Peter Matthews talks with Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company Chief James “Jay” Jester about how to survive the promotion to company officer. They talk about the common and surprising challenges news officers face and how to prepare for the new rank, where their responsibility grows as they supervise crews.

Jester shares how officers, whether from volunteer or career fire companies, become an integral part of the department’s structure both in the station and on the fireground. He outlines some of the most important traits new officers should have, skills they should already be well versed in and what key elements they can study to prepare for on their leadership journey.

The transition from buddy to boss is explored, often causing some unexpected challenges for new officers and he shares advice on how to move past that situation, plus understanding the responsibility an officer has to their firefighter’s families.

The two also talk about mental health for firefighters and the officer’s role in monitoring their members, plus mayday training and the importance of setting a list of situations that require a mayday being called.

Resources

James Jester’s Firehouse bio page & articles

From Buddy to Boss by Chase Sargent

Peter Matthews talks with Reading, PA, firefighter Jesiah Newsome about the importance of keeping training both motivational and inspiring, especially for younger firefighters. They also discuss how a big hurdle in today’s training is the ego of instructors, and how they can lead to negative experiences.

Newsome explains the need to create a positive learning environment from rookie school, throughout their career. He is also a deputy chief with the Blandon Fire Company in Berks County, PA, and both a state and national fire service, sharing his experiences from each role on this podcast.

He approaches the fire service with the manta, “You can either bitch about it, or fix it” and explains how you can move yourself and the department forward by ensuring you have the desire to learn, and help others strengthen their skillsets.

Newsome says those who aspire to have a meaningful career, whether volunteer and career, need to short- and long-term goals and offers insight into his goals to provide listeners with concepts they can adapt.

Resources

• Frank Leeb’s Firehouse Expo 2022 Keynote Address

Peter Matthews talks with Chad Costa about his capstone research on the impact of single-role paramedics in fire-based EMS systems. Costa, an assistant chief with the Petaluma, CA, Fire Department talks about the pros and cons of the highly debated topic to help fire departments manage responses as EMS call volumes soar.

They discuss how single-role vs. dual-role medic positions function, plus the varying costs and the overall impact on firefighter-focused training for crews who also staff ambulances.

Costa explains that, as he started the research, he thought the move to a single-role was a no-brainer but said the findings of his research changed his outlook. The show explorers the benefits of having fire-based EMS systems where service delivery is the priority, not the cost - on both the personnel and the department.

Resources:

• ChadCosta.org

• EFO Capstone: Dual-Role Vs. Single-Role Staffing Models

• Chad Costa on LinkedIn

• Chad Costa’s Firehouse Articles & Podcasts