Fully Involved with Unified Fire

ON THIS EPISODE:  The Staffing Office once again joins Fully Involved to discuss the Kronos Hack last December further. Captains Chad Simons and Brandon Boshard dive deeper and go in-depth about all the lessons learned. Thank you for listening to Fully Involved with Unified Fire. You can send any comments, questions, or suggestions to Nile at [email protected]. Until next time!GUESTS:Captain | Chad SimonsCaptain | Brandon BoshardCo-Host | Aaron LanceFOLLOW US:Facebook | @unifiedfireauthorityInstagram | @unifiedfireTwitter | @fireauthorityYouTube | Unified FireEpisode recorded March 28, 2022.

Kronos hack how did our Finance Division react and how did they get through?

ON THIS EPISODE:  The Staffing Office joins us to discuss the ins and outs of staffing the largest fire department in Utah. Captains Chad Simons and Brandon Boshard, along with guest host Operations Chief Dusty Dern explain the challenges of filling 111 seats every day and the policies necessary to make that happen... including mandatory staffing. We hear how a shift in the department's staffing paradigm may have created a heavier load for the Staffing Office, but helps us provide better service to our communities. Thank you for listening to Fully Involved with Unified Fire. You can send any comments, questions, or suggestions to Nile at [email protected]. Until next time!GUESTS:Operations Chief | Dusty DernCaptain | Chad SimonsCaptain | Brandon BoshardFOLLOW US:Facebook | @unifiedfireauthorityInstagram | @unifiedfireTwitter | @fireauthorityYouTube | Unified FireEpisode recorded December 7, 2021.

ON THIS EPISODE:  Health & Wellness Officer Captain Layne Hilton and Clinical Operations Director Darren Elkins of Blomquist Hale are back in the studio to discuss strengthening relationships at home.We talk about things shared between happy couples, and adjustments that can be made to strengthen a relationship that's struggling.How do you deal with the stress in your life? If you don't have an answer to that question... you may want to take action beyond listening to this podcast.The way we take care of ourselves directly impacts our intimate relationships, so it's important to look at the ways we self-soothe to manage our daily stressors.Throughout the show, Layne recommends listening to Dr. Brené Brown's, The Power of Vulnerability.  Brown provides information on the cultural myth that vulnerability is weakness, and reveals how it is actually our most accurate measure of courage.If you're looking for someone to talk to, reach out to Blomquist Hale, Unified Fire's EAP provider. You can also reach out to Layne directly. Thank you for listening to Fully Involved with Unified Fire. You can send any comments, questions, or suggestions to Nile at [email protected]. Until next time!GUESTS:Captain / Health & Wellness Officer | Layne HiltonClinical Operations Director (Blomquist Hale) | Darren Elkins FOLLOW US:Facebook | @unifiedfireauthorityInstagram | @unifiedfireTwitter | @fireauthorityYouTube | Unified FireEpisode recorded November 29, 2021.

ON THIS EPISODE:  Health & Wellness Officer Captain Layne Hilton, and Clinical Operations Director Darren Elkins of Blomquist Hale are back this week to discuss stress. Stress is the number one killer of firefighters, and we talk about why. Depending on how we relate to the stress we're experiencing, the consequences in the body are different. We talk about the importance of having a creative outlet to assist with stress management, the impact stress has on the brain and body, and of course we discuss resources and ways to find help for those struggling to cope with their stress. GUESTS:Captain / Health & Wellness Officer - Layne HiltonClinical Operations Director (Blomquist Hale) - Darren ElkinsFOLLOW US:Facebook - @unifiedfireauthorityInstagram - @unifiedfireTwitter - @fireauthorityYouTube - Unified FireEpisode recorded August 12, 2021.

ON THIS EPISODE:  Chief Petersen sits down to discuss his station visits, and all that's learned through this lengthy, but invaluable process. He also gives us a glimpse into what he sees coming for next year's visits.GUESTS:Fire Chief - Dan PetersenPublic Information Officer - Aaron LanceFOLLOW US:Facebook - @unifiedfireauthorityInstagram - @unifiedfireTwitter - @fireauthorityYouTube - Unified FireEpisode recorded August 27, 2021.

ON THIS EPISODE:  We review the June 16, 2021 three-alarm fire that happened at an apartment complex under construction in Millcreek. Nearly 60 firefighters and 20 apparatus from six surrounding agencies were utilized due to the size and complexity of the fire.News segment courtesy of Fox 13 Salt Lake City. You can view their full article, Massive construction site fire seen across Salt Lake Valley, here.GUESTS:(South Salt Lake Fire Dept.) Captain - Lyndsie Hauck Operations Chief - Dusty DernCaptain - Ken AldridgeCaptain - Jubal Perez FOLLOW US:Facebook - @unifiedfireauthorityInstagram - @unifiedfireTwitter - @fireauthorityYouTube - Unified FireEpisode recorded August 20, 2021.

ON THIS EPISODE:  South Jordan Fire Department joins us to review the June 15, 2021 incident when a man died after a trench collapsed at a construction site in South Jordan. GUESTS:(South Jordan Fire Dept.) Deputy Chief - Ryan Lessner(South Jordan Fire Dept.) Captain - Jared VelezOperations Chief - Dusty DernCaptain - Travis HobbsEngineer - Jake Schaugaard FOLLOW US:Facebook - @unifiedfireauthorityInstagram - @unifiedfireTwitter - @fireauthorityYouTube - @unifiedfireEpisode recorded July 3, 2021.

ON THIS EPISODE:  We touch base with Emergency Management to discuss their hands-on experience working through the pandemic and what their division's goals look like moving forward.This last year has been different than any other for Emergency Management. A 5.7 earthquake, the windstorm, civil unrest and of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has kept everyone working hard as we dealt with many unknowns.The positive for them through this has been the opportunity to use all that's learned in FEMA classes to be prepared for these emergencies. Operations Unit Leader/Captain Chet Ellis emphasized how we train for short-term instances that are days to weeks. The pandemic presented the new factor of a long-term instance, with it being over a year since their work began. Through this challenge, they have still seen a lot of success. The processes worked and their partnership with the health department has been largely effective in coordinating vaccine efforts.On the horizon for EM:  continued recovery from the pandemic, earthquake and windstorm; an expected busy fire season, as Utah is in a state of emergency due to a continued drought; and getting back into the groove of training that has been on hold.Episode recorded April 4, 2021.GUESTS:Emergency Management Division Chief Clint MechamCaptain / Operations Unit Leader Chet EllisPIO / JIC Manager Tina BrownEM Project Coordinator Valerie GreensidesFOLLOW US:Facebook - @unifiedfireauthorityInstagram - @unifiedfireTwitter - @fireauthorityYouTube - @unifiedfire

ON THIS EPISODE:  We discuss a benefit available to all UFA employees upon reaching eligibility requirements. UFA is proposing to the Board a 2% addition to all VEBA accounts for eligible employees, which will create 212 new accounts for employees now added to this benefit. This 2% will give everyone the start to a VEBA account until meeting the requirement to reach the sick leave cap to begin investing. UFA and the employees of UFA own a Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association (VEBA) plan, managed through Wells Fargo. This is an account UFA contributes funds into, and then that account can be used by employees once they separate employment, usually when they retire, resign, or leave for any other reason. These funds can be used for medical expenses and operates a lot like a FLEX plan, but is for post retirement/post employment. On average, Firefighters in Utah hire around age 27 and stay for about 27 years, which puts them at 54 come retirement. Since they don't qualify for Medicare for another 11 years, VEBA can fill that gap for medical expense coverage.One of the key advantages when investing in a VEBA account is the money is always tax free. It goes into the account, accrues earnings and is reimbursed without being taxed. Though it is restricted to medical expenses, it is a great asset to employees for their future planning. More information is available on our website and in our benefit booklet.GUESTS:Assistant Chief Riley Pilgrim, Chair of VEBA Board of TrusteesHuman Resources Director Arri Woolf, member of VEBA Board of TrusteesCaptain Jeremy Robertson, member of VEBA Board of TrusteesRetired Assistant Chief Bill Brass, member of VEBA Board of TrusteesFOLLOW US:Facebook - @unifiedfireauthorityInstagram - @unifiedfireTwitter - @fireauthorityYouTube - @unifiedfire