Better Every Shift

The best recruiting pitch might be the one you never make. Kentland (Md.) Volunteer Fire Department Sergeant Alex Caldaro says his Prince George’s County house doesn’t beg for members, doesn’t lower its standards and doesn’t require a minimum number of hours — yet it runs 4,000 to 5,000 calls a year and has kept four volunteers on the truck around the clock since 1995. Caldaro explains how ride-alongs, word of mouth and a humble culture do what flyers can’t, why giving members a voice builds buy-in, and what “10% pressure 100% of the time” looks like in practice. Whether you’re fighting a retention problem or trying to hold on to the people you have, he offers practical ideas for building a department people want to stay in.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email editor@firerescue1.com to share feedback.

Australia has been using door control and flow path for roughly a decade longer than we have — and it's still wrestling with the same recruitment, burnout and mental health problems you are. After separate trips there, Zam and Fire Chief Jason Caughey compare what they saw: state-level purchasing that puts the same PPE and apparatus in downtown Sydney and rural towns, decon taught from the first day of the academy, and turnout gear swapped out after every fire. They’re just as candid about what doesn't work, from academies that don’t fail anyone to focusing more on performance-based training. Caughey and Zam come back with practical ideas worth borrowing, whether you run a rural department or a busy urban company.

Enjoying the show? Email editor@firerescue1.com to share feedback.

“Meet me at the bench.” That’s it. No explanation required. Retired Orlando firefighters Chris DeMaagd and Joseph McCluan created The Bench 988 as a safe place for firefighters who want to connect with someone — ideally starting a conversation before they hit a crisis point. The Bench 988 started as an idea to memorialize two Orlando firefighters lost to suicide but quickly grew into something much bigger: weekly walks, peer support and a way to keep retirees connected with active members. DeMaagd calls it “putting tennis shoes on the kitchen table” — taking the camaraderie firefighters miss after retirement and adding movement, sunlight and meaningful connection. Joe and Chris share how they chose the bench location, why attaching 988 matters and what departments should consider before creating their own. But the bigger takeaway isn’t really about a single bench. It’s about making it easier to ask for help and creating what they describe as proactive peer support — catching someone farther upstream, before the crisis.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Community risk reduction doesn’t have to start with smoke alarms, fall prevention or another familiar program. Sometimes it starts with a firefighter asking, “What does our community actually need?” Cherry Grove (Michigan) Fire and Rescue Chiefs Noah Knauf and Aaron Sogge have taken that approach with Dad 101, a class created by dads for dads that tackles everything from infant care and choking to what parents can expect when they call 911. But the bigger story is how one idea opened the door to more: safe-sleep education, car-seat checks, bike safety, autism-focused training and programs aimed at the next generation of firefighters and EMTs. Knauf and Sogge also make the case for giving members room to act on what they see in homes every day. The takeaway for leaders: Stop treating CRR like a checklist. Listen to your people, find the right partners and give good ideas room to run.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

“Stop talking. Give me reps.” That’s the message from the What Firefighters Want survey report focused on training. Captain Lisa Burton joins Zam and Janelle to break down the survey findings, including the fact that motivation isn’t the issue; it’s securing training that respects firefighters’ time and prepares them for the job. The discussion gets into checkbox drills, instructor qualifications, measurable objectives, micro-training, realistic scenarios and the challenge of fitting meaningful development into already packed schedules.

This episode of the Better Every Shift podcast is sponsored by FirstNet, Built with AT&T. The only wireless network built with — and for — firefighters like you. Learn more at FirstNet.com.

Enjoying the show? Email editor@firerescue1.com for feedback.