Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Podcast

Thoughts on Idaho and Not Losing Heart

The Idaho shootings on June 29, 2025 combined with losing  a firefighter to cancer the same week might lead some to become disheartened, but the whistle still blows, and we must remember why we do what we do, especially to keep the memories of those we've lost alive.

TIC Talk: Training Drills

The significance of rigorous and consistent training with thermal imagers cannot be overstated. While immersive drills involving simulated fires and technical rescues are crucial, there are numerous quick and effective training exercises that can be incorporated into the daily duties of firefighting personnel. The message is clear: fire departments do not always need elaborate setups to enhance their skills with TICs. Learn more about various training drills you can use today in this episode of TIC Talk.

Talking Trucks: Low Hosebeds

A recent YouTube Short by Ricky Riley on Low Hosebeds got a lot of attention and more than a few comments on social media. In this episode of Talking Trucks, Ricky Riley and Chris Mc Loone address a number of the responses to this video and share insights on designing pumpers to accommodate lower hosebeds, including overall length, compartment style, and tank size/configuration considerations.

FEMSA Focus: NFPA 1970

If you've had questions about NFPA 1970 and how it impacts about the PPE we wear, don't miss this Podcast with Wells Bullard (Bullard) and Bill Van Lent (Veridian) as they sit down with Chris Mc Loone about some of the changes to the standard and how they will affect our gear's construction.

Inside SoundOff Signal Lighting

Gabe Casucci, director of sales fire and EMS for SoundOff Signal, joins Chris Mc Loone to discuss the company's history, its silicone lighting product line, and how the company can help fire departments navigate lighting options during the specification process.

For more information, visit www.soundoffsignal.com.

Moving Water: Designing Rigs to Move High Volumes of Water

Andy Soccodato and Bill Adkins join Chris Mc Loone to discuss how to design pumpers as water movers. From pump plumbing to intakes, Andy, Bill, and Chris cover what you need to think about on the rural side and the suburban/urban side.

The Apparatus Workshop: Spec Boilerplate-Then and Now

In this episode, Nick Wilbur and Win Slauch welcome back Tom Shand to discuss specification boilerplate and what purchasing committees can do with it today vs. what they could do with it before, as well as well as setting up a successful bid to ensure multiple manufacturers participate and whether this is the path to take today.

The Fire Apparatus Shop

For fleet managers and emergency apparatus mechanics, outfitting a mobile service unit is more than just picking out a truck. In this episode. Andy Biron and Chris Mc Loone discuss designing and equipping mobile service units for fire apparatus maintenance divisions and dealers.