In this conversation, Matt Tobia, the current Fire Chief of the Harrisonburg Fire Department discusses his journey in the emergency services and involvement in the National Advisory Committee for OSHA. He talks about the proposed draft regulations for firefighter safety and the importance of managing expectations. Matt also shares his experience in the combination fire service and the challenges and benefits it brings. He emphasizes the need for professionalism and the importance of service to the community. He shares his favorite thing about working in Anne Arundel County, the beautiful coastline. He also talks about the importance of mentorship and the valuable lessons he learned from experienced firefighters.

Michael and Matt discuss their early days in the fire service and the impact of mentorship on their careers. They also talk about the National Fire Academy and the value of networking and camaraderie. Matt shares the biggest lesson he learned from the EFO program, which is that there is no honor in fighting a fire that could have been prevented. The conversation in this part covers topics such as the importance of taking care of oneself as a leader, the impact of transitional attack in firefighting, the key takeaways from the EFO program, the thrill of helping people, the challenges of fire prevention laws, and the role of family escorts in supporting the families of fallen firefighters.

The conversation covers various topics related to mental health and leadership in the fire service. The hosts discuss the importance of reaching out for help and supporting one another. They also talk about the work being done in national committees to address mental health issues in the fire service. The conversation concludes by discussing the responsibilities and challenges of being a Fire Chief.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Sponsor

02:26

Introducing Matt Tobia

06:24

Overview of NACOSH and the 1910-156 Standard

10:09

Matt Tobia's Role in NACOSH

19:38

Matt Tobia's Journey in the Fire Service

25:57

Transition to the Combination Fire Service

33:04

Pros and Cons of the Combination Fire Service

37:18

Volunteers and Paramedics in Anne Arundel County

39:21

The Beauty of Anne Arundel County's Coastline

41:13

The Value of Mentorship in the Fire Service

46:15

Learning to Be Water

52:14

The National Fire Academy and Networking

59:18

The EFO Program and the Importance of Fire Prevention

01:04:10

No Honor in Fighting Preventable Fires

01:15:25

Self-Care and Leadership

01:18:19

The Thrill of Helping People

01:22:35

The Role of Family Escorts

01:58:33

The Power of Leaving a Lasting Impression

02:02:48

National Committees Addressing Mental Health in the Fire Service

02:05:44

The Responsibilities and Challenges of Being a Fire Chief