This episode is Part 1 of a 2-part interview with Deputy Chief John Vanatta discussing a training exercise that went wrong and resulted in two firefighter injuries after falling 10 feet on to concrete. The Denver Drill that John discusses had been performed all week using two ladders and two firefighters at the sill. But […]
The John Vanatta Story. Part 1 – SAM 349 Read More »
On March 27, 2015, Cypress Creek District Chief Jason Corthell was trapped and injured during a fire where a stairwell unexpectedly collapsed at an apartment building fire in Texas. This the follow-up story of his road to physical and mental recovery. Back on Episode 55, then Cypress Creek Lieutenant Jason Corthell shared his close call
The Jason Corthell Story. The Next Chapter. Part 1 – SAM 347 Read More »
This episode explores the challenges workers face while operating in dynamically changing conditions that require sharing attention to multiple, concurrent activities – a.k.a., multitasking. If you are the type of person who can work on your notebook, listen to music on your iPod, talk on your cell phone and text message at the same time,
The Myth of Multitasking – SAM 346 Read More »
In this episode, Cameron Gasaway, a career firefighter with the Madison (Wisconsin) Fire Department, shares lessons learned during his first five years on the job. It’s been 5 years since my last interview with my son, Cameron Gasaway. At that time, he was serving as an apprentice firefighter in Madison, Wisconsin. In this episode, he
Cameron Gasaway Interview – SAM 345 Read More »
In this episode, Captain Ricky Mehaffey from the Waynesville NC Fire Department chronicles his near-miss survival story where 3 firefighters almost died at a “routine” chimney fire. At the time of the fire, Rick Mehaffey served as an engineer for the Waynesville Fire Department, is combination department that runs 2500 calls a year out of
The Rick Mehaffey Story. Flashback to Episode 142 – SAM 344 Read More »
On August 11, 2007, Captain Martin and his partner were over run by a fast-moving wildland fire. On retreat, his partner became entangled on a barbed wire fence. Captain Martin used a utility knife to cut away his partner’s ensnarled clothing and they both narrowly escaped death. Description Dave Martin’s crew was assigned
The Dave Martin Story – Flashback to Episode 45 – SAM 343 Read More »
This episode explores how your brain can make up, or confabulate, its own reality. A confabulated reality is one that we believe to be real but, in actuality, it is made up in our brain. The problem with this is we rarely are able to distinguish between a confabulated reality and true reality until something
Confabulated Realities Impact Situational Awareness – SAM 342 Read More »
This episode is part 2 of a two-part interview with Asheville (NC) Fire Chief Scott Burnette, sharing the details and perspective on the LODD of Captain Jeff Bowen. On July 28, 2011, the Asheville Fire Department was forever changed by the tragic LODD of Captain Jeff Bowen. During this interview, Fire Chief Scott Burnette talks
The Jeff Bowen LODD Story, told by Scott Burnette. Part 2 – SAM 341 Read More »
This episode is part 1 of a two-part interview with Ashville (NC) Fire Chief Scott Burnette, sharing the details and perspective on the LODD of Captain Jeff Bowen. On July 28, 2011, the Asheville Fire Department was forever changed by the tragic LODD of Captain Jeff Bowen. During this interview, Fire Chief Scott Burnette talks
The Jeff Bowen LODD Story, told by Scott Burnette. Part 1 – SAM 340 Read More »
In this episode I sat down for an interview with Shawnee (KS) Fire Battalion Chief Ryan Pyle to discuss a residential structure incident that resulted in the death of Firefighter John Glaser. Ryan discusses the details of this tragic incident and the lessons his department learned from it. This episode is part 2 of a
The John Glaser LODD Story, told by Ryan Pyle. Part 2 – SAM 339 Read More »
