The next hazmat challenge probably isn't coming — it's already in your first-due. Mesa Fire and Medical Department Captain Jim Barnhart has spent years studying lithium-ion batteries, photovoltaics and emerging energy systems, and he makes the case that firefighters need to stop treating these incidents as rare exceptions. Using the recent Los Angeles Boyle Heights cold storage fire as a launching point, Barnhart explains how solar arrays, battery storage and evolving building technology are creating longer, more complex and less predictable incidents. But this isn't a conversation about fear. It's about preparation. From improving size-up and preplans to finding credible training and asking a simple question — "Is the power really off?" — Barnhart offers practical guidance for departments of every size. This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore. Email [email protected] to share your feedback.

“Why do we have all of these fire agencies?” It’s a question many in the wildland world have asked for years — and Chief Brian Fennessy is now in position to do something about it. The director of the newly created U.S. Wildland Fire Service explains what it means to build an entirely new federal fire organization from the ground up and why the mission extends far beyond changing patches and organizational charts. Fennessy discusses unifying federal wildland agencies, creating a true firefighter-first culture, reducing bureaucracy and giving fire leaders the authority to make faster operational decisions. He also explains why prevention, fuels management, firefighter wellness and stronger communication with the public are just as critical as suppression. This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore. Email [email protected] to share your feedback.

One routine smoke investigation. Ten minutes later, a cold storage building erupted around Firefighter Andrew Klein. This week, we’re revisiting the harrowing close call that nearly ended Klein’s career. Klein walks through the fireground decisions, details the hidden danger of a cold storage building packed with spray foam insulation, and recalls the moment his PPE became the only thing standing between him and catastrophic injury. He also shares the emotional aftermath of believing fellow firefighters had been killed and how he’s managed his mental health since the incident. Email [email protected] to share your feedback.

“Pain sucks,” as Zam puts it — and ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. Dr. Bita Shahidi, a physical therapist who has worked with firefighters and professional athletes, explains why the aches and pains firefighters push through during their careers often become the injuries that define retirement. She urges firefighters to approach their bodies like tactical athletes, with regular movement screenings, mobility work and recovery built into the job — instead of waiting until something breaks. Shahidi also shares a simple three-minute mobility routine, explains why sleep and breathing matter as much as strength training, and makes the case for treating small pains before they become surgeries. The takeaway is straightforward: A few minutes of maintenance today can help you perform better now and enjoy retirement without paying for decades of ignored wear and tear. This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore. Email [email protected] to share your feedback.

“Everybody just calm down about NERIS.” That’s Zam’s charge to Misfit Nation this week as he speaks with NERIS lead developer Craig Weinschenk. The conversation goes beyond software updates and reporting requirements to explore how the fire service can finally quantify rescues, identify emerging risks and make a stronger case for the resources it needs. As director of research for the Fire Safety Research Institute, Weinschenk stepped away from fire behavior research to help lead one of the most ambitious modernization projects the fire service has tackled in decades. With millions of records already flowing into the system and 30,000-plus U.S. fire departments in the system, NERIS is moving from rollout mode to something much bigger. Weinschenk addresses the feedback and misconceptions surrounding the platform while explaining how firefighter input is already shaping future updates. He also shares his vision for using NERIS data to identify response trends, track emerging hazards, better document rescues and provide departments with information they can use to improve operations and advocate for resources. This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore. Email [email protected] to share your feedback.

AFG, SAFER, and Fire Prevention and Safety grants are open — and the clock is already ticking toward the June 22 deadline. For Lexipol grant specialist Jane Prescott, it's the fire service equivalent of the Super Bowl: Hundreds of millions of dollars in available funding, a compressed application window and departments across the country scrambling to get their requests submitted. Prescott joins Zam and Fire Chief Jason Caughey to cut through some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding federal grants, including who is really competitive, how peer reviewers evaluate applications and why departments should focus on telling an honest story instead of submitting a wish list. They also spotlight often-overlooked opportunities like FEMA's microgrant program, which can help departments secure funding for high-priority needs without pursuing a larger-scale project. Whether you're writing the grant, supporting the process or simply wondering why your department isn't pursuing funding opportunities, this discussion offers a practical roadmap for turning need into a competitive application before this year's window closes. Resources: Federal grants open: AFG (equipment), SAFER (staffing), Fire Prevention & Safety FireRescue1 Fire Grant Center: Find grant-related news, funding opportunity updates, application guidance, expert grant-writing resources and educational content. GrantFinder: Learn how to navigate the grant process end to end, so you can win more funding for the equipment, staffing and programs your team depends on. Contact our team. Email [email protected] to share your feedback.

Nobody tells you that becoming chief means owning problems you can’t fully control, absorbing pressure that doesn’t clock out and still leading like the weight isn’t showing. Columbia (Mo.) Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer digs into the uncomfortable realities of adding bugles, including the pressure to move an organization forward when maintaining the status quo is far easier. Schaeffer talks succession planning, firefighter wellness, organizational culture and why chiefs have to stop acting like “fire gods” and start acting like servant leaders. He also offers a sharp warning about becoming part of the “CAVE” mentality — Chiefs Against Virtually Everything — and why protecting comfort is one of the biggest threats to innovation. This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore. Email [email protected] to share your feedback.

Fitness is so much more than hitting the gym from time to time in order to pass an annual exam. It’s about whether you can get the job done today AND 20 years from now, not to mention whether you’ll actually be able to enjoy your retirement. Chief Darin Wallentine, chair of the Firefighter Safety Stand Down, breaks down this year’s fitness theme and why the campaign expanded from five days to seven. Each letter in FITNESS tackles a different piece of firefighter wellness. Wallentine also digs into the culture piece — why company officers set the tone, why firefighters have to stop ignoring warning signs and why departments need to treat fitness as a career survival tool, not a side hobby. If your crew needs a reset or your department is trying to build a healthier culture, there are plenty of practical takeaways here. After all, “you gotta start sometime — why not now?” Enjoying the show? Email [email protected] to share feedback.

For years, Zam was known as “the fitness guy” in the fire service, preaching workouts and functional training. But his perspective has evolved to recognize that firefighter health is rooted in the convergence of several factors — the difference-makers for career longevity: Nutrition and hydration to reduce inflammation Functional fitness, mobility and core work to improve performance and reduce injuries The power of sleep and recovery The role gratitude, mindset and positivity in changing physiology and stress response Zam also shares the challenge that changed his own health trajectory — choosing five daily habits for 50 days through the R50 Challenge — and explains how small, consistent actions can lead to moving better, feeling better and performing better on and off duty. This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore. Enjoying the show? Email [email protected] to share your feedback.

“We have to rethink it.” That’s the challenge Battalion Chief Dena Ali brings to our latest conversation on firefighter mental health, not because the fire service hasn’t made significant strides but because too many firefighters are still struggling in silence. In her return to Better Every Shift, Ali explains why leadership, sleep and psychological safety are deeply tied to firefighter wellness, and how peer support programs tap into the “magic” of the brotherhood and sisterhood. Ali also shares the leadership mistakes she’s learned from herself, including finding balance between empathy and boundaries. There’s plenty here for chiefs, company officers and firefighters looking for practical ways to build healthier crews — starting with habits that don’t require a budget or a new policy to implement. Register: FRCE Mental Wellness Symposium Read: “Hope out of darkness: A guide to first responder mental wellness” Enjoying the show? Email [email protected] to share feedback.