Retired Battalion Chief Mark Whaling, a 42-year veteran of the fire service, shares the story behind his groundbreaking invention, the Heli-Hydrant—a permanent, pilot-activated water source for firefighting helicopters. Discover how a simple observation led to a system that ends the inefficient and time-consuming process of dipping from ponds or portable tanks, and learn the gritty lessons of innovating within a culture resistant to change.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The Heli-Hydrant: How this "hydrant for helicopters" provides a reliable, rapid water source right where it's needed most.
• The Innovator's Mindset: Why "failing fast" is the key to creating new solutions.
• From Idea to Reality: The journey of collaborating with pilots and water districts to meet everyone's needs.
• Overcoming Resistance: The challenges of bringing new ideas to a "that's-not-how-we-do-things" culture.
• The Command Access Vehicle: The surprising story of how a farrier's truck inspired a new, more efficient vehicle for fire command staff.
• The Power of a Simple Idea: How the "Whaling Pack" changed the game for wildland hose deployment back in the 90s.
• The Business of Fire Tech: Why the water districts, not fire departments, are the customer for this critical infrastructure.

UL's Baylie Scott from the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) unveils NERIS, the new national fire data system set to replace the 50-year-old NFIRS. Discover how this modern, location-based platform will revolutionize the way fire departments report and use data—from tracking emerging hazards like EV fires to empowering chiefs with the evidence they need to justify resources and save lives.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The End of an Era: Why the legacy NFIRS system is being sunsetted.
• Welcome to NERIS: The key features of the new National Emergency Response Information System.
• The Power of Where: How adding a geographic backbone to every incident report changes the game.
• Plain Language, Faster Data: Making reporting easier for firefighters and making data available in near real-time.
• Tracking Emerging Hazards: How NERIS is built to adapt to new threats like lithium-ion battery fires.
• Proactive vs. Reactive: The importance of the new Community Risk Reduction (CRR) module for capturing prevention efforts.
• From Data to Decisions: How better data empowers fire chiefs when they face city council.
• Lessons from Gatlinburg: How a real-world WUI disaster proved the value of geospatial data analysis.

Patrick Wright, Director of California's Wildfire and Resilience Task Force, explains the monumental one-million-acre-per-year mission to make the state's forests and communities more resilient to megafires. Discover the dual strategies for Northern and Southern California, the critical role of prescribed "good fire," and how the task force is breaking down decades-old silos between federal, state, and local agencies to tackle the problem at scale.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The Million-Acre Goal: The massive scale of California's forest health initiative.
• Two Californias, Two Strategies: Why NorCal needs thinning and prescribed fire, while SoCal needs ignition prevention.
• Breaking Down Silos: How the Task Force acts as the "glue" to align dozens of agencies that once worked independently.
• The Power of "Good Fire": Why prescribed burns, cultural burns, and managed natural fires are essential tools.
• Data-Driven Decisions: How new interagency tracking systems and regional data kits are empowering local communities.
• The Big Three Barriers: The ongoing challenges of securing sustained funding, building a workforce, and creating markets for biomass.
• Smoke as a Motivator: How urban smoke exposure has become a major driver for political and public support.
• The Long Game: Why it took a century to create this problem and will take decades of sustained effort to fix it.

HazAdapt founder and CEO Ginny Katz, MPH, introduces a new type of safety app designed to combat alert fatigue and provide "just-in-time" guidance that works offline during a crisis. Discover the importance of personal resilience, the power of a prepared mindset, and the innovative ways technology can help communities measure their readiness and individuals take control of their own safety.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The HazAdapt Difference: Why this safety app doesn't send alerts and focuses on offline, personal guidance.
• "Just-in-Time" Safety: Getting step-by-step instructions for what to do in the critical moments of an emergency.
• Alert Fatigue: Acknowledging the problem of being overwhelmed by notifications and why a different approach is needed.
• The Survivor's Mindset: How to shift from anxiety to excitement and eliminate the "reaction gap" in a crisis.
• Gamifying Preparedness: How fun events ("Let's Taco 'Bout Earthquakes") and personal prep scores can build community resilience.
• The Power of Low-Tech: Why resources like HAM radio are more important than ever.
• You're More Prepared Than You Think: Recognizing that resilience starts with what you have and what you know, not just an expensive kit.
• Connecting Authorities & Public: How the new Resilience Point platform helps emergency managers see and improve their community's readiness.

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Retired FDNY Chief Frank Leeb, now with the First Responder Center for Excellence, breaks down the "firefighter blindside"—the hidden health risks like cancer, heart disease, and PTSD that are the biggest threats to the fire service today. Discover the leadership principles, training philosophies, and practical steps needed to build more resilient firefighters and create a culture that protects its own, long after the fire is out.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The "Firefighter Blindside": Why cancer and cardiac issues are the leading killers of firefighters off the fireground.
• Safety as a Byproduct: The philosophy that elite training, not a "safety first" mindset, is what truly protects first responders.
• The FDNY Way: How a culture of ingrained mentorship and accountability creates high-functioning teams.
• Cancer Prevention Tactics: Practical, low-cost steps like decon, clean cabs, and annual medicals that save lives.
• The New WUI Threat: Why structural departments, even in places like New York, must begin cross-training for wildland fires.
• FRCE's Mission: How the First Responder Center for Excellence is translating research into no-cost, actionable training.
• Leadership is Key: The critical role of leaders in setting non-negotiable standards and supporting their crews.

NIST fire protection engineer Alexander Maranghides, a recent winner of the Samuel Heyman Service to America Medal for his decades of fire science research delivers a deep-dive into the complex science of why communities burn in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) and why our current approaches are often failing. Drawing on decades of research and in-depth case studies of catastrophic events like the Camp Fire, he explains why WUI fire is fundamentally different from any other disaster and presents a new methodology for building truly resilient communities.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The WUI Fire Paradox: Why the community itself is the fuel that drives the disaster.
• Exposure vs. Parcels: The critical flaw in focusing on property lines instead of how fire actually spreads.
• The Limits of Post-Fire Forensics: Why you can't determine if a surviving house was well-built or just lucky.
• Two Separate Problems: The need to address both direct flame exposure and ember attacks independently.
• The Density Dilemma: How risk escalates dramatically from low-density to high-density communities.
• From Defensible to Stand-Alone: The paradigm shift needed for communities to survive without firefighter intervention.
• The Retrofit Challenge: Why hardening existing neighborhoods is the single toughest nut to crack.
• NIST's Role: How a neutral federal agency conducts years-long case studies to provide unbiased science for all.

Biomass utilization consultant and 27-year Forest Service veteran Jim Archuleta explains why the key to preventing catastrophic wildfires lies in managing the smallest fuels, and how ancient technologies like biochar offer a powerful, modern solution. Discover the science of turning forest waste into a potent soil amendment that improves water retention, sequesters carbon, and can even destroy "forever chemicals" like PFAS.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The Kindling of the Forest: Why small-diameter fuels are the biggest wildfire risk.
• What is Biochar? The 1,000-year-old practice of creating carbon-rich charcoal to amend soil.
• Benefits of Biochar: How it dramatically increases water retention, improves soil health, and sequesters carbon.
• From Forest to Farm: The concept of redistributing surplus forest biomass to agricultural lands that have a carbon deficit.
• Mass Timber & More: Innovative uses for wood, from massive plywood panels to shading orchards to double their yield.
• Energy from Waste: How the process of making biochar can also generate thermal energy and liquid bio-oil.
• Destroying "Forever Chemicals": The potential for high-temperature biochar production to break down PFAS in waste materials.
• A Word of Caution: Why biochar is a powerful tool that must be used correctly and isn't a one-size-fits-all solution.

DICOSI CEO Torsten Gerwig details the incredible power of the Turbo Hydrojet system, which uses repurposed civilian jet engines to create a massive water mist capable of extinguishing industrial fires, ventilating tunnels, and battling wildfires from a safe distance. Learn about the German engineering behind this unique technology, its evolution from chemical plants to disaster zones, and the development of new tracked and robotic platforms that are changing the game in large-scale disaster control.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The Turbo Hydrojet: How jet engines create a 120-meter long, 80-meter high cloud of precisely-sized water droplets.
• From Military to Civil: The engineering required to convert retired aircraft engines to run on diesel for firefighting.
• A Force Multiplier: How one operator with a remote control can do the work of a large team.
• Proven Use Cases: Success stories in industrial fires, tunnel emergencies, and wildfires in Europe.
• The Science of Mist: Why droplet size is key to cooling structures and scrubbing contaminants from the air.
• The DICOSI Product Line: From massive truck-mounted jets to new robotic units that can climb stairs into buildings.
• The Xtreme V: A look at the new tracked, amphibious vehicle designed for extreme disaster environments.
• The Business of Disaster Tech: DICOSI's journey through COVID and their plans for entering the US market.

Cindy Devlin-Musick, Director of Vegetation Management, reveals the complex, high-tech world of keeping trees off power lines to prevent 70-80% of all outages. From helicopter aerial saws to satellite imagery that detects sick trees from space, learn how utilities proactively manage thousands of miles of forest to ensure reliability and how these same practices can create essential habitats for pollinators like Monarch butterflies.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The Scale of the Problem: Why trees are the number one cause of power outages.
• High-Tech Tools: How satellite data, based on leaf chlorophyll levels, helps find danger trees.
• The Aerial Saw: Using helicopters to trim trees in the most inaccessible areas.
• Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM): The science of selectively controlling tall-growing trees while promoting beneficial, low-growing habitat.
• Pollinator Highways: How power line rights-of-way become crucial corridors for butterflies and songbirds.
• Why Trees Fail: A deep dive into the research on tree biology and biomechanics to predict and prevent failures.
• Overhead vs. Underground: The real costs and surprising environmental impacts of burying power lines.
• Customer Conversations: Navigating the sensitive issue of removing a member's beloved-but-hazardous tree.

Founder Jeff Denholm tells the incredible story behind Strong Water Tech, a new fire suppression gel born from his experiences as a wildland fire contractor, a big-wave surfer, and his drive to protect firefighter health. Discover the innovative chemistry that allows this non-toxic gel to multiply water's effectiveness and flow through standard equipment without clogging, and learn about the decade-long journey from a simple idea to a US Forest Service qualified product.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The Strong Water Tech Innovation: How this "plug and play" gel acts as a force multiplier for water.
• An Entrepreneur's Journey: The unlikely path from Merchant Marine and pro-surfer to green chemistry founder.
• Firefighter Health First: The mission to create a non-carcinogenic, Prop 65-compliant alternative to toxic foams.
• Passing the Test: The grueling two-year process of getting on the US Forest Service Qualified Products List (QPL).
• Trial by Fire: How Jeff personally used his product to save homes during the 2020 CZU Complex fire.
• Key Connections: The role of Patagonia, Dr. Arlene Bloom, and early investors in making the vision a reality.
• The Future Market: Why the initial focus is on replacing Class A foams in structural firefighting.
• Overcoming Hurdles: The challenges of raising venture capital and breaking into a slow-to-innovate industry.




https://strongwatertech.com/

Southwest Tennessee Fire Chief Bradon Fletcher discusses the new reality of battling larger, faster-moving wildfires in a region historically unaccustomed to them, and the critical need for forward-thinking training. Drawing on 25 years of experience, Chief Fletcher breaks down the challenges of rural firefighting, the vital science of Hazmat response, and why being a volunteer is never an excuse for mediocrity.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The Changing Southern Fire Scape: Why crop and woodland fires are becoming a bigger problem in Tennessee.
• Rural Firefighting Challenges: The limits of being "tethered to a brush truck" and the need for new tactics like progressive hose lays.
• Hazmat Fundamentals: Why understanding chemical and physical properties is the most important skill for any responder.
• A Story from Iraq: A practical, real-world lesson on evaporative cooling and problem-solving under pressure.
• The Aggression Mindset: The importance of "intelligently aggressive" firefighters for interior attack and rescue.
• Training for the "One Percent": How to prepare for the high-risk, low-frequency event that might happen only once in a career.
• A Chief's Biggest Worry: The constant pressure of ensuring his firefighters are trained, equipped, and ready for anything.

Author David Alexander dives into the provocative ideas from his new book, "Disaster Nation," challenging our entire approach to disaster management, from FEMA's role to the perverse incentives that encourage risk. Learn why our current system creates "disaster inflation," how smarter public-private partnerships can lead to real resilience, and why the future of safety isn't about bigger government, but a fundamental shift in local responsibility and investment.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The "Disaster Nation" Thesis: Why decades of policy have led to more spending but less local capacity.
• Structural Contradiction: The conflict between calling 911 for local emergencies and "calling Washington" for disasters.
• The Role of Insurance: How insurance can be a powerful tool for resilience, but is currently distorted by subsidies.
• 6-to-1 ROI of Mitigation: The economic case for pre-mitigation and the political hurdles that prevent it.
• Smarter Federalism: Moving FEMA from the primary "cavalry" to a strategic backstop for catastrophic events.
• A "Resilience Credit Score": An innovative idea to incentivize states for proactive preparedness.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Why industries like waste management and tech are key to effective response.
• International Models: What the U.S. can learn from countries like the Netherlands and Japan.
• National "Moonshot Goals": Creating social cohesion around clear, ambitious resilience targets.

UC Davis Professor Michele Barbato explains why current fire-resistant homes still have a 50/50 chance of survival in a wildfire and how ancient earthen construction techniques hold the key to a truly fire-resilient future. Discover how compressed earth blocks can withstand extreme heat, drastically cut energy bills, and offer a sustainable solution to the intertwined housing, insurance, and climate crises.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Ignition-Resistant vs. Fire-Resilient: The critical difference and why it matters in a conflagration.
• Earthen Construction: Reinventing 10,000-year-old technologies (Adobe, Rammed Earth) for the modern world.
• Surviving the Fire Test: How compressed earth blocks get stronger after being exposed to 1800°F heat for hours.
• The Insurance Crisis: Why building more resiliently is essential to keeping communities insurable and mortgages available.
• Thermal Mass Magic: The science behind how earthen homes can slash heating and cooling bills by up to 70%.
• Hurdles to Adoption: The challenges with building codes, supply chains, and education that prevent mainstream use.
• A Path Forward: The steps needed to scale up production and make earthen homes affordable for everyone.
• From Earth to Mars: How this research is paving the way for building on other planets.

Julien Gastaldi, a CO2 reduction specialist, explains how ancient indigenous fire management techniques from Australia are being revived with modern technology to combat wildfires, reduce emissions, and create sustainable livelihoods. Discover how "fire as a tool" can transform our approach to land management, offering a path to ecological health and economic benefits, with lessons now being exported globally.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Indigenous Fire Knowledge: The sophisticated understanding of fire by Australia's First Peoples.
• Savanna Burning Science: How controlled burns in Northern Australia reduce overall emissions (methane & nitrous oxide) and wildfire risk.
• Ancient Wisdom, Modern Tools: Fusing traditional practices with helicopters, drones, and satellite imagery.
• Profitable Conservation: The economic model making these fire management projects self-sustaining.
• CO2 Reduction Goals: Julien's personal mission and how these projects contribute to climate targets.
• Global Application: The work of the International Savannah Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI) in Africa and Brazil.
• Community & Culture: The importance of indigenous governance, knowledge sharing, and social benefits.
• Challenges & Triumphs: Overcoming historical land management shifts and implementing new (old) ways.
• Beyond Carbon: The co-benefits of improved biodiversity and community empowerment.
• The Future of Fire: Creating new "helicopter people" and blending knowledge systems.

Dr. Katharyn Duffy, a leading expert in wildfire carbon interactions from Vibrant Planet and Northern Arizona University, reveals the often-underestimated long-term carbon impacts of severe wildfires and discusses how climate change is reshaping our forests. Discover the science behind forest resilience, the critical role of sustainable forestry in carbon capture, and innovative approaches to help ecosystems adapt to a hotter, drier world.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The Carbon Iceberg: Why initial fire emissions are just the tip of the problem.
• Aridity's Impact: How a "thirstier" atmosphere stresses trees and ecosystems.
• Ecosystem Tipping Points: The risk of forests converting to less carbon-rich landscapes.
• Nature's Best Tech: Why trees are unparalleled carbon capture machines.
• Lumber as Sequestered Carbon: The benefits of sustainable harvesting, especially post-disturbance.
• Vibrant Planet's Mission: Bridging the gap between cutting-edge science and actionable solutions.
• Beyond Pile & Burn: Smarter ways to manage forest biomass and improve soil health.
• The Power of Fungi: Exploring mycological solutions for forest regeneration.
• Working with Nature: Why proactive, science-based restoration is key.
• Humanity's Role: Understanding our impact and responsibility in the biosphere.

Mosmart's Fraser Donaldson and Andrew Nott detail their innovative mineral-based fire retardant, Marine 3, offering a potentially revolutionary, eco-friendly alternative to traditional chemical foams. Join us as these UK innovators discuss their journey from farming and artificial grass to tackling global wildfires with a product that's gaining traction across Europe as a PFAS-free solution.In this episode, you'll learn about:What is Marine 3? The 64-mineral composition and its "no synthetic chemicals" promise.The PFAS Ban: Why this product is a timely alternative for fire departments.Global Testing & Certification: Navigating the rigorous approval processes in Europe (CE certified) and beyond.Real-World Performance: Insights from tests in Portugal, Cyprus, and Turkey against water and foams.Application & Benefits: How it's used, its non-corrosive nature, and its ability to prevent reignition.Market Penetration: Mosmart's strategy for entering challenging markets like Spain, South America, and the US.The Farmer's Perspective: Why Andrew Knott, a farmer, trusts Marine 3 on his own crops.Cost & Efficiency: A look at the diluted cost per liter compared to other solutions.Future Outlook: Addressing waste fires, EV battery fires, and expanding global reach.

Former WA Fire Chief Hilary Franz unpacks the critical strategies for tackling escalating wildfires, detailing Washington State's innovative approaches to fire suppression, forest health, and community resilience. Discover how bold leadership and cutting-edge technology are reshaping our fight against an ever-growing threat, and learn what it truly takes to protect our communities and natural landscapes.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The turning point: Lessons from Washington's 2020 Labor Day firestorm.
• Moving at the "pace and scale of wildfire": Why government needs to accelerate.
• Exclusive Use Contracts: Revolutionizing aerial firefighting resources.
• Forest Health: The urgent need for restoration before disaster strikes.
• Suppression vs. Natural Burns: Finding the right balance.
• The changing nature of fire: Why old containment strategies aren't enough.
• Tech on the Front Lines: How Pano AI, drones, and data are saving lives and land.
• Community Resilience: Bridging the gap in public awareness and preparedness.
• Evacuation Planning: The overlooked key to safety.
• A National Call to Action: Modernizing federal wildfire strategy.
• Why Hilary Franz is optimistic we can end the mega-wildfire crisis.

Wildfire disasters are accelerating across the globe, and climate scientist Daniel Swain says we’re dangerously unprepared for what’s coming next. Climate scientist Daniel Swain discusses the growing complexity of wildfire events in a warming world. From fire weather science to the failures of over-suppression, Swain explains why our current strategies aren’t cutting it—and what has to change. They dive into California’s record-breaking urban wildfires, the hidden risks of battery fires and toxic smoke, the paradox of resilience vs. resistance, and how disaster movies might hold the key to better preparedness. Whether you’re a firefighter, policymaker, or just living near flammable landscapes, this is the conversation we all need right now.

🎙 Topics include:

• Why climate + wind is a catastrophic combo

• Urban firestorms in LA, Maui, Boulder, and beyond

• Compound disasters: when one emergency triggers another

• Prescribed fire, Indigenous burning, and fire-adapted communities

• Watch Duty, arson myths, and evacuation tech gaps

🌿 Learn more about Teal’s work at Lab to Land: labtolandinstitute.org

Can fire prevention become profitable? In this episode of The Fire Break, host Steve Wolf talks with Teal Brown Zimring, Executive Director of Lab to Land and Managing Partner at Galvanize Partners, about the emerging intersection of wildfire economics, biomass utilization, and biotechnology.

Teal’s background in political economics gives her a unique lens on how we fund and prioritize resilience. She explains why thinning overgrown forests isn’t just about science — it’s about economic incentives, regional demonstration projects, and redefining what it means to “live with fire.”

🧠 Topics Covered:

• The untapped value of waste biomass (pine needles, scrub wood, and “ladder fuels”)

• Why private markets can’t solve wildfire risk — and where public funding fits in

• Can paper towels really save the forest?

• The dangers of phosphorus loading from fire retardants

• Using biotech and soil genomics to understand post-fire recovery

• Reimagining wildland firefighter careers as year-round resilience work

• Cultural narratives that still glorify suppression over prevention

• Why funding community-scale projects may be our best path forward

Sponsored by Team Wildfire, developing jet engine–powered fire suppression for the modern age.

Welcome Michelle Friess, Flight Operations Coordinator at Bridger Aerospace, one of the leading companies in aerial wildfire suppression. Michelle schedules scooper pilots, coordinates operations across a growing national fleet, and helps ensure fire aircraft and crews are where they’re needed—fast.

🎯 Topics Covered:

-What it’s like managing aircraft and crews during fire season

-Why wildfires are now a year-round threat

-The growing role of super scoopers and aerial firefighting

-Bridger’s plans to expand its fleet (from 16+ aircraft and beyond)

-Challenges with pilot scheduling, maintenance, and federal contracts

-The emotional side of the job and the respect for ground crews

-Mentorship, women in fire aviation, and why wildfire feels like family

🌎 Michelle also shares how her path—from garbage site support in Oregon to wildfire aviation—proves that anyone with grit and purpose can have impact.