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.
