.
00:01:17.519 --> 00:01:19.599
And in fact, if you did, go back and listen to it again.
00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:21.439
That's how good, that's how good it was.
00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:25.200
Folks, it's time for housekeeping.
00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:29.120
So let's go ahead and get this party started.
00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:34.640
Um, as always, Doug, speaking of um all things behind the scenes, Patreon.
00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:36.319
Let's talk about our Patreon members.
00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:39.280
We got any new ones or anything awesome to share with them?
00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:40.560
I got nothing.
00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:42.400
Okay, well, I got something.
00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:46.400
Don't forget to go ahead and jump in before we get to our next month's giveaway.
00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:56.799
So if you're not a Patreon member, now's the time to jump in because I think uh we got one more week, and then the first week of November we'll do our Patreon perks giveaway.
00:01:56.959 --> 00:01:57.519
Yeah.
00:01:57.760 --> 00:01:59.040
Because it'll drop.
00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:01.680
This episode will drop the last week of October.
00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:06.560
Yeah, this one drops the 26th, so the next episode will be announcing a winner.
00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:10.479
Yeah, so you when this one drops, you got like one week to become a member.
00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:12.639
Yeah, you you got a few days, brother.
00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:14.800
You better tighten up and spend that two dollars.
00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:23.199
Yeah, and I know um Matt talks about our merch, but y'all, it is getting about that time where you need to put make together your little Christmas wish list.
00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:31.840
My cool fireman uh hoodie is next door, it's the uh cracker barrel uh parody shirt, and that thing, I love it.
00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:38.400
Like it's it's not cool enough in here to need it, but it is definitely outside, and that is probably my favorite cool fireman.
00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:39.599
It's cool enough in here.
00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:41.439
My was cold as shit.
00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:44.879
But you're definitely gonna definitely gonna want that one.
00:02:44.960 --> 00:02:46.560
So it's cold as hell in here.
00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:49.919
Uh all all jokes aside, let's do a moment of silence.
00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:55.520
Um I will tell you, um, I sent this to our group.
00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:59.759
Uh, so we we usually acknowledge um line of duty deaths.
00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:06.159
Um it looks like let's see, I shared this in our Patreon.
00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:10.479
Yeah, here it is, Monday morning, and we're recording on Thursday.
00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:14.159
Um in Louisiana, Caitlin Gallagher of the U.S.
00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:16.639
Forest Service in Alexandria, Louisiana.
00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:19.759
Her end of watch was October 14, 2026.
00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:24.080
Um, she was struck by a tree while responding to a fire in Louisiana.
00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:27.840
Cassachi, I think is the way you say that, national forest.
00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:31.280
And uh on on Facebook uh I shared a picture.
00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:40.159
She looks to be a very young lady, and uh I know our hearts go out to her for sure on that line of duty.
00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:42.879
Anyone else got got one that they're aware of?
00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:47.599
I did see today that the initial thing says she was struck by a tree.
00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:54.879
I it I read today that they were driving a UTV and ran into a tree, crashed into a tree so that could have been the situation.
00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:56.879
But either way, it's sad regardless.
00:03:56.960 --> 00:03:58.240
But just a little clarification there.
00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:03.919
I don't know which side is true, but I I've actually been to Alexandria, Louisiana, strangely enough.
00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:05.360
Wow.
00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:07.039
Many years ago.
00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:18.480
Well, um, I shared this with the Patreon perks behind the scenes, and I'll I'll I won't share everything that we shared because it was it was it had some highs and lows, and and you'll want to you'll want to join to to get that.
00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:24.160
But um I shared, I encourage everybody to go and look before we do our moment of silence.
00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:29.680
Go and search Wendell North Carolina Fire Department or just Wendell Fire Department.
00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:34.720
Um I know last week, and thank you, Doug, for mentioning our Durham firefighter here in North Carolina.
00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:39.920
Uh Wendell took a picture of the young man's shoes, and they have striping.
00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:40.800
Yep.
00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:51.920
And um, I told folks, man, that that that gives you chill bumps because you know that uh when he ran out that morning, um, he thought he would pick up those shoes and you know put them back, and and he did not.
00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:55.120
And so what a sacrifice uh that he made.
00:04:55.199 --> 00:05:00.480
And uh I hope they I hope they tear up the concrete right there and report it and press his shoes into it.
00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:02.319
That's yeah, like they did with Boston.
00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:04.800
That was probably one of the coolest memorials I've seen in front of the show.
00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:06.319
Yeah, dude, that's wow.
00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:07.040
It's awesome.
00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:07.519
Great idea.
00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:11.360
I also saw another post about him today, earlier today.
00:05:11.519 --> 00:05:15.040
Um, it was a picture of him and his crew, and he had made a grab somewhere.
00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:17.839
And that was as as a young fireman.
00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:19.519
I mean, that's just that's unheard of.
00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:21.279
That's just yeah.
00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:23.839
Uh chills, like you said, Brian, chills.
00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:29.519
And you don't want it to be in vain, and that's part of the reason why Mikey's here, and I don't want to give a teaser, but we're gonna talk about that.
00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:37.040
Mikey has a very close LODD, and that LODD is the purpose of tonight's episode.
00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:49.199
So tonight we talk a lot about leadership, we talk a lot about uh funny things and um you know the mental health side of things, and and tonight we're gonna really talk about purpose-driven training, right?
00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:54.240
Let's let's let their death um have a purpose, if you will.
00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:55.680
I mean, I know it has a purpose, right?
00:05:55.759 --> 00:06:07.199
Like that they were performing a search, looking to make a grab or whatever, but like at the end, let's take their purpose and their tragedy and turn it into our purpose, and that's what we're gonna do.
00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:12.639
So if nobody's got anything else, let's uh let's let's acknowledge this moment of silence real quick.
00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:25.839
Amen.
00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:27.199
Well said.
00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:30.319
Well said.
00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:36.000
All right, so let's get to the main event.
00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:42.160
So, with that being said, Mikey, um let's do a little introduction of you.
00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:50.639
I I told some folks, Mikey and I worked together several years ago um here um in the city of Jacksonville where we're both from.
00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:56.879
Um I was a couple of years ahead of him, and uh we knew each other, and then he took a job up near DC.
00:06:57.120 --> 00:06:59.519
So you kind of give your story from there.
00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:12.319
I'd love for you to talk about your business just a tad um and kind of the correlation that that plays into um the significant events and then tell us about the event itself.
00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:13.680
Yeah, sure.
00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:24.399
Um, first I want to make sure Adam will understand this that everybody understands that my views here are my own and they are not in any correlation related to the Native District of Washington Fire Department or the United States Navy.
00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:27.279
So, that being said, leave it in, take it out, whatever.
00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:28.959
I said it, my boss can't be mad.
00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:32.959
Um, so I started 19 years ago in the fire department.
00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:36.319
My initial classes were given by Brian Kelly at Southwest.
00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:37.680
It was it's insane.
00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:41.279
Um I spent some good times at Jacksonville, picked up a lot, learned a lot.
00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:43.680
Um, it was a crazy time in the city then.
00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:49.680
It was the height of the GWAT, so kids were coming home, spending dumb money, making even dumber decisions, and it kept us busy.
00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:56.959
Um so I was able to gain a lot of uh a lot of experience on the job in a short amount of time.
00:07:57.120 --> 00:08:03.279
Um I left there uh and took a job with the Anoroma County Fire Department where I worked just outside of Baltimore.
00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:09.120
Uh, learned a whole new style of fighting fire from those guys because there's people from Pennsylvania, New Jersey.
00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:17.040
I had a kid in my class from Ohio, and it was just a very good mixing pot of learning how to fight fire from a large portion of the East Coast.
00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:20.639
Um so that was that's been was really good time.
00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:29.680
Um the travel and working 120 hours a week between that and another job in DC teaching um was too much.
00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:35.919
So I took a job with the United States Capitol Police doing um the hazardous materials response team.
00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:51.200
We did a lot of uh anti-terrorism and response stuff for the Capitol, and then I left there and you know, hearing fire trucks when that's what when you're a fireman and you can't go anywhere near those fire trucks, kind of does something to your brain.
00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:57.440
So literally six months after I got that job, I was trying to juggle the numbers and see if I could go back to Anna Rundle.
00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:07.120
But um, you know, the Lord blessed me with the opportunity to come to Neighbor District Washington, put me 24 minutes from my house, put me back on a ladder truck, and I've been there ever since.
00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:11.120
So let's go back.
00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:12.320
So so let's go back.
00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:12.879
I muted.
00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:28.080
Let me let me go back and say, let's talk about the correlation um specifically to the incident, what occurred, and your relationship to Bryce and how how that how that loops all together.
00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:32.159
So that way when we talk about the event, they'll understand, they'll have the backstory, our listeners will.
00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:32.720
Okay.
00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:37.279
So um Bryce actually started out, my introduction to him was uh as a customer.
00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:43.039
Uh he bought a shield, a couple shields and radio strap for me for his volunteer fire department.
00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:58.159
Um that carried over for a couple years, and then I ended up getting the job at NDW probably six months or eight months after he did, they getting assigned to the same firehouse where I put two and two together that this dude that spends buying stuff for me is the same guy that I'm working with.
00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:01.600
Because like, oh, that's a really nice radio strap, looks just like the one I made last year.
00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:07.519
But um, he ended up being my roommate, and we just Brian knows how I am at the firehouse.
00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:08.960
That's how I am still.
00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:10.320
It was a blast.
00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:12.720
Uh constantly scaring the shit out of him.
00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:18.080
Um, seeing the correlation between him and and his fiancé's relationship to mine and my wife's relationship.
00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:19.360
It was almost one-to-one.
00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:22.240
It was insane how much it lined up.
00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:33.039
Um there's one time his wife had never flown on an airplane, and we're sitting out in the gazebo, and he's I taught him how to track how you could, you know, watch the airplane's flight go.
00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:43.519
And he's literally watching from the time she left BWI all the way till she landed in Florida, and it the phone says um lost lost service or whatever, and he looks at me.
00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:44.799
Did did she crash?
00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:47.120
I was like, Well, either way, buddy, she's on the ground.
00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:51.440
But probably like typical firehouse, right?
00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:52.000
It's his wife.
00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:54.399
I mean, he was he was worried right to death.
00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:57.279
Um, because like my wife, that was his best friend.
00:10:57.440 --> 00:11:00.480
They they did everything together, they were constantly together.
00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:03.919
If he wasn't at the firehouse or on a lawnmower, he was with Cheyenne.
00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:05.600
So, same thing with my wife.
00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:09.039
If I'm not at the firehouse or in this shop working, I'm hanging out with my wife.
00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:10.720
Only person I want to be around.
00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:17.279
So goofing off with Bryce and and seeing, you know, he would help a little bit trying to learn the trade of making shields.
00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:25.679
Um we saw how fire helmets were kind of going down in quality and going up in price.
00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:31.039
Um, being from Jacksonville, I was like, I know, literally know all the numbers.
00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:34.000
We were talking back and forth, and dude, how hard could it be?
00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:38.879
So I literally took four Boston-shaped shields, sewed them together, like yeah, that's pretty close.
00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:42.799
And it was, it's just been a story from from there.
00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:47.440
We went and and decided to figure out how to make make the shape of the helmets.
00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:50.559
We prayed a lot and figured out how to harden them.
00:11:50.799 --> 00:12:03.840
Um we have sourced all the parts and stuff because we wanted to make sure that we can make an American-made product, um, that we didn't have to worry about anybody else's ability to take a product from us so we couldn't complete our task.
00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:08.799
So we made sure we had complete control of every portion of the manufacturing.
00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:13.360
Um, all the brass components, all the the rivets, the leather, everything.
00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:17.120
We could everything that was going to be made for our helmet, we could get to in a day.
00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:22.159
If there's if there's a problem, I could drive to that manufacturer and be like, what's going on?
00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:36.240
Um, so we went into it, we figured it out, we started this business, and um roughly three months later, I got the call um from my wife saying, Hey, um, I'm in labor.
00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:37.919
I was like, awesome.
00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:40.000
So I told Bryce, I said, Hey bro, I gotta leave.
00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:43.360
We're you know, we're at work and uh you know, go have my my kid.
00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:45.200
I talked to him a couple days later.
00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:46.639
It's his his last shift.
00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:53.279
We're talking about he was thinking about going to another department to try to play the federal game, bouncing back and forth to get some steps and stuff.
00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:59.279
And uh, you know, I kind of laid out the numbers to him, explained to him, it's not always about that money.
00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:02.559
Uh sometimes the better decision is to stick it out and figure things out.
00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:09.200
We just had that older brother, little brother conversation about making these decisions for your family.
00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:13.279
Um, the next day was his second part of his 48.
00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:17.759
And then at the end of that second day is uh was was his last call.
00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:24.639
From the firehouse to your house, Unky Seasoning packed bold, firehouse tested flavor into every meal.
00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:28.159
Whether you're grilling, roasting, or just sprinkling it on your favorite snacks.
00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:31.600
Our blends turn everyday eats into unforgettable bites.
00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:35.200
Pick your flavor, take it on, and taste why it's firehouse approved.
00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:37.440
Go to unkyseasoning.com.
00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:42.080
Brought to you by the Burn Box, the number one firefighter subscription box.
00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:47.600
The burn box celebrates firefighter products and firefighter-owned and operated businesses.
00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:52.240
Start today and receive a monthly box of firefighter apparel gear and tools.
00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:54.799
Check them out at the burnbox.com.
00:13:56.320 --> 00:14:07.039
Yeah, so so let's let's pause there and say, you know, you you you've got you've got this friend, you've got this relationship, and you're you're off shift.
00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:15.120
So for that clarity and to make sure that everybody understands, you were or were not on the same crew with him at that point still.
00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:25.759
So I was he had just transferred from station one where I'm at, where we lived together, uh, to station two, maybe two or three months before this.
00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:30.799
Um it w he wasn't new to that task, he wasn't new to doing engine work.
00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:34.639
Um Bryce was a a really good motherfucking firefighter.
00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:37.039
Like that dude earned the title fireman.
00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:46.720
Uh but he, you know, not to to how do it says, not to take anything away from him or the guys that were there.
00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:59.200
Um he had been there for a a short period of time, and there was wasn't anything that I was expecting him to do there um that I didn't think he couldn't do.
00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:02.639
And I think everybody within the battalion thought the same.
00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:13.039
Um They knew from on the fire ground side at least, if there was a problem, he was going to be able to mitigate it pretty pretty competently.
00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:23.039
Um there wasn't you know, you get some kids that that step into that leadership role as an acting officer, and you're like, hopefully this guy's working with him, you know.
00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:33.519
And Bryce was even at 25, Bryce was good enough that you know he could pull in a younger kid or work right alongside with other guys that were in their 20s and they could fucking crush it.
00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:38.559
So there I I didn't I don't think there was anything that he couldn't do there.
00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:40.399
Cool.
00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:43.759
Well, let's talk about um the incident itself.
00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:46.000
And like I said, I know we wanted Drew to be on.
00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:56.879
Drew was there that day, and our intent was to have Drew that was there, but um, I think you know enough about the incident to share um about it.
00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:07.919
Uh so kind of take us through what happened that day uh and the events of that day, um, so that way we can talk then about what has happened since then.
00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:08.559
Okay.
00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:12.480
Um I'm gonna do my best to cover it as accurately as possible.
00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:14.000
Again, I I was not there.
00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:16.639
I was blessed to be on baby leave at home.
00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:20.720
Um I was I was supposed to be working that day, but thankfully I was not.
00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:28.960
Um I will hopefully guide everybody that is watching this or that will watch this to go find the report and read the report.
00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:30.240
Um there's videos.
00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:32.399
We're trying to put this in the show notes just so y'all know.
00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:33.200
Yeah, that would be fun.
00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:35.759
Yeah, we'll we'll absolutely put it in the notes, yeah.
00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:42.720
Without a doubt, not just because it's my buddy, but it's it's probably the best line of duty death report that I've ever read in 20 years.
00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:44.240
Like it's it's phenomenal.
00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:57.120
But um, so the guys get punched out for a fire, and I think I want to say they were third due, but they they the first you officer gets there, does a 360, um, there's heavy fire involvement.
00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:01.600
Um, guys start putting lines in service and figuring out what's going on.
00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:07.599
Long story short, fire starts in the basement, but they they miss the involvement of the basement.
00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:10.880
Um those guys start to make a push.
00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:17.279
There's the initial guys on the line start to make a push, and they withdraw from the fire.
00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:20.960
So Bryce and his guys are like, if you can't do it, we'll do it.
00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:25.359
Um we are a very aggressive uh culture here in Southern Maryland.
00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:32.319
So they make the push, and shortly thereafter, um, number two comes out of number one, number one comes out of the basement.
00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:35.039
So the other two guys are lucky enough to get out.
00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:43.920
A couple other guys are kind of caught in that skirmish from other companies, um, and but Bryce ultimately goes down to the basement and does not come out without being carried.
00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:52.480
So, with that being said, that's an unfortunate uh chain of events of of what's what's occurred.
00:17:52.559 --> 00:18:04.799
Let's talk about what happened and specifically when I say what happened, I mean we we talked about that, but what was the change and the outcomes of what happens, right?
00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:08.960
The formalities of the days after are the tradition, right?
00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:20.160
They're honored, they're remembered, they're um they're memorialized is the word I think I was looking for, but there has to be purpose because of that, right?
00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:20.640
Sure.
00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:25.680
And not just from Mikey's perspective, and not just from Drew and the crew that's there.
00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:38.319
I I told someone recently, uh, a chief told me early on, they said, you know, the beauty and the struggle of scars is that it reminds us of the challenges that we went through.
00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:39.119
Right?
00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:46.799
And that's that that's what a scar does, is it tells us of the tough time and and it reminds us that it was worth it, right?
00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:48.799
Because we made it through us through it.
00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:50.640
Uh some people don't, right?
00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:55.680
And that's why they don't have scars, and yet we do, because we live through it.
00:18:55.839 --> 00:19:02.400
And so that's what I would say is because the department has a scar, what was the change that came from that?
00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:04.079
What did you guys see?
00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:14.559
So there's there's been a couple of different things that have changed, both within our department, um, within the county, within the region, um, and definitely within our our battalion and our firehouse.
00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:30.480
Um probably one of the biggest things that I've come to notice since that day has happened is guys who are extremely anal about making sure that they go through and they get a solid 360 and is it on a basement, isn't on a call space, and look inside that fucking basement.
00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:34.559
If it's there, get inside there and find, make sure there's no involvement.
00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:37.680
Um I don't I know back home we didn't have a whole lot of basements.
00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:40.160
We had, I think, five in the entire city.
00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:50.160
Um, but other places throughout the country, I mean throughout the country, there's basements, there's um cellars, there's there's an uh a below tenable space that can be involved.
00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:52.640
Uh there's even some just big ass wall spaces.
00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:54.319
Walk over fire.
00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:56.079
Yeah, you gotta you can't.
00:19:56.240 --> 00:20:00.480
If you're gonna be over top of it, there's gotta be a really good fucking reason and you gotta really good reason.
00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:05.440
Like a heavy search is happening, and you know, you know, there's babies waving from the fucking window.
00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:09.759
That's about the only time you can you can make the make the car to do that.
00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:19.119
So guys, guys have been really good um in in our department and within the county we serve that you know 360s are done.
00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:22.960
If they can't complete the 360, it's verbalized on the radio.
00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:25.359
Hey, can't complete the 360 because of this.
00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:35.920
Um, and then they'll get dressed and they'll either complete that 360 or the second or third piece will come in, or one of the cheese buggies will um will make a lap, but that 360 is gonna get done.
00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:47.359
Um, sometimes if they can't physically make the round, they'll cut through, you know, they'll do like Baltimore, DC, and they'll cut through the next um exposure, go through and give a side charlie report at a minimum.
00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:51.359
But making sure everybody knows what the levels are and then label them.
00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:54.000
We're on one, um, we're on two.
00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:58.880
The walkout's gonna be called basement, you know, so everybody's on the same page.
00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:06.559
Um there's been a lot more push for guys to understand, like we just went over the other day uh at the firehouse, uh understanding the quadrants.
00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:11.200
I don't know if you guys do that, but they do A, B, C, and D, and then echoes in the middle.
00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.880
That's what they do here.
00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:14.799
I know that wasn't a thing back home.
00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:17.279
I personally like like plain text.
00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:24.319
Because if I if I say something, if I say uh I'm at an ordinary construction home and somebody says, Oh, well, it's type three.
00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:28.880
What do you you get some kid that just got done with his fire one and two, he doesn't know what the hell type three is.
00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:30.640
Let's just talk regular words.
00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:32.319
We're fire, it's a blue-collar job.
00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.200
Keep it simple.
00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:33.680
Right.
00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:41.920
So that's that's been a really big change here is making sure that everybody knows really what the building is and what the conditions are when they get there.
00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:53.119
Um another good one that that we've implemented at work is making sure that um like we've got a couple implementations that we've done.
00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:59.200
One of the biggest things that we're working on now is a officer development and an acting officer development program.
00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:03.680
Um It's a really slow roll, but which is aggravating for me.
00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:09.680
But at the same time, I I know some of the people that are involved in it and I know they're trying to make sure that it's done right the first time.
00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:12.559
So we're not having to backpedal and reinvent the wheel.
00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:22.160
Um I want folks to that maybe that may be a little I want to say seasoned, but a little experienced in maybe some of these advanced or command classes.
00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:30.720
You you may hear some of the stuff that Mikey's talking and say, oh, I I I hear them talk about some of that stuff, and that's blue card, and some of the people in my department have shot that down.
00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:32.640
Or maybe that's part from command and control.
00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:34.960
And then we don't do that, we do blue card.
00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:45.599
Um whatever the elements are and whatever your department has, I think what I want to reiterate as a chief officer is commit consistency and training.
00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.960
That's what I'm hearing.
00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:54.400
I'm hearing Mikey say that they identify that they need to be consistent and identify the risks on that fire ground.
00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:55.680
I don't care.
00:22:55.839 --> 00:23:09.680
I'm just saying this as a chief officer, I don't care what you call it, as long as everybody knows what it's called as the risk, and so that way that we have a system, so that way we lessen the risk for our people to make sure that people go home.
00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:10.240
Right?
00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:19.759
So whether you're bought into this program or that program or a program you make yourself, the question is does everybody who's come into that fire ground know that system?
00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:25.440
And if we know that system, great, because now we've we've reduced the risk for that.
00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:27.440
Doug, I want you to chime in.
00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:39.839
Uh, because again, you guys run uh you know a larger footprint uh with a lot of some of the departments, not exactly the same, but similar too as far as uh closeness and proximity.
00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:42.240
What what do you think about kind of that mindset?
00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:46.240
I saw you shake your head a couple times for those that may be listening while he was talking.
00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:48.000
What do you want me to hone in on?
00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:50.640
Well, just the I'm very opinionated.
00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:54.160
Yeah, like the whole echo, like when he said echo, I saw your head shake.
00:23:54.319 --> 00:24:03.359
Like it was like a, I don't know, it almost looked like a light bulb moment in your we don't we don't call it that, but um I get it, it's a great idea.
00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:11.920
Um we have instituted uh new benchmarks in the last, I don't know, 12 months probably.
00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:15.440
And we added 360 complete being one of our benchmarks.
00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:17.759
We never had to announce that before.
00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:27.359
We would, you know, the front the front seat guy, um whether it be the officer or the acting officer, and I've been an acting officer for nine years, nine and a half years, something like that.
00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:29.119
So I've had plenty of seat time.
00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:32.000
Um we would always just make the lap and then do an update.
00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:36.240
Hey, update from command, got a two-story with a basement, whatever.
00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:40.559
Well, now we have to actually log 360 complete as one of our benchmarks.
00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:42.319
So it's a it's a big deal.
00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:45.519
And like like Mikey said, it sometimes it's not possible.
00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:52.319
If you got to get straight to work, if you you've got a large structure, it's a massive apartment building, or sometimes these cluster homes, you really can't get.
00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:54.559
I say cluster homes, I don't know if you know what I'm talking about.
00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:55.200
Yeah, roads.
00:24:55.440 --> 00:25:01.440
We have a lot of those, and we have a lot of those in in my area of so it's basically it's just one point in the ground, right?
00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:03.119
And then there's four houses built off of it.
00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:05.119
And it's typically for 55 and up, right?
00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:06.559
We call them cluster homes.
00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:07.519
I do anyway.
00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:09.359
Um, that's hard to get around.
00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:10.400
So you're right.
00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:26.000
And in my department, we have such a I don't want to say a quick response, but we have the way our demographics, our geographics set up, we have you know, the first end units on scene, the second end units 60 seconds behind.
00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:26.960
They're not far behind.
00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:28.240
They're like it's pretty close.
00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:32.720
So if the first end unit can't get to it, hey, I didn't get to do a 360, get to that.
00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:38.960
Them or the BC, like you said, because they're in a staff vehicle, they're hauling ass, they can get there much faster than we can.
00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:40.400
Somebody's gonna do it.
00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:42.400
It's it's critical.
00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:43.599
Critical.
00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:56.799
And and and everything I've ever been taught in in any kind of acting officer class or or um I don't want to say leadership class, but like a command and control class, is what do I want to know about the Charlie side or the 360?
00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.759
What do you want to know?
00:25:57.920 --> 00:26:05.839
There's only three things that we we we consider important: the number of floors, the conditions, and egress.
00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.599
Right?
00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:34.079
That that kind of reminds me, so um I I I selflessly plugged the other podcast that we have, the Carolina Firewatch, and we interviewed Lauren Franklin, who was in a home explosion um in Salisbury, and they talked about their benchmarks and how they've reduced the amount of time of communication that they have to do on the radio because they have set benchmarks based off of their arriving units.
00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:35.440
Doug's shaking his head.
00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:39.039
Mikey, do y'all have something similar to that or or no?
00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:50.160
So they'll say engine one's arriving, third engine, and they know that their third or engine arriving has certain predetermined benchmarks or tasks based off of their own.
00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:52.160
That's first alarm assignment stuff.
00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:53.839
I don't I don't really call that a benchmark.
00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:56.160
Well, I'm let me go ahead.
00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:56.559
I'm sorry.
00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:57.039
Go ahead.
00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:59.599
Well, what I was gonna say is before beauty.
00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:00.640
Thank you.
00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:06.559
So what I was saying was was that they they have those unless they are directed otherwise, right?
00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:14.640
So they know that their first arriving typically assigns right, like you said, on those are on their regular cookie cutter 90% of the time.
00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:28.799
And and the why of why they did that was because of in a in the event of a May Day, they didn't want someone tying up radio frequencies for the purpose of giving what should be, I don't want to say, typical information.
00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:33.039
So they would say uh water on the fire, 360 complete.
00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:35.200
And that made me think of it when you said that, Doug, right?
00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:36.480
So it's just benchmarks.
00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:37.519
I completely get it.
00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:39.039
Because when do Maydays happen?
00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:40.880
In the first few minutes of the accident, right?
00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:43.759
Like that's that's we have we have data to support that.
00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:51.839
And I've always been an advocate of we talk too goddamn much on the radio, we say too much shit on the radio that doesn't need to be said.
00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:56.640
Yeah, you know, I don't need and and and oh god, I'm gonna get in trouble for this.
00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:58.799
Our chiefs are the most guilty for it.
00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:04.559
They've got their fucking little ear pods in and they're just a status, a CPR.
00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:06.559
Chief, shut the fuck up and let me work.
00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:06.799
Okay.
00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:11.759
With all due respect, if the smoke conditions are getting better, shut the fuck up.
00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:13.279
I don't need you to talk to me about it.
00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:15.279
If it's getting better, that's positive.
00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.240
We understand that.
00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:17.519
You should understand that.
00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:19.519
We talk too much on the fucking radio.
00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:36.720
And Brian, to your point, yes, unless you were giving an assignment as the second, third, fourth, first truck, what first medic, whatever, unless you were told specifically what to do, you should understand what the first alarm assignment is and what your job is as that unit getting there.
00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:44.640
Because when you hit the button and to mark on scene or to say, hey, engine 209's on scene, truck 209's on scene, people hear that shit.
00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:46.319
Know what your job is.
00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:48.240
Know your job and do your job.
00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:51.680
This is the same shit I tell my 17-year-old softball players.
00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:54.079
Know your job and do your job.
00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:55.920
It ain't that fucking hard.
00:28:56.160 --> 00:29:00.000
Well, and to that point, that that should be the only time you communicate, right?
00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:17.599
So if I assign, if I've assigned engine two to fire attack, division two, right, whatever, and that's what they're doing, the only thing that they should do is come back and say, uh, command from uh Unit Two, status change, uh fire attack complete, transitioning to overhaul.
00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:18.319
Boom.
00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:18.799
That's it.
00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:20.319
That's all that should happen, right?
00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:27.599
So that way he can he or she can write on our board, you know, the that basically we we believe that we've got what I'm that way.
00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:31.200
He can come back and say give another task.
00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:35.119
Maybe it's burning in the roof and they don't know it because they're down below, right?
00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:38.799
They can't see what they what they what they don't know, right?
00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:41.279
Uh and and they can't see what they can't see.
00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:45.440
So it's in it's relative to say, like, hey, short burst of information.
00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:49.680
This is what I'm doing, this is the task that I've completed, and then what can I go from there?
00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:52.720
Uh Mikey, I want to go back real quick, unless Doug, you you got something.
00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:53.119
I'm not sure.
00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:55.039
No, no, short, short and to the point.
00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:55.680
Short.
00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:57.279
I don't need a dissertation.
00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.400
A hundred percent.
00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:58.720
Right.
00:29:58.880 --> 00:30:02.400
Hey Chief, we got it, we got a good knock, we're making progress, we're gonna check for extension.
00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:02.799
Done.
00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:03.680
Yep, yep.
00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:05.119
Uh Mikey, I want to go back.
00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:07.200
I want to go back to this to decision making.
00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:15.359
Did you guys see any change um in your process for decision making on the fire ground as a result of this?
00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:20.960
Um as far as like that day or after because of this.
00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:23.359
After after that, because of this.
00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:31.519
Um either you empowered more at the first arriving level all the way back to you know, anything.
00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:33.279
Like, has that changed?
00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:42.400
So I I I can speak more so to uh my house and my battalion more so than anything else, because that's what I have a better direct approach to.
00:30:42.720 --> 00:31:01.519
Um I have always, and I got this from from back home, I've always been a make sure your kids know the job and the job like he was like like Doug was saying, you need to know your job and do your job, but on on the truck, you need to know your job, do your job, but you also need to know the engine's job and make sure those guys on the wagon are making effect.
00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:12.559
And you need to know when there's there's a problem when they're not being um, when they're not making a knock on that fire, what can you do to affect them to give them a better opportunity to get that knock on that fire?
00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:22.799
Um, when you look at a building, how can you know that quick where everybody's going to be, where everybody is at, and where everybody needs to have the opportunity to go to?
00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:28.079
Because that's your job on the truck is to make sure they have the opportunity to do that the quickest and the safest as possible.
00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:44.000
Uh, that being said, everybody that's worked under me since I've got here, I've done my best to try to make sure that they have as much of my experiences, that they get the stories, they get the opportunity to see pictures and videos of what I've done and how that can translate to us.
00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:46.640
Um, I want them to put me out of business.
00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:52.400
I want them to be 10 times better of a truck driver than I am and be 10 times a truck operator that I am.
00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:56.960
I want them to be able to be confident in their decision making.
00:31:57.119 --> 00:32:00.319
I don't want them to, you know, kind of look, hey, is it okay if I do this?
00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:03.200
Or um, oh, and maybe I'll get in trouble if I do that.
00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:04.079
Fuck it, man.
00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:06.720
If you need to put that, and this is gonna hurt some feelings, Doug.
00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:13.839
If you gotta put that tip through that window, the fucking end of that ladder is designed to be replaced.
00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:17.039
It's designed to fail and replace this much of it.
00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.880
Prove that I'm wrong.
00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:19.839
I'll wait.
00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.440
I'll wait you, bro.
00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:23.599
You know, that's literally designed for that.
00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:24.960
So, I mean, stuff like that.
00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:30.319
If you don't understand the why and the how of things, you know, you can't make these decisions.
00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:41.359
So I try to give my kids as much experience and pass on as many stories, if it's not for me, because I'm not bro, I didn't, I didn't I wasn't in the Bronx when it was burning, but I've been around and I've talked to a lot of people.
00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:43.279
I've been to some things, I've seen some things.
00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:45.440
Uh, so I try to pass on as much of that as I can.
00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:50.640
So when these guys get to a situation, they can make a quick and confident decision.
00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:52.400
And if it goes good, awesome.
00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:54.640
If it goes bad, make another decision.
00:32:54.880 --> 00:33:16.960
Like be confident in it, and then hopefully on the drill field and going through calls, not only do they gain more confidence and the ability to do that, but the officers that they're working under see that the kids that are working for them are confident and competent, and they can feel trust and their drivers and there's those outside Vent men and stuff that they can do their job and they know that they're they're other guys gonna do their job.
00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:19.680
You don't have to babysit somebody, you don't have to hold coattails.
00:33:19.920 --> 00:33:25.519
Um, in doing that, it's a slow battleship turn, but it we're making progress.
00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:37.200
Um, we're seeing that guys that were having um having to look back and be real timid about making a decision or be timid about being um in the right spot.
00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:38.240
Do I turn here?
00:33:38.400 --> 00:33:39.279
Do I turn there?
00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:42.559
Do make your decision and go with it and back yourself up.
00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:45.920
If someone wants to talk shit about it, stand on your hill.
00:33:46.160 --> 00:33:47.839
You made that decision, they weren't there.
00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:49.920
If they have a problem with it, we'll discuss it.
00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:57.680
And maybe I made a bad decision, maybe I made a good decision, but we'll discuss it so next time we have this opportunity, we can make a better, uh, better play.
00:33:57.839 --> 00:33:59.680
Um, we're not always going to be perfect.
00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:03.599
There's only one perfect person, and Jesus ain't here, so you ain't it.
00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:04.480
Yeah.
00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:10.960
I want to go back to um kind of what you talked about to the new generation and you call them your kids.
00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:16.000
I love that because that that creates love and that creates ownership, and and I appreciate that.
00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:21.519
Uh I almost jumped in and said that because it ties in so much to what Greg and Matt and I talked about last week.
00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:23.119
Yeah, last week so much.
00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:27.199
Uh I I love it, you know, because again, I think it also shows ownership, right?
00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:30.239
So I I love that you call them your kids.
00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:33.280
Um, but I want to I want to go back to the clarity.
00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:37.119
We spend a lot of time on the show, and and and I know you you listened to some of them.
00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:46.000
I don't know how if you've listened to all of them or whatever, but we lot of we talk a lot about the new generation of firefighters coming on board, and I know your house, firehouse is probably full of them.
00:34:46.320 --> 00:35:04.400
Do you find yourself going back to the incidents of what occurred with Bryce and maybe giving a little clarity and leaning into that incident, or maybe leaning on that incident uh and giving some examples when when you can, not all the time, right?
00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:07.599
But like saying, hey, this is this is why we do it.
00:35:07.760 --> 00:35:16.320
And and or or is that kind of like was that never the case, or is it still the case, right?
00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:33.440
Like if there was something that occurred that day, you stress that that that that incident, like for example, with with regards to the basement, like, hey, we do it this way because with Bryce, this is why it went south, or or whatever, right?
00:35:33.599 --> 00:35:34.960
I don't want to give specific examples.
00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:37.599
Yeah, so there's there's a lot of there's a lot of lessons.
00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:45.039
There's there's been some some finger pointing, and you know, this would have happened if this is this decision was made, or this wouldn't happen if this person was doing that.
00:35:45.280 --> 00:35:47.039
Like, I again I wasn't there.
00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:51.599
I was blessed by the Lord to not be there because my wife said if I was there, I probably wouldn't be down there with him.
00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:55.039
Um I'd I'd have found a way to get there too, and I probably would have got stuck.
00:35:55.360 --> 00:35:57.360
But I was able to take a lesson.
00:35:57.440 --> 00:36:01.440
Um, and actually was nice because you know I I did get hurt pretty early in my career.
00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:09.840
Brian, I don't know if you remember that, but I got I got knocked off and um you know off a roof and was out of work for like a week, I think.
00:36:10.159 --> 00:36:16.800
But um and I I learned a very specific lesson from that day about um your relief valves on your on your wagon.
00:36:16.880 --> 00:36:20.960
Make sure your relief valve on your your pump is set, especially if you're relay pumping.
00:36:21.119 --> 00:36:27.840
So I have everybody I've trained since then, hey man, this is a relief valve, this is how it works, and this is why I'm I'm anal about making sure you have it set.
00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:31.760
Because I wouldn't have got hurt and have back problems if that relief valve wasn't set.
00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:43.280
Um but I've also been able to since this go back and one of the biggest things I try to teach the kids, especially like I said, Southern Maryland is wildly aggressive, and I love it.
00:36:43.360 --> 00:36:46.960
It's not like nobody's lollygagging, well, it's not my emergency.
00:36:47.119 --> 00:36:47.679
Fuck you, bro.
00:36:47.760 --> 00:36:49.119
If you don't like that, get on an ambulance.
00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:50.239
That's not what this is about.
00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:52.239
Um, but these kids are they want to go in.
00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:55.039
You're like fucking ambo.
00:36:55.360 --> 00:36:56.320
Bro, I'm serious.
00:36:56.480 --> 00:37:04.239
Like, I I I this job is giving me a lot, and this job is giving me the opportunity to impact a lot of people and a lot of families and do some really cool stuff.
00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:06.320
Hey, so as a local guy, I get it.
00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:10.559
I I understand that that area is super aggressive, and it's they're known for that.
00:37:10.719 --> 00:37:11.599
It's not a secret.
00:37:11.679 --> 00:37:12.320
I I love it.
00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:12.960
Yep.
00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:16.000
So I mean that's that's you know, me and Bryce were like that.
00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:17.519
We were constantly on people.
00:37:17.679 --> 00:37:18.960
Hey, bro, don't be slow.
00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:21.280
You know, we'd see somebody out at the store, don't be slow.
00:37:21.360 --> 00:37:23.760
You better leave room because if not, I'm gonna run you over.
00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:25.679
Um, but it that's awesome.
00:37:25.760 --> 00:37:26.480
I I love it.
00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:34.239
I love the fact that the guys here they want to get in, they want to push you out of the way, they want to be the ones who put the water on the fire, they want to be the ones on the roof making the hole or making the grab.
00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:40.239
But one of the things that I've had to learn or that I definitely took from this fire is is throttle control.
00:37:40.320 --> 00:37:43.760
Like Bryce would call me or talk to me after almost every call.
00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:49.119
Since the time we started working together, he'd come back from a run and be like, hey man, this is what happened, these are the decisions we made.
00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:50.079
What do you think?
00:37:50.239 --> 00:37:54.239
And again, I'm I'm not the man, but I'm older.
00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:56.480
Like I'm now I'm 41 now.
00:37:56.880 --> 00:37:59.599
So I'm literally old enough to be most of these kids' dads.
00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:03.440
Um, I'm old enough to be my captain's dad, which is insane.
00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:04.400
That's that's true.
00:38:04.639 --> 00:38:05.039
Wow.
00:38:05.280 --> 00:38:05.679
Yeah.
00:38:05.840 --> 00:38:10.159
Um, but uh, you know, he would he would come to me and ask, you know, what do you think?
00:38:10.239 --> 00:38:11.519
Do I do you think I made a good decision?
00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:12.880
Do you think I made a bad decision?
00:38:13.119 --> 00:38:17.039
And we would talk through stuff and try to relate it to the decisions that we made before.
00:38:17.360 --> 00:38:26.239
But what I've definitely tried to impart since then that I didn't get an opportunity to impart in price, at least I don't I don't think I did, is uh what I call throttle control.
00:38:26.639 --> 00:38:32.960
Like we got these kids, when I was working at Anna Rundle, we were all very, very competitive drivers.
00:38:33.199 --> 00:38:35.840
We knew the first, second, and third do like the back of our hands.
00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:44.000
But we also knew if we're going to the the 32 box, when we get to this intersection, hey man, the game stopped.
00:38:44.239 --> 00:38:46.880
Whoever gets there, we're gonna get in line, we're gonna go put the fire out.
00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:56.079
But until we get there, you better have your ass on that gas pedal because 10's coming, 30's coming, 20's coming, 13's coming, we're coming.
00:38:56.400 --> 00:38:58.159
And we're all racing for that intersection.
00:38:58.239 --> 00:39:00.000
But once we get there, the game stops.
00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:02.000
We don't have to be aggressive anymore.
00:39:02.320 --> 00:39:06.400
Same thing, um, I try to get them to understand at a fire.
00:39:06.880 --> 00:39:08.559
Look, we need to go, go, go, right?
00:39:08.719 --> 00:39:09.840
Get there as fast as you can.
00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:12.880
As soon as that brake pops, we need to let off the throttle a little bit.
00:39:13.039 --> 00:39:14.239
We're still coasting, right?
00:39:14.320 --> 00:39:18.079
We're not hitting the brake, but just come off the throttle and let coast.
00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:22.559
You can take a size of like luckily, one of my captains hit me with an uh apartment fire one time.
00:39:22.639 --> 00:39:23.760
He said, Hey bro, slow down.
00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:25.440
And I was like, Oh shit, cool.
00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:26.639
I need to turn right here.
00:39:26.880 --> 00:39:31.199
And because I took that second, I was able to put my truck in the spot and we we crush it.
00:39:31.519 --> 00:39:34.000
Um but slow down when you're pulling in.
00:39:34.159 --> 00:39:40.480
Hit the brake, slow down again, get out of the truck, make a nice 360 of the building, see what's going on, right?
00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:42.239
Then back up on that fuel.
00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:45.039
Get to that door, let off the thing again, right?
00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:51.920
Once you get into that door, take a good look, hit it with your camera, see what the conditions are, listen, right?
00:39:52.800 --> 00:39:58.639
Look, see what the fuck's going on, get back on that that motor again, right?
00:39:59.440 --> 00:40:08.480
But if you see and listen and see some other stuff that, hey, maybe not, maybe then that's when we start tapping the the brake a little bit and making better informed decisions.
00:40:08.880 --> 00:40:22.639
Um there's some stuff that that has been commented on on that fire, and you can go back through and see the pictures and see the video and stuff, that maybe other people would have got to that door and been like, whoa, this is a little sketch.
00:40:22.880 --> 00:40:27.199
Or you would have seen the fire load and felt the heat and be like, mmm, hold on a minute.
00:40:27.519 --> 00:40:36.079
But the decision was made that day to to go in, and he he said, Look, if you can't you can't do it, get out the fucking way and we'll do it.
00:40:36.400 --> 00:40:37.440
Right, wrong, or indifferent.
00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:39.599
That's that's the decision that he that was made.
00:40:39.840 --> 00:40:42.000
Um so I've done my best.
00:40:42.159 --> 00:40:45.840
Um, but it's the the what is it?
00:40:45.920 --> 00:40:50.559
The lesson that was learned most for me was trying to teach guys the opportunity to have throttle control.
00:40:50.880 --> 00:40:55.199
Um a lot of guys have gotten better with that here in in Southern Maryland.
00:40:55.440 --> 00:41:04.400
You still see some of the younger kids that are, you know, they want to be like the older guys that are there, that you see them hit the ground running, literally running to the fire.
00:41:04.639 --> 00:41:06.480
And um, maybe that's all they see.
00:41:06.559 --> 00:41:10.079
Maybe they don't see the they slow down and pace a little bit and take a gander.
00:41:10.400 --> 00:41:12.079
You know, they don't stop, they don't walk.
00:41:12.320 --> 00:41:19.280
But being able to feather off of that throttle a little bit and taking in more information so you grasp what's going on.
00:41:19.519 --> 00:41:21.679
You grasp where the fire's at.
00:41:21.840 --> 00:41:23.440
Uh, are there people there?
00:41:23.760 --> 00:41:24.960
Has the fire moved?
00:41:25.119 --> 00:41:26.400
Is there fire in the basement?
00:41:26.559 --> 00:41:28.400
Are there people hanging from the windows?
00:41:28.559 --> 00:41:30.639
Is this even an occupied building?
00:41:30.960 --> 00:41:31.360
Right?
00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:42.639
Um, and I know it's it's occupied until we make the search, but if you're out every day and you're touring around, you know which ones are are vacant and which ones are full of vagrants.
00:41:42.880 --> 00:41:43.280
You should.
00:41:43.599 --> 00:41:44.079
There's a difference.
00:41:44.159 --> 00:41:47.039
Yeah, you should get out there and see where where your people are at.
00:41:47.199 --> 00:41:53.599
Um, you know where the drug addicts are hanging out, you know um where Bob and Sally are hanging out at their house.
00:41:53.679 --> 00:41:59.280
You know, the the old folks are playing bridge, you know where the kids are, the you know, the neighborhoods that the kids are riding bikes.
00:41:59.440 --> 00:42:05.199
Look for these clues, and you find those clues, you just come off the gas a little bit and pull it in and make a better informed decision.
00:42:05.440 --> 00:42:09.760
Brought to you by the Burn Box, the number one firefighter subscription box.
00:42:09.920 --> 00:42:15.280
The burn box celebrates firefighter products and firefighter-owned and operated businesses.
00:42:15.519 --> 00:42:19.920
Start today and receive a monthly box of firefighter apparel gear and tools.
00:42:20.159 --> 00:42:22.480
Check them out at the burnbox.com.
00:42:23.840 --> 00:42:32.079
I want to ask three uh very serious questions um as it relates to Bryce.
00:42:32.159 --> 00:42:41.519
Um, but before I start these, I want to ask Adam or Doug if they want to chime in before I before I get to these last three closing questions.
00:42:41.760 --> 00:42:45.360
Because if you've noticed Mikey, he tells you exactly what he thinks.
00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:47.519
So I want to leave enough time for turnout drill too.
00:42:47.599 --> 00:42:52.000
I don't want to leave like that, and I want to make sure we have time for snail mail.
00:42:52.159 --> 00:42:56.079
Um, so so do you guys have any questions before I get to these three?
00:42:56.320 --> 00:42:56.559
These two.
00:42:57.119 --> 00:42:58.800
No, I'm thoroughly enjoying listening.
00:42:59.039 --> 00:42:59.679
Okay, all right.
00:42:59.840 --> 00:43:01.599
They're like, you just guys keep rolling.
00:43:01.679 --> 00:43:03.760
Um I feel like I've said enough.
00:43:04.079 --> 00:43:04.400
Okay.
00:43:05.119 --> 00:43:10.800
Um so this is probably the gonna be the easiest question for you, Mike, Mikey.
00:43:10.960 --> 00:43:22.719
Um looking at the broader fire service, um what are some lessons you think from Bryce's story that you hope others will take away from from his incident?
00:43:22.880 --> 00:43:28.800
When they go back and read that incident detail, what do you what do you hope that they will take from that?
00:43:30.239 --> 00:43:36.320
There's there's a there's a lot to take from, you know, again, if you get the opportunity to read the report, please read the report.
00:43:36.480 --> 00:43:41.760
Um, and it's not just a report that's gonna impact a firefighter, a driver, an officer, or or a chief.
00:43:42.159 --> 00:43:45.760
There's there's something literally for everybody in the fire service from that report.
00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:54.159
Um so it's kind of hard to say what do I hope everybody takes from that because literally everybody could take a different lesson from that, a different approach from it.
00:43:54.320 --> 00:43:54.559
Sure.
00:43:54.719 --> 00:44:02.159
Because there's there's stuff in there that the chief officers um you know did good to Bad and that they'll be able to carry on.
00:44:02.239 --> 00:44:05.360
There's stuff that the drivers had problems with, there's stuff that the farmers had.
00:44:05.519 --> 00:44:13.679
Um, what I hope that they take from it is the opportunity to pass that on to somebody else, so they have the opportunity to take something from it.
00:44:14.400 --> 00:44:18.559
Um we went through a lot of these reports, you know, very early on in my career.
00:44:18.719 --> 00:44:29.519
You guys were really good about making sure, you know, when something especially close to home happened, we knew who that person was, who their what their backstory was, about their family, where they were from, all that stuff.
00:44:29.599 --> 00:44:35.280
So it kind of cauterized that in your heart that this is a real person, this isn't just a name.
00:44:36.000 --> 00:44:40.159
And then we were really good about understanding what happened and why it happened.
00:44:40.639 --> 00:44:41.599
Like, yeah, it sucks.
00:44:41.760 --> 00:44:45.679
We're not pointing blames, but what physically got these guys in that conundrum?
00:44:45.840 --> 00:44:54.800
So when we go up against, you know, when the furniture store catches on fire, we know, hey man, yeah, don't take a two and a half inch line in there to supply your wagon.
00:44:55.039 --> 00:44:55.840
That's not enough water.
00:44:56.400 --> 00:45:07.360
You know, um, so everybody, I just want everybody to read not just this report, but every every report that comes out and asks you the simple question of what happened and why did that happen.
00:45:07.760 --> 00:45:09.199
So it doesn't happen again.
00:45:09.280 --> 00:45:17.920
There's there's nothing at all romantic or glory uh or full of glory or glorified about the things that we had to do after that day.
00:45:18.480 --> 00:45:21.039
I don't ever like I I did it a bunch before I got here.
00:45:21.119 --> 00:45:22.800
I did it a couple times since I've been here.
00:45:22.960 --> 00:45:24.079
I don't want to do it again.
00:45:24.559 --> 00:45:25.519
It's not fun.
00:45:25.760 --> 00:45:31.360
Um, so if we can minimize and keep that number as low as possible, if we can ever get it down to single digits, that'd be great.
00:45:31.840 --> 00:45:32.639
That would be phenomenal.
00:45:32.719 --> 00:45:38.960
It's never gonna happen because this job's rough, but if we can keep the numbers below 100, sweet.
00:45:39.440 --> 00:45:39.760
I love it.
00:45:40.320 --> 00:45:41.440
It would be fantastic.
00:45:41.679 --> 00:45:42.079
All right.
00:45:42.159 --> 00:45:46.079
The next one is really about you and Bryce.
00:45:46.320 --> 00:45:51.760
When you think about Bryce today, what do you hope people will remember most about him?
00:45:52.559 --> 00:45:55.440
Uh, he was a hard-working dude, loved his family.
00:45:57.920 --> 00:45:59.039
He was a good farmer.
00:46:01.039 --> 00:46:01.920
He was a good dude.
00:46:02.320 --> 00:46:04.239
I have a very excuse you.
00:46:05.679 --> 00:46:07.280
I have a very small circle.
00:46:07.519 --> 00:46:09.840
And he was pretty close to the middle.
00:46:12.000 --> 00:46:13.440
I know that one was hard.
00:46:13.519 --> 00:46:14.800
I don't know him, right?
00:46:15.039 --> 00:46:19.360
But it it I don't care who you are, you you know somebody.
00:46:19.599 --> 00:46:24.480
Um and on the on the Patreon side of it, I was tearing up over there.
00:46:24.719 --> 00:46:33.519
And um I didn't know that guy because if you've been in this service long enough, you know the sacrifice and you know the relationships.
00:46:33.920 --> 00:46:35.840
So so here's the last one.
00:46:36.400 --> 00:46:44.800
What do you what do you hope Bryce's legacy means for firefighters who are gonna come after him?
00:46:46.559 --> 00:46:54.239
Um I hope I hope they follow because uh he was constantly working to try to figure out the next step for himself.
00:46:54.400 --> 00:46:59.280
Um I'm selfish, I'm 19 years into this, I'm driving.
00:46:59.360 --> 00:47:03.599
I'm gonna be happy as a clam if I just end my career in that seat.
00:47:03.760 --> 00:47:06.000
Um but he was not happy with that.
00:47:06.239 --> 00:47:10.480
He had plans of promoting a Catherine next, and probably beyond that.
00:47:10.639 --> 00:47:15.679
Um, but he was always trying to make an impact and make the job enjoyable.
00:47:15.840 --> 00:47:17.519
It's really easy, especially nowadays.
00:47:18.000 --> 00:47:21.840
You know, everybody around you in this, you know, nobody talks anymore.
00:47:23.440 --> 00:47:24.159
Check this out.
00:47:24.559 --> 00:47:26.639
Like, put those fucking phones away.
00:47:26.960 --> 00:47:34.800
Um he was always very, very keen about making sure the culture within the house was what it should be.
00:47:34.960 --> 00:47:37.440
Um, what the old timers had it, you know?
00:47:37.840 --> 00:47:41.920
Sitting around a kitchen table, sitting around a bay table, sitting around, we had a we have a gazebo.
00:47:42.079 --> 00:47:45.440
We'd sit around a gazebo for hours just talking about dumb stuff.
00:47:45.920 --> 00:47:49.119
Like, hey, how many monkeys do you think it would take to pick that airplane up?
00:47:50.320 --> 00:47:53.920
Well, are they gray monkeys or are they like capuchin monkeys?
00:47:54.000 --> 00:47:55.599
Like the dumb stuff like that that makes it enjoyable.
00:47:55.840 --> 00:47:58.159
We're here for 48 hours, 72 hours at a time.
00:47:58.880 --> 00:48:00.239
Do the monkeys have thumbs?
00:48:00.480 --> 00:48:01.679
Yeah, are they gorillas?
00:48:01.920 --> 00:48:04.000
Because those are much stronger, you know.
00:48:04.159 --> 00:48:08.639
Um, but you know, maintaining that the joy of that job.
00:48:08.800 --> 00:48:10.400
Uh, I heard you guys talk about the other day.
00:48:10.480 --> 00:48:14.079
A lot of kids come in and they'll do the job for a little bit and then they're like, Yeah, that was fun.
00:48:14.159 --> 00:48:15.360
I'm gonna go be a banker now.
00:48:15.440 --> 00:48:16.800
Like, yeah, that's cool.
00:48:17.039 --> 00:48:18.559
Maybe those people shouldn't be here.
00:48:18.880 --> 00:48:22.719
Um, but if you're gonna be here, make sure that you're making a daily impact.
00:48:22.960 --> 00:48:29.440
Um, not just about being a good fireman or making sure the trucks are checked off or you got your shirt tucked in.
00:48:29.519 --> 00:48:30.559
Don't get me started on that.
00:48:30.639 --> 00:48:31.599
It's a whole nother problem.
00:48:31.840 --> 00:48:33.119
But a whole nother problem.
00:48:33.840 --> 00:48:43.360
Making sure that the daily firehouse um life and what it is when you come in to work, you're excited to be there.
00:48:43.679 --> 00:48:51.039
Um it's really easy for a lot of guys, and I'm I'm guilty of it, of losing the enjoyment of having to get in your truck and go to work.
00:48:51.519 --> 00:48:57.519
Like since that day, I can genuinely say I I can't think of more than a couple days where I've been excited to go to work.
00:48:57.920 --> 00:49:02.159
That's three years of not being happy that I'm getting to go get on a fire truck.
00:49:02.239 --> 00:49:03.760
I'm trying to turn that battleship.
00:49:04.000 --> 00:49:06.559
It's a rough individual battle for myself.
00:49:06.800 --> 00:49:15.760
But that was something that that Bryce said, and hopefully, more guys that hear this you don't have to be the senior man, you don't have to be an officer, you can be two years on a job.
00:49:15.840 --> 00:49:18.239
You can be the just don't be the two and twenty, right?
00:49:18.320 --> 00:49:21.119
Right, but make sure everybody's happy.
00:49:22.239 --> 00:49:24.400
And that doesn't mean oh you you look great today.
00:49:24.559 --> 00:49:28.639
Really see you're you're doing great, your biceps are awesome, you know your shoes look clean.
00:49:28.880 --> 00:49:31.280
Like, hey man, you look fat.
00:49:31.519 --> 00:49:41.920
Like, I've but if I didn't give those problems to people, if I didn't talk trash, if I walk past Brian's office at station one and I didn't say anything to him, yeah, he probably knew there was something up.
00:49:42.079 --> 00:49:42.880
Well, you were cops.
00:49:43.280 --> 00:49:43.519
100%.
00:49:43.840 --> 00:49:44.000
Yeah.
00:49:44.639 --> 00:49:46.000
Shout out to my rookie, Austin.
00:49:46.239 --> 00:49:49.519
Like Austin came in as like he was a cop before he came to us.
00:49:49.679 --> 00:49:50.719
He finally wised up.
00:49:50.800 --> 00:49:51.360
But same thing.
00:49:51.440 --> 00:49:53.119
Like he came in, he's a new guy.
00:49:53.199 --> 00:49:57.599
He doesn't think he's a 220, but he started busting balls as soon as he was able to.
00:49:57.679 --> 00:50:01.280
Oh, and it just dude, he just he keeps everything so lively.
00:50:01.360 --> 00:50:02.960
So yeah, you're spot on.
00:50:03.199 --> 00:50:04.239
Yep, make it enjoyable.
00:50:04.400 --> 00:50:06.079
Know your place, but make it enjoyable.
00:50:06.320 --> 00:50:09.360
And um know where that line's at.
00:50:09.440 --> 00:50:14.719
Uh, your battalion chiefs might get a little mad at it, but it's it's good every once in a while to to stand on that line.
00:50:15.360 --> 00:50:16.000
Jump the line.
00:50:16.480 --> 00:50:20.079
If BC needs to get out of the way, let the company also handle their company.
00:50:20.159 --> 00:50:20.880
Get out of the way, man.
00:50:21.199 --> 00:50:21.679
Let most of the city of the city of the case.
00:50:23.199 --> 00:50:24.079
We don't have an issue.
00:50:24.239 --> 00:50:24.639
Go away.
00:50:24.800 --> 00:50:24.960
Yep.
00:50:25.199 --> 00:50:38.480
Well, and I I'll just chime in and say, I still tell people today, like the best years of my life were on the back of the station of station three, just talking till late at night and enjoying ourselves.
00:50:38.639 --> 00:50:41.360
And like you said, Mikey, creating a culture.
00:50:41.440 --> 00:50:53.440
And and I got to thinking about it when I was listening to the episode today that I rec I recalled the episode where we talked about retention, and I thought that that's retention, right?
00:50:53.519 --> 00:51:02.239
Where you create an environment where people they don't necessarily want to stay at 8 o'clock, but they're not angry if they had to, right?
00:51:02.639 --> 00:51:06.239
Because it's like, wow, this is this is this is not a bad thing.
00:51:06.400 --> 00:51:19.199
Like, because I've created we we have a family here, we have a group, we have uh we have great conversation, and like you said, that people aren't driven to be on their phone all the time and you know disconnect from from everybody.
00:51:19.280 --> 00:51:21.840
And and um we can create that.
00:51:22.000 --> 00:51:26.239
And and I don't want to go, I don't want to go down that rabbit hole, but I I do think it's great.
00:51:26.480 --> 00:51:48.559
I I want to say before we get into the turnout drill and um the snail mail, um just thank you for for being very vulnerable and being very honest and sharing the story uh and and letting Bryce's uh legacy live on uh at least for this last hour that that we've been together, because I I I think these guys would agree as well.
00:51:48.719 --> 00:51:50.559
Um everybody needs to hear it.
00:51:50.639 --> 00:51:52.480
Uh and this is just one, right?
00:51:52.559 --> 00:51:59.840
It's it's your story, but like you said, there's there's a hundred every year that have a have a story like this.
00:52:00.000 --> 00:52:00.639
Go ahead, Doug.
00:52:00.719 --> 00:52:01.199
I'm sorry.
00:52:01.440 --> 00:52:02.159
No, you're right.
00:52:02.239 --> 00:52:05.840
Yeah, every year there's a hundred different people who have different stories.
00:52:06.239 --> 00:52:12.719
And I'm very adamant, I'm sorry, we're we're very adamant about making sure that this story gets out as as many places as we can.
00:52:12.880 --> 00:52:26.400
Um, with both our businesses, we have a card that has a picture of of Bryce and another fireman that that we lost less than a year after that, uh, and a QR code on the back that takes everybody straight to his uh his report.
00:52:26.639 --> 00:52:30.480
So that goes out with every order that leaves both our shops every time.
00:52:31.039 --> 00:52:33.199
Do a name drop if you don't mind other shops real quick.
00:52:33.360 --> 00:52:34.320
Yeah, plug your shop.
00:52:34.800 --> 00:52:36.639
Uh I feel really b bad.
00:52:36.800 --> 00:52:38.719
So the the one I I'll I'll plug the one.
00:52:38.880 --> 00:52:42.400
The one I started with Bryce is uh EH coverings LLC.
00:52:42.800 --> 00:52:55.280
So we we make fire helmets and um they're presentation helmets, but uh we're working to make a our goal was to make a uh a fire helmet that's serviceable for less than a thousand dollars made in America.
00:52:55.840 --> 00:53:08.079
It's been a long struggle, but you know, God has opened a lot of doors and taken out a lot of walls to make the things that we thought were gonna be the hardest uh easier and accomplish some things that people never thought were gonna be accomplished.
00:53:08.400 --> 00:53:11.119
So that's that's the one I'll plug, the one that I started with my best friend.
00:53:11.280 --> 00:53:23.039
And that's the one that you know we send a lot of QR codes out to make sure they all get a QR code for his uh his report and then they all get the memorial um sticker, every every single one that goes out.
00:53:23.920 --> 00:53:24.480
I love it.
00:53:25.280 --> 00:53:25.920
Fantastic.
00:53:26.079 --> 00:53:31.679
Well, let's do a quick segment of is it mail call, snail mail?
00:53:31.760 --> 00:53:34.079
Hey, I think he gets mad at me when I call it snail mail.
00:53:34.400 --> 00:53:38.639
No, he gets he gets mailed when you call it mail call.
00:53:38.880 --> 00:53:40.639
Okay, it's snail mail.
00:53:40.880 --> 00:53:42.400
It's snail mail time.
00:53:45.599 --> 00:53:46.400
All right, there it is.
00:53:46.559 --> 00:53:50.400
Because I remember because Trump trust Trump comes on and goes, it's snail mail time.
00:53:50.559 --> 00:53:52.800
Okay, I I I did that on purpose, just to screw with you, man.
00:53:53.039 --> 00:53:54.079
It's time for snail mail.
00:53:54.239 --> 00:53:55.119
It's time for snail mail.
00:53:55.280 --> 00:53:56.000
You gotta read the music.
00:53:56.159 --> 00:54:01.360
All right, so Bella in our comments on what was it?
00:54:01.440 --> 00:54:02.480
It's blues clues.
00:54:02.639 --> 00:54:05.199
It's metal stamps, um, or whatever they used to say.
00:54:05.280 --> 00:54:05.599
I don't know.
00:54:06.800 --> 00:54:11.360
Um so Bella on Spotify said, Hi, cool farming podcast.
00:54:11.440 --> 00:54:18.400
My name is Bella, and one of y'all text had texted my father, Chris Russ, and we love your podcast so much.
00:54:18.559 --> 00:54:26.320
When I'm writing with him, when I go to school and we put on your podcast, oh god, I hope this is not a kid with the explicit uh sounds like it's a kid.
00:54:26.480 --> 00:54:27.199
Oh gosh.
00:54:27.440 --> 00:54:28.159
Sorry, Bella.
00:54:28.880 --> 00:54:29.599
I'm looking forward to it.
00:54:31.360 --> 00:54:33.679
Yes, sorry, sorry, Bella, instead of sorry, Rhett.
00:54:33.840 --> 00:54:34.320
Sorry, Rhett.
00:54:34.559 --> 00:54:38.559
Yeah, we didn't say this, we didn't say that one today, so we'll we'll throw it in there right now at the end.
00:54:38.800 --> 00:54:43.679
Um I'm looking forward to being a volunteer firefighter or maybe full-time when I'm older.
00:54:43.760 --> 00:54:45.599
I love going to fire training with my dad.
00:54:45.760 --> 00:54:46.960
We are ADR.
00:54:47.119 --> 00:54:48.000
Well, not me yet.
00:54:48.079 --> 00:54:49.440
I don't know what ADR means.
00:54:49.599 --> 00:54:54.480
Um, I hope I can uh be a good firefighter when I'm older, and thank you for what you do.
00:54:54.639 --> 00:54:56.719
You're very appreciated, Bella Russ.
00:54:57.119 --> 00:55:03.599
So, and that was on the firefighter mental health trauma and relationships with Aaron Jane, that episode.
00:55:03.679 --> 00:55:09.039
So she's listening back because that one was golly, probably six, eight months ago.
00:55:09.280 --> 00:55:12.880
No, I don't know if it was quite that long ago, but yeah, it was a while ago.
00:55:13.119 --> 00:55:13.920
It was a while ago.
00:55:14.000 --> 00:55:19.039
So shout out Aaron Jane, our our buddy from down under who lives in Boston.
00:55:19.840 --> 00:55:22.960
Yeah, shout out to her, and shout out to Bella for listening.
00:55:23.280 --> 00:55:24.960
And again, this is our purpose, guys.
00:55:25.039 --> 00:55:29.039
This is why we come every week, and like Mikey said, it's for the kids.
00:55:29.119 --> 00:55:30.000
It's our kids.
00:55:30.159 --> 00:55:31.599
This is the kids, right?
00:55:31.840 --> 00:55:33.119
This is the ones who's listening.
00:55:33.360 --> 00:55:35.920
I wouldn't say the kids, it's for the it's it's for the next generation.
00:55:36.320 --> 00:55:37.199
Right, that's what I'm saying.
00:55:37.280 --> 00:55:39.039
That's that's what I and that's what I was trying to say.
00:55:39.280 --> 00:55:43.199
Maybe I didn't tee that up correctly, but it's for the next generation, right?
00:55:43.360 --> 00:55:46.880
We aspire to be the cool firemen, they aspire to be the cool fireman.
00:55:46.960 --> 00:55:50.400
Let's let our lessons learn be what they live off of.
00:55:50.559 --> 00:55:55.119
All right, Mikey, have you listened to an episode where we do the turnout drill?
00:55:55.440 --> 00:55:56.960
No, I haven't gotten that far.
00:55:57.199 --> 00:55:57.519
Okay.
00:55:57.760 --> 00:56:10.800
So, what the turnout drill is, is that basically we're gonna get you to give us five random numbers, one through a hundred, and they're just random questions, and you get to answer them.
00:56:11.280 --> 00:56:12.320
We do three.
00:56:12.559 --> 00:56:13.360
We're gonna do five.
00:56:13.920 --> 00:56:15.039
Okay, I mean we can do five.
00:56:15.119 --> 00:56:16.159
I'm just gonna do five.
00:56:16.320 --> 00:56:17.119
Yeah, we normally would.
00:56:17.199 --> 00:56:17.360
I forgot.
00:56:18.000 --> 00:56:19.119
It's a great number, five.
00:56:19.199 --> 00:56:21.199
There's five fingers, five in your thumbs, nothing.
00:56:21.360 --> 00:56:22.239
What's in the middle?
00:56:22.400 --> 00:56:25.440
It's a scale from one to ten, five's in the middle.
00:56:25.599 --> 00:56:27.840
It's right down the middle, it's a beautiful town.
00:56:28.079 --> 00:56:29.760
I can see what would happen if I had done it.
00:56:30.000 --> 00:56:31.199
Mikey does the good truck.
00:56:31.360 --> 00:56:32.079
He's pretty good.
00:56:32.159 --> 00:56:33.679
He's not as good as some buddy.
00:56:34.320 --> 00:56:34.639
Is all right?
00:56:35.039 --> 00:56:35.519
People have said it.
00:56:35.599 --> 00:56:36.960
People said it's the greatest impression.
00:56:37.119 --> 00:56:37.599
I didn't say it.
00:56:38.079 --> 00:56:38.719
People have said it.
00:56:38.960 --> 00:56:40.960
I didn't say it, but people have said it.
00:56:41.199 --> 00:56:42.800
Lots of people, great people.
00:56:43.119 --> 00:56:43.679
Great people.
00:56:43.840 --> 00:56:45.760
Okay, number five numbers.
00:56:46.559 --> 00:56:47.760
Just give me one at a time.
00:56:47.920 --> 00:56:48.719
The first one.
00:56:48.960 --> 00:56:50.639
35 short answer.
00:56:50.960 --> 00:56:51.599
Number three.
00:56:51.760 --> 00:56:52.960
This is a short answer.
00:56:53.199 --> 00:56:57.039
If you could give your 15-year-old one piece of advice, what would it be?
00:56:57.119 --> 00:56:58.800
And again, the short answer.
00:57:01.920 --> 00:57:03.519
Your 15-year-old self.
00:57:04.880 --> 00:57:07.519
Uh work out and shut your mouth.
00:57:08.719 --> 00:57:09.360
I like it.
00:57:09.519 --> 00:57:10.880
All right, next number.
00:57:11.199 --> 00:57:12.320
Uh 13.
00:57:12.800 --> 00:57:13.360
13.
00:57:13.519 --> 00:57:15.599
What was your favorite subject in school?
00:57:16.000 --> 00:57:16.960
Uh, math and science.
00:57:17.119 --> 00:57:17.760
Math and science.
00:57:17.920 --> 00:57:19.039
Wow, what a nerd.
00:57:19.840 --> 00:57:21.199
Have you ever had your ass whooped by a nerd?
00:57:21.360 --> 00:57:22.079
You'd be together.
00:57:25.920 --> 00:57:27.199
I'm not gonna look at a few.
00:57:27.760 --> 00:57:33.519
Like a man that would literally, he'd come by my office and give some smart comment and just keep walking, okay?
00:57:33.679 --> 00:57:36.000
Anyway, you look fat today, Brian.
00:57:36.079 --> 00:57:39.280
Keep it up and just keep walking a hono or something.
00:57:39.519 --> 00:57:43.440
And then I'm sitting there on the phone and I can't leave, I can't put it on mute, I can't do anything.
00:57:43.519 --> 00:57:48.639
And then it's just like, I was talking to the mayor.
00:57:49.679 --> 00:57:50.480
Shut your door.
00:57:50.559 --> 00:57:51.440
I don't know what to tell you.
00:57:51.599 --> 00:57:52.320
I don't give a shit.
00:57:52.559 --> 00:57:53.440
Shut your door.
00:57:54.400 --> 00:57:56.559
Might be my fault, but it ain't my problem.
00:57:56.800 --> 00:57:57.440
Yep.
00:57:59.119 --> 00:58:01.199
What's the third question, Mikey?
00:58:01.440 --> 00:58:02.719
Um, seven.
00:58:03.119 --> 00:58:03.679
Seven.
00:58:04.000 --> 00:58:05.599
Should chili have beans?
00:58:05.840 --> 00:58:06.400
Yes.
00:58:06.880 --> 00:58:07.039
Okay.
00:58:07.280 --> 00:58:07.599
Absolutely.
00:58:08.000 --> 00:58:08.800
Next one.
00:58:09.360 --> 00:58:11.280
Um 99.
00:58:11.760 --> 00:58:12.400
99.
00:58:12.800 --> 00:58:13.840
Let's see here.
00:58:14.159 --> 00:58:20.000
Um if you could wake up with fluency in any language, which would you choose?
00:58:20.239 --> 00:58:21.199
It's a stupid question.
00:58:21.280 --> 00:58:24.400
Uh you estudio español, porque es muy importante.
00:58:28.400 --> 00:58:32.480
Probably Portuguese, because then I can know what my my coach is saying in Egypt.
00:58:33.119 --> 00:58:34.800
Spanish is better good.
00:58:39.199 --> 00:58:40.000
Sometimes it's not.
00:58:40.079 --> 00:58:45.280
But uh probably español, but I mean gringo is muy bueno.
00:58:46.880 --> 00:58:48.079
Maybe it's it's good, man.
00:58:48.480 --> 00:58:49.519
It's better good, man.
00:58:49.840 --> 00:58:55.280
I'm just telling you, if I put Doug and Mikey in a room with a liquor drink, it probably wouldn't be good.
00:58:55.360 --> 00:58:56.400
All right, last one, Mikey.
00:58:56.559 --> 00:58:57.440
I don't even drink anymore.
00:58:57.519 --> 00:58:59.039
I haven't been drinking three years.
00:58:59.199 --> 00:58:59.920
It's crazy.
00:59:01.840 --> 00:59:02.239
Yeah.
00:59:02.719 --> 00:59:04.559
I didn't say liquor drinks.
00:59:04.639 --> 00:59:07.360
If you noticed, I said a liquor drink.
00:59:07.519 --> 00:59:07.840
Okay.
00:59:08.159 --> 00:59:08.880
A liquor drink.
00:59:09.840 --> 00:59:10.960
I'll just keep pouring them.
00:59:11.199 --> 00:59:11.519
Okay.
00:59:12.880 --> 00:59:14.559
That duck says sounds good to me.
00:59:14.719 --> 00:59:14.880
All right.
00:59:15.039 --> 00:59:16.239
What's the fifth one?
00:59:17.119 --> 00:59:18.079
Uh 16.
00:59:18.320 --> 00:59:19.119
Last one.
00:59:19.760 --> 00:59:20.320
16.
00:59:20.400 --> 00:59:21.119
That's a great number.
00:59:21.199 --> 00:59:21.760
You know why.
00:59:21.920 --> 00:59:22.320
All right.
00:59:22.559 --> 00:59:27.920
Um who is the most inf Who is the most influential person in your life?
00:59:28.079 --> 00:59:29.039
I know the answer to this one.
00:59:29.440 --> 00:59:30.400
Oh, that's an easy one.
00:59:30.480 --> 00:59:32.639
The most influential person in my life is Jesus.
00:59:32.800 --> 00:59:33.280
Amen.
00:59:33.920 --> 00:59:34.880
I knew you were going to say that.
00:59:35.039 --> 00:59:35.280
Yep.
00:59:35.440 --> 00:59:36.400
I knew you were going to say that my wife.
00:59:36.639 --> 00:59:37.840
I thought you were going to say Brian Kelly.
00:59:39.360 --> 00:59:39.679
No.
00:59:40.000 --> 00:59:40.320
No.
00:59:40.480 --> 00:59:40.639
No.
00:59:42.159 --> 00:59:44.079
A very close 38th.
00:59:44.880 --> 00:59:45.440
But um.
00:59:45.760 --> 00:59:48.000
I knew that knows the answer I'm going to be there too.
00:59:48.239 --> 00:59:48.559
Yeah.
00:59:49.039 --> 00:59:50.400
Um, definitely.
00:59:50.480 --> 00:59:54.800
Um, I I I pray every day that that people will will find Jesus.
00:59:54.880 --> 00:59:59.039
And don't look for Jesus in a church or a person or a movie or a book.
00:59:59.199 --> 01:00:02.000
You find Jesus in the scripture.
01:00:02.079 --> 01:00:03.119
You find Jesus in Jesus.
01:00:03.360 --> 01:00:04.000
Amen, brother.
01:00:04.159 --> 01:00:04.639
Go look for him.
01:00:05.519 --> 01:00:07.679
You ain't gotta go in a freaking building to do that.
01:00:07.840 --> 01:00:08.880
You ain't gotta go nowhere.
01:00:09.039 --> 01:00:09.679
Close your eyes.
01:00:10.079 --> 01:00:10.239
Exactly.
01:00:10.320 --> 01:00:11.119
That's what I'm saying.
01:00:11.199 --> 01:00:14.800
Like, you don't have to go anywhere or be anybody specific to do that.
01:00:14.880 --> 01:00:15.760
It's not that hard.
01:00:16.000 --> 01:00:23.280
He left the 99 to come find you, and I'm here to tell you, no matter where you're at, no matter how bad it is, you stand on the ledge and look down.
01:00:23.440 --> 01:00:27.039
You look, you look at that bottle, you you drive that fast car.
01:00:27.360 --> 01:00:31.519
He's right behind you, just waiting for you to turn around and say, please help.
01:00:31.679 --> 01:00:33.360
Like, he wants you.
01:00:33.679 --> 01:00:39.119
And nothing that you've done in your past will ever keep you from the salvation that Jesus Christ is going to give you.
01:00:39.440 --> 01:00:40.480
Like, just please.
01:00:40.639 --> 01:00:41.679
Go find Jesus.
01:00:42.239 --> 01:00:43.039
And the peace.
01:00:43.199 --> 01:00:43.440
Right.
01:00:43.599 --> 01:00:50.159
Now he's not gonna, he, he will not, he will not keep you from from sorrow or pain.
01:00:50.800 --> 01:00:52.000
That's not what Jesus does.
01:00:52.239 --> 01:01:00.559
Okay, like I've I've loved and followed Jesus for a long time, and I'm here to tell you this was my wife said after this happened, I was a shell of a man.
01:01:01.119 --> 01:01:03.440
Like I didn't think Jesus didn't love me.
01:01:03.920 --> 01:01:06.719
But I had to figure out how's Jesus gonna get me through this.
01:01:06.800 --> 01:01:16.000
What is the why did this happen and how am I going to be able to take this opportunity to to glorify him, to show what happens when I keep turning back to him.
01:01:16.239 --> 01:01:17.519
What has he done for our family?
01:01:17.679 --> 01:01:19.039
Like, it's it's there.
01:01:19.280 --> 01:01:20.159
He's there for you.
01:01:20.239 --> 01:01:21.760
Please go find some Jesus.
01:01:21.920 --> 01:01:22.719
It's in a book.
01:01:22.800 --> 01:01:24.960
You don't even have to buy the book, you can buy it, get an app.
01:01:25.039 --> 01:01:27.760
As much as I ate a phone, it's on there.
01:01:28.000 --> 01:01:28.400
Yeah.
01:01:28.639 --> 01:01:29.599
So 100%.
01:01:30.400 --> 01:01:31.679
My most inspirational person.
01:01:31.920 --> 01:01:33.360
I knew that was gonna be the answer.
01:01:33.440 --> 01:01:35.920
And there's a reason why he had you pick that number.
01:01:36.000 --> 01:01:37.119
I'll just say that, right?
01:01:37.360 --> 01:01:37.760
Yep.
01:01:37.920 --> 01:01:38.559
There it is.
01:01:38.719 --> 01:01:39.519
Uh 100%.
01:01:40.000 --> 01:01:41.199
Mikey, thank you so much.
01:01:41.360 --> 01:01:43.679
Doug, Adam, y'all got anything before we close it out?
01:01:43.920 --> 01:01:44.960
No, this is great.
01:01:45.039 --> 01:01:46.320
This is very heartfelt.
01:01:46.480 --> 01:01:51.760
And uh I I got I got a little emotional when Mikey got emotional.
01:01:51.840 --> 01:01:52.880
I'm an emotional dude.
01:01:52.960 --> 01:02:00.880
Um, I had this chiseled rugged exterior, but behind that are feelings, and uh, and they get they get they get soft sometimes.
01:02:01.039 --> 01:02:01.920
Um yeah.
01:02:02.159 --> 01:02:04.000
Yep, my kids call me the big salty.
01:02:04.480 --> 01:02:04.719
Yeah.
01:02:04.800 --> 01:02:08.480
Um I'll fight in a minute, but you if you get me, you get me, and there's nothing I can do.
01:02:08.639 --> 01:02:11.440
I mean, you can get these these motherfuckers always buy one, get one free.
01:02:14.719 --> 01:02:17.360
Buy one, you get this motherfucker free.
01:02:17.519 --> 01:02:18.000
Yep.
01:02:19.039 --> 01:02:22.079
Hey, uh Adam, you got anything before we roll out?
01:02:22.559 --> 01:02:23.199
Sorry, Rhett.
01:02:23.280 --> 01:02:24.079
Just freedom back here.
01:02:24.880 --> 01:02:26.320
Adam's just sitting here just listening to the show.
01:02:26.480 --> 01:02:28.320
Adam's just taking it all in, like always.
01:02:28.559 --> 01:02:28.880
Always.
01:02:29.039 --> 01:02:30.880
If you want to hear Adam, go to Patreon.
01:02:30.960 --> 01:02:32.639
Okay, because that's where you get your money.
01:02:32.719 --> 01:02:33.760
Okay, is on Patreon.
01:02:34.000 --> 01:02:34.559
Or Facebook.
01:02:34.880 --> 01:02:37.119
Hey, Unkies and nephews, it's Unky.
01:02:37.679 --> 01:02:38.800
It's it's Adam.
01:02:38.960 --> 01:02:39.760
Yeah, it's Unky.
01:02:40.000 --> 01:02:40.400
There you go.
01:02:40.880 --> 01:02:44.800
Uh, anyways, Mikey, do you know the line to roll us out?
01:02:45.039 --> 01:02:45.920
I don't.
01:02:46.239 --> 01:02:47.920
You just say roll it GG.
01:02:48.320 --> 01:02:49.280
Roll it, GG.
01:02:49.599 --> 01:02:50.639
Roll it, GG?
01:02:51.119 --> 01:03:00.400
Before you leave, hit that subscribe button, turn on notifications, and give these Firemen a huge thumbs up.
01:03:00.800 --> 01:03:04.800
Also, make sure you check out the coreflammen.com for more.

SEARCH PAST EPISODES

Search past episodes of The Cool Fireman Podcast.
Embed this search bar to your website
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Matt, Brian, Adam, Doug, and Freddy, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.
PROMOTED
Listen411.com: Lightning-fast Podcast Transcription and Summarization. Transcribe 1-hour audio in under 1 minute. Pay-as-you-go.
Listen411.com: Lightning-fast Podcast Transcription and Summarization. Transcribe 1-hour audio in under 1 minute. Pay-as-you-go.
Audio to Text

RECOMMENDATIONS
Use API to fetch this episode