This week’s episode is an absolute rollercoaster—from serious community risk reduction to Doug being attacked by a rhino on safari, and even an amazing question from a 14-year-old future paramedic in our SNAIL MAIL segment 🐌.

We talk about what it means to truly serve your community, not just during emergencies, but through prevention, education, and compassion. It’s a mix of kitchen table laughs, deep leadership insight, and real-world firehouse experience—just the way we like it.

🔥 Episode Highlights:

• 🦏 Doug couldn’t make it… he’s hanging with giraffes and dodging rhinos in Africa

• 🚒 Why we haven’t seen a heroin overdose in a while—“Closed borders!”

• 📢 Community Risk Reduction (CRR): What it really means and how to do it right

• 🧠 The obligation to speak up when something in the community isn’t right

• 🧯 Public programs that work: CPR classes, fall prevention, Trunk or Treat, CERT

• 💸 How fire departments can create low-cost, high-impact community outreach

• ❤️ Why it's your responsibility to carry on the fire service legacy

• 🗣️ Brian’s town orientation and communicating mission/vision to new hires

• 🤯 PSA: Don't be the salty firefighter that refuses to give a kid candy

• 📈 Should you measure program success by saves? Or by outreach?

  
  

  🐌 Snail Mail Segment Returns!

• 💬 A 14-year-old future paramedic asks: “What can I do to prepare?”
  ➤ Our answer: BE A KID. Have fun. Stay out of trouble. Learn and grow.
  ➤ Take EMT in high school, do ride-alongs, and don’t forget to enjoy life.

• 🍖 Zach on BBQ sauce: “If it needs sauce, it's bad BBQ.”

• 🐖 Ben Hooper shoutouts and whole-hog debates spark more Backdraft BBQ talk

• 👏 Shoutout to James (Station 3 Leather) for listening at 5:40 AM

  
  

  💬 Call to Action:

• What programs does your department offer the community?

• What’s something you can do—big or small—to reduce risk before the call?

• Have you ever started a community program from scratch? Let us know!

  🧂 Sponsors:

• Unkie’s Seasonings – The firehouse favorite. Available at unkiesseasoning.com

• The Burn Box – FD Collectors Club: Monthly firehouse-themed gear & goodies

• FD Collectors Club – Show off your challenge coin. If you don’t have it at the bar, you’re buying the round 🍻

🎧 Available on:

Spotify (Video), YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music
📬 Snail Mail comments? Drop them on Spotify Q&A or YouTube!