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The Leader's Toolbox: Dealing with the Chief's Son & Mandated Training

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This edition of The Leader’s Toolbox starts with a discussion on situational awareness on the fireground. Host and Fire Chief Richard B. Gasaway explores the different levels of awareness that firefighters and fire officers need to have while working to keep the scene safe.

Gasaway offers advice to a career fire officer who has the chief’s son, who appears to be lazy, assigned to his station. The officer does not want to cause any waves with the chief, but wants the new firefighter to get on track. The use of coaching and teaching better work habits are promoted.

He also has advice for a new training officer anxious to keep members up to par when it comes to annual educational sessions. Gasaway offers ideas to insure the necessary levels are met, without causing problems among the members.

Related Links

• SA Technologies

Please send any suggestions, questions or comments, to: podcast@firehouse.com.

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The Leader's Toolbox: Dwindling Volunteers & a New Safety Officer

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This month’s edition of The Leader’s Toolbox looks at issues facing both volunteer and career fire departments. Host and Fire Chief Richard B. Gasaway offer sound advice in both situations - do your homework and have background data to backup your plans.

The first half of the podcast looks at a chief of a volunteer fire department whose rolls are dwindling while the number of alarms is increasing. Gasaway proposes various ideas to help increase the number of volunteer members while looking exploring the chief’s idea on the feasibility of a combination department.

The chief of mid-sized departments is looking to raise the level safety in his department by implementing a safety officer 24 hours a day. During daytime hours, several staff chiefs respond to incidents to assist in various roles. Once the office closes, the cities three district chiefs are all that’s left. Gasaway explores the chiefs options, including the opening a new position and the safety company or command support company concept.

Related Links
• VCOS Red Ribbon Report
• VCOS Blue Ribbon Report

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The Leader's Toolbox: The Debate of Leadership Styles

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In this edition of The Leader’s Toolbox, host and Fire Chief Richard B. Gasaway looks at communication skills and leadership styles. Chief Gasaway will take a look at management styles. One chief believes a participative approach is best, while another prefers the autocratic method. Chief Gasaway will use his 18-plus years as a chief to help determine which is better for your department.

Chief Gasaway also helps another chief whose e-mails are often misinterpreted, and send the wrong message. Tune in to learn some valuable electronic and verbal communications skills. Good communication is essential to every task, from the office to the fireground.

Please send any suggestions, questions or comments, to: podcast@firehouse.com

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The Leader's Toolbox: Alcohol in the Fire Service & Leadership Lessons with Chief John Buckman

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In this month’s episode of The Leader’s Toolbox, Chief Richard B. Gasaway looks at the current hot-topic of alcohol in the fire service. Recent headlines tie alcohol to on-duty deaths, serious emergency vehicle accidents and policies that allow alcohol in the station. Chief Gasaway will offer insight into this issue, whether on-duty of off-duty.

In the second part of the podcast, Chief Gasaway talks about leadership with John Buckman, Chief of the German Township, IN, Volunteer Fire Department and past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Chief Buckman shares his lessons after serving 30 years as a fire chief.

Please send any suggestions, questions or comments, to: podcast@firehouse.com

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The Leader's Toolbox: "I'm Just a Volunteer" & Lessons Learned in Charleston

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Hosted by Richard Gasaway

In this month’s episode of The Leader’s Toolbox, Chief Richard Gasaway addresses a question from a firefighter who is frustrated because some of their members have the attitude “You can’t tell me what to do, I’m only a volunteer.” Chief Gasaway takes this attitude head-on with sound advice about how to work through this problem before it destroys your department.

In the second part of the podcast, Chief Gasaway interviews Assistant Fire Chief Brian Crawford from the Shreveport, LA, Fire Department about the role he played in recently conducting an leadership and administration assessment of the Charleston, SC, Fire Department in wake of the tragic Sofa Super Store fire that killed 9 firefighters. Hear first-hand from an assessment team member about how the fire service can benefit from the important recommendations made by the review team.

Please send any suggestions, questions or comments, to: podcast@firehouse.com.

Related Links:
• Charleston Phase 1 Report (PDF)
• Full Coverage of Charleston Tragedy on Firehouse.com

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The Leader's Toolbox: Influencing Success Through Fire Department Culture

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Hosted by Richard Gasaway

All fire departments have a culture. In fact it is possible to have many different cultures within an organization. The culture of your fire department is its personality and is influenced by many different people, priorities and motivations.

Join host Richard Gasaway during an interview with Shreveport Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran that was conducted at Fire-Rescue International. Chief Cochran will offer Radio@Firehouse listeners an overview of his “Shaping Organizational Culture in the Firehouse” session that was presented at FRI. Chief Cochran is the incoming First Vice President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and a nationally recognized presenter and author on leadership topics in the fire service.

In the second part of this podcast, Chief Gasaway will contribute his observations on building and maintaining a healthy fire department culture. Together, they share more than 50 years of experience and observations on developing and maintaining a positive fire department culture.

• Discuss the topic of Firehouse Department Culture here.

Please send any suggestions, questions or comments, to: podcast@firehouse.com.

Related Links:

• Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute
• Shreveport Fire Department Website

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The Leader's Toolbox: Lessons Learned from Minneapolis Fire Chief Jim Clack

[49:17m]

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Hosted by Richard Gasaway

Join Chief Richard Gasaway as he discusses the tragic collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge with Minneapolis Fire Chief Jim Clack. This podcast, recorded just a week after the “unthinkable” event occurred, looks at response of the Minneapolis Fire Department and mutual aid agencies.

Chief Clack talks about the importance of the incident command system, relationships and continued training with other agencies some of the initial lessons that were learned since the collapse occurred.

This podcast is a must for everyone in the fire service and should be shared with members of other emergency response agencies.

Please send any suggestions, questions or comments, to: podcast@firehouse.com.

Minneapolis Chief Jim Clack to Present Keynote at Firehouse Central/EMS Expo

Minneapolis Fire Chief Jim Clack will present the keynote speech during the upcoming Firehouse Central and EMS Expo in Orlando, FL. Click here to learn more about Firehouse Central and EMS Expo.

• Firehouse.com Coverage of Minneapolis Bridge Collapse

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The Leader's Toolbox: Helping Candidate and Veteran Firefighters

[1:02:45m]

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Hosted by Richard Gasaway

In this month’s episode of The Leader’s Toolbox, Chief Gasaway looks to help future and veteran firefighters. No one — from the rookie to the officer — should miss this one!

The first issue that Chief Gasaway addresses is from a part-time firefighter who is looking for tips as he enters the interview process for a full-time position.

The next issue tackled involves a veteran who believes his expertise is not being tapped by the young chief. How does the seasoned firefighter go about getting someone to turn to him? Sound familiar? Chief Gasaway will share his thoughts on this one.

Please send any suggestions, questions or comments, to: podcast@firehouse.com.

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The Under-Qualified Chief and the Veteran Firefighter

[44:47m]

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This month’s edition of The Leader’s Toolbox looks at the conflict between a veteran firefighter who joined a new department at the chief’s request. The 20-year veteran has been assisting the department establish policies and SOPs but the chief has determined that, based on the new criteria, he is under-qualified. Chief Richard Gasaway offers some advice to resolve the issues.

Another topic that Chief Gasaway looks at this month involves the lack of communication between shifts in the fire station. This listener mentions that there is no “passing of the baton” from one shift to the other. It’s essential to pass along information to the on-coming crew.

If you have suggestions, questions or comments, please e-mail them to: podcast@firehouse.com

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Once a Hero, Now an Outcast

[47:07m]

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In The Leaders Toolbox this month, Fire Chief Richard Gasaway offers some assistance to a firefighter who received the state’s highest heroism award only to become an outcast at his firehouse. The decorated firefighter is being harassed every time he goes to work. What will it take to change the environment?

Chief Gasaway also provides some insight to a fire chief who is considering closing the door on his new open door policy. His offer to lend an ear has gone awry as he is bogged down by firefighters who skip the chain of command.

If you have suggestions, questions or comments, please e-mail them to: podcast@firehouse.com

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