Episode 9-18 – Chief-Emeritus/Retired Charles Werner- New Technology for First Responders

Chief-Emeritus/Retired Charles Werner has served 44 years in the fire service, 37 years with the Charlottesville Fire Dept., the last ten as the Charlottesville Fire Department. Additionally, he is also the current Executive Director of Droneresponders.org with just under 12,000 members from across the world.

In our interview, Chief Werner explains recent technology that we either have now or will in the near future. A number of these will be, not only for the Fire Services, but our Brothers & Sisters of Law Enforcement and EMS!

Chief Werner has also served as Acting Deputy State Coordinator and Senior Adviser with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, where he helped to facilitate VDEM’s UAS (sic. Drone), as well helping the Albermarle County Sheriff's Office SAR team.

So, if you’re a “techy,” “geek,” etc., this podcast is one you will not want to miss!

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Please remember that we need your help so that we can financially help a Brother, Sister, or their families in dire need. Please visit our website at https://5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and you’ll see a photo of the Silver Siren. Please click on the picture and our donation page pops up. Choose the value and the method of paying. You’ll see a small label that says, “Apply my Gift To” and please select FOUNDATION.

If you have been a firefighter, you may have heard the name of our guest for this episode. Capt. Daley “wears” several endeavors, not only in his personal area in New Jersey, but around the country.

He has a 37-year in firefighting, reaching the Captain status. However, Capt. Daley is also the President of the organization, Kill the Flashover with classes to teach firefighters how to “Kill the Flashover.”

Additionally, Capt. Daley is the founder and President of the FSPC Educators, which is another educational effort with special classes that take place in the both, some in a classroom and hands-on outdoors with plenty of props!

He is also a Contributing Editor with FIREHOUSE® Magazine.

There are plenty more accolades for Capt. Daley, but it is time to stop reading and it’s time to listen or watch our interview with Capt. Mike Daley!

Episode 9-16 – Miranda Spivack and Dianne Cotter – “Backroom Deals in Our Backyards”

As we pass through life, we encounter many people. This one works in a tall building; another delivers office supplies and a third washes all the windows. Most see this as “blue-collar” job, but do we really know what’s going on.

Our guests today are Miranda Spivack, a former reporter and she worked for the “Washington Post,” for 20 years. She has been a Fulbright Scholar. Her work has appeared in the “New York Times,” “USA Today,” and “Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting” and the McClatchy newspapers. And Miranda’s “guest,” is a frequent guest on 5-Alarm Task Force. Ms. Diane Cotter who, when her husband was diagnosed with cancer, Diane wanted to know both, how could this happen and how can we fight this.
Both of our guests have “climbed” the very tall wall. And as it came to be, Miranda was following Diane’s life and her determination and how she fought the system, not just for her family, but for every firefighter who has worn bunker gear with a known carcinogenic.
As Miranda reveals, what we used to assume that our city/town/state/federal’s officials are operating “above board.” Ahhhh…that’s not necessarily true. Hence the name of her book, “Backroom Deals in Our Backyards.”

Want to read even more than we discuss here? Miranda’s book will be released on May 6th. Please listen to this podcast then, read the book!! You can order the book at this link:
https://thenewpress.com/books/backroom-deals-our-backyards and those below,

Here's info on per-ordering the book:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/backroom-deals-in-our-backyards-how-government-secrecy-harms-our-communities-and-the-local-heroes-fighting-back-miranda-s-spivack/21644217?ean=9781620978559&next=t&affiliate=1871
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/backroom-deals-in-our-backyards-miranda-s-spivack/1146017644;jsessionid=BC6335333E4AEE777160AF759E9B5AAB.prodny_store02-atgap02?ean=9781620978559
https://www.amazon.com/Backroom-Deals-Our-Backyards-Communities/dp/1620978555/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VeZdCG8JFfprOKoKY5mkQw.eiDA7dTsZ3429ZOdLMPuGTU0W17AlV59kb8XIf7GX10&dib_tag=se&keywords=9781620978559&qid=1742576802&sr=8-1
https://thenewpress.com/books/backroom-deals-our-backyards
Miranda's email: mirandaspivack@yahoo.com

In most fire departments and some EMS agencies have to file a bunch of paperwork to report the fires/rescues, additional info i.e. number of patients, levels of damages and so much more. Well, there’s a new “day” coming, starting on January 2, 2026!

Our podcast welcomes Troy Lachinski of Image Trend, a company integral to the change of Fire/EMS recording within the new system, NERIS, National Emergency Response Information System. More than just a system upgrade, NERIS will fundamentally change how change how departments report, analyze and act on critical data.

Joining us on this episode of 5-Alarm Task Force, is Troy Lachinski. As one of the key personnel who is assisting departments (and you, our viewers and listeners) as to how recording we have been using for decades, But it was often “go” or “no-go.” If the data wasn’t entered as soon as the crews return from the call, folks were exhausted and let it slide to the morning and sometimes, it never did get down.

Watch and listen to our guest, Troy Lachinski, and you will see the why’s and wherefores and how NERIS will be better us.

Troy supplied these links to more information about NERIS!

Core Data Schemas:
https://fsri.org/program-update/neris-core-data-schemas-released-beta

Secondary Schemas:
https://fsri.org/program-update/neris-releases-secondary-data-schemas-30-day-national-engagement-period

Please remember that we need your help so that we can financially assist a Brother, Sister or their families in dire need. Please visit our website at https://5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and you’ll see a photo of the Silver Siren. Please click on the picture and our donation page pops up. Choose the value and the method of paying. You’ll see a small label that says, “Apply my Gift To” and please select FOUNDATION.

What are some of today's most pressing issues in the Fire Service? We look at a couple in this episode: Training in Today's Fire Service, as well as Retention and Recruitment.

Joining us to cover these topics is Assistant Chief Joe Manning of the Largo FL Fire & Rescue Department. With nearly 30 years in the Fire Service, he has seen it all in training programs, as well as a departments working strenuously with retention and recruitment. In this interview, he explains what he has seen and what he and the Largo Fire & Rescue Department over the years.
We believe you will be extremely interested in our discussion, and you will probably hear some of his ideas that you can bring back to your department, as there are many departments across the country facing these and other similar difficulties, while remaining vigilant for the calls that need to be cared for.

Episode 9-15 – Assistant Chief Jacob Johnson

We are proud to have Asst. Chief Jacob Johnson from the Pearland Fire Department in Pearland TX.
Jacob first joined us on “5-Alarm task Force,” when he was a Captain. And it was easy to see how dedicated he was, and still is, of course, to being the best firefighter and officer that he could be.

In this episode, we discuss the “how and why” of, not only his success, but that of the department. With their seventh station already on the way, they also have plans for Station 8 and Station 9. We discuss the remarkable success of the Pearland Fire Department and how successful their recruiting efforts are.

Beyond recruiting, their retention level is particularly good. As Jacob tells it, one of the most important criteria is treating their residents as well as their members as “family.”

Sit back and enjoy the videocast or the audio podcast and see what you can learn from Asst. Chief Jacob Johnson.
Watch the interview on YouTube at https://youtu.be/v49vDfNNv20 and the audio version on your favorite podcast platforms!

We still your help to raise funds for our Brothers and Sisters who were deeply involved in the major fires. Please remember, many, many of the firefighters who fought, “tooth & nail” the major blazes, but they lost their homes, vehicles, clothes, etc. Please visit our website at https://www.5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org.

Whether you’re a veteran firefighter or a rookie, the likelihood that you’ve seen or even read FIREHOUSE® Magazine, is high. It has been a staple in most firehouses and with thousands more visiting the website, attending conferences and more.
Its current Editor-in-Chief is Peter Mathews. Peter is the Director of Conferences and FIREHOUSE® Magazine. He has worked at FIREHOUSE® since 1999, serving in various roles on both the Magazine and FIREHOUSE®.com staffs He completed an internship with the Rochester NY Fire Department and has served with fire departments Glenwood Landing. Rush NY and Laurel MD.
Peter is an avid photographer of the fire service and frequently rides along with the fire departments in Dallas and Ft. Worth TX.
Today, Peter and I will discuss the 25th anniversary of the Worcester MA Cold Storage Fire and his look at the recent new conference, Fire Fusion.

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Please remember that we need your help especially during this Holiday Season; to raise the important funds we use to financially help our Brothers/Sisters and/or their families, when they are in dire need. Since 2020, we have donated nearly $7,000.00 to our Brothers and Sisters. We can only do that with your help. Please visit our homepage at https://www.5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and scroll down to the photo of the E2QB siren. Select the photo and our donation page will appear. From $1.00 to whatever you can afford, any amount will help us.
And you can always reach us at Dalmatprod@Outlook.com

Since 2015/2016, we have an elevated consciousness regarding cancer in the fire service. With slow, but sure processes, we learned the AFFF, and our gear are “dosed” with PFAS. That it about to change.
My guests on this episode of “5-Alarm Task Force!” are Kevin Yeazell and his son Kevin Ryan Yeazell of a company Fireground Supply. Several seasons ago, we met (via podcast) Quincy Emmons, from Canada. His company created a product, Fire Rein. It is a liquid composed of all-natural product, without any PFAS/PFOS.
My guests reached out to Quincy’s company for details and saw how valuable this could be for the fire service. Additionally, Fireground Supply created another firefighting tool, called Eco-Gel. It sticks to almost any product like wood, plastics, and more. What is important to know is that Eco-Gel is made of all natural products, contains no PFAS/PFOS and actually sticks to the surface and will not allow a re-light of what was burning.
Kevin Ryan Yeazell is also an expert on firefighting gear. He is deeply involved in the issue of keeping our gear healthy and knows the industry very, very well.
While the audio version of this podcast is complete, we urge you to visit our YouTube® channel, “5-Alarm Task Force,” where you will hear the entire podcast, BUT…. you will see several videos included how these products work!

You can reach them at their website, www.firegroundsupply.com!

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Please remember that we need your help especially during this Holiday Season; to raise the important funds we use to financially help our Brothers/Sisters and/or their families, when they are in dire need. Since 2020, we have donated nearly $7,000.00 to our Brothers and Sisters. We can only do that with your help. Please visit our homepage at https://www.5-AlarmTaskForceCorp.org and scroll down to the photo of the E2QB siren. Select the photo and our donation page will appear. From $1.00 to whatever you can afford, any amount will help us.
And you can always reach us at Dalmatprod@Outlook.com