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As we step into a New Year many of us ask ourselves questions around our personal habits, but around 80% of New Year's resolutions fail, with most people giving up on their goals within a few weeks, with only about 25% of people managing to stick to their resolutions after 30 days; the most common resolutions include losing weight, exercising more & eating healthier.

To help us tackle this, I’m joined by my good friend Alan Smith. Alan’s someone who knows a thing or two about commitment—not just because of his incredible 40-year career in the fire service, but also because of his dedication to fitness, wellbeing, and lifelong learning. Alan’s got a wealth of knowledge to share about the mindset it takes to hold yourself accountable, the importance of setting realistic goals, and how to make meaningful progress—not just for January, but for the rest of your career and life.

In this conversation, we’ll discuss topics including fitness as a cornerstone of longevity in demanding careers like firefighting & how investing in your ‘fitness pension’ can set you up for success.

connect with Alan HERE

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Today on the podcast my guest is Professor Ricardo Weewer. Ricardo is a leading figure in fire service science, having served as a professor at the Netherlands Fire Service Academy since 2011. His career spans decades of leadership and innovation, including serving as a Deputy Chief Fire Officer in Amsterdam. With a PhD in metal sciences from Delft University of Technology, Ricardo has dedicated his life to advancing practical research that improves firefighter safety and operational effectiveness.

In this episode, we dive into a wide variety of topics in fire and rescue operations. Ricardo shares insights on the Quadrant Model, a framework that revolutionizes decision-making by outlining four tactical approaches: defensive exterior, offensive exterior, defensive interior, and offensive interior. We discuss how this model helps firefighters adapt their strategies in real-time based on evolving conditions.

We’ll also explore the importance of ventilation tactics and the challenges of smoke propagation. Ricardo highlights how tactical decisions like using positive pressure fans or assessing flow paths can dramatically influence outcomes in fire scenarios.

Finally, we’ll also touch on fire service culture and leadership. Ricardo explains the value of a term called shared leadership and the need for all leaders to understand the 'DNA' of the fire service before taking on position of leadership, an approach which appears to be adopted far less across fire services here in the UK. His perspective underscores how involving firefighters in decision-making processes and fostering a culture of mutual trust can transform operations.

You can access info on The "Quadrant Model for Fighting Structure Fires" HERE

We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast on public platforms so to access our podcast LIBRARY, every Debrief & document CLICK HERE

PODCAST GIFT - Get your FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
PATROL STORE UK
IDEX
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated and for firefighters this cost
Hibern8 - a plant based sleep aid specially designed to promote a restful

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

Send us a text

today we have an extraordinary episode featuring none other than Dr. Burton A. Clark. For those of you in the fire service, his name should be synonymous with leadership, education, and pushing the boundaries of fire safety culture.

Dr. Burton A. Clark has an illustrious 50-year career in the fire service. Starting as a firefighter in Washington, D.C., he rose through the ranks to become an Assistant Fire Chief in Laurel, Maryland, and later Operations Chief for DHS/FEMA. He’s held prestigious positions such as Management Science Program Chair at the National Fire Academy and Visiting Scholar at Johns Hopkins University Center for Injury Research and Policy.

Links:
Dr Clarks website
Dr Clarks Linkedin

We only feature the latest 200 episodes of the podcast on public platforms so to access our podcast LIBRARY, every Debrief & document CLICK HERE

PODCAST GIFT - Get your FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE

A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
MSA The Safety Company
PATROL STORE UK
IDEX
HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20
Lyfe Linez - Get Functional Hydration FUEL for FIREFIGHTERS, Clean no sugar for daily hydration. 80% of people live dehydrated and for firefighters this cost
Hibern8 - a plant based sleep aid specially designed to promote a restful night's sleep and awaken you feeling refreshed and energised

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew