Colorado Springs Fire Chief Randy Royal was recently named the IAFC’s Career Fire Chief of the Year – and there are a lot of reasons why. Chief Royal details some of the innovative programs happening at the department – a tiered EMS model, mental health support initiatives, a whole blood program, and a unique approach to PPE distribution and cleaning – plus what it’s been like to bring online two new stations and secure an AFG grant to support member health. We dig into all of this and more:Royal’s perspective on balancing your members and your missionThe EMS program that has dropped transports of their “most loyal customers” from 100% to 15%Lessons learned from the 2007 Castle West apartment fire where firefighters made 85 ladder rescuesWhy the fire department is putting hard-wired phone lines back in the stationsRelated links: 'Mission first, people always': One fire chief's mantra explainedThis episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by MagneGrip. Eliminate diesel exhaust fumes from inside the fire station with a MagneGrip exhaust removal system. Learn more at MagneGrip.com.