The Cool Fireman Podcast | Featuring Matt, Brian, Doug Bishop, and Unkie (Adam)

Episode summary

Episode 143 starts with classic pre-show chaos (tech issues + “Instagram crushing”), then pivots into a real-deal conversation about upstaffing—why it matters, how it’s triggered, what it looks like across the country (snow/ice, hurricanes, wildfires), and the hardest part of emergency operations: deciding when you can’t respond. The crew also hits sponsor updates, a powerful moment of silence request, and finishes strong with Snail Mail—highlighting promotion motivations and a listener question about leading with love from the back seat.

14:40 – Moment of silence (LODD / cancer-related death)
A listener email from Tyler Adams requests recognition of David Hendricks, Crescent VFD (Crescent, Texas), who died from job-related cancer (email dated Jan 15). The crew honors him with a moment of silence and discusses the continuing impact of occupational exposure and long-term health effects.

Main discussion: Upstaffing (what it is + why it matters)

20:20 – What triggers upstaffing?
Doug breaks down winter storm operations: snow/ice projections, above-ground power lines, down trees, stuck units, and how departments decide to add resources.

Storm readiness checklist & resources

• 72/48/24-hour storm checklists

• “Storm boxes” / totes with required items

• Instant chains, Z-cables, heavy chains (deep-snow thresholds, speed limitations)

• Brush trucks + MSU/ambulance support + occasional snow plow attachments

• Parks/forestry departments helping with non-powerline tree calls

28:40 – Hurricane realities & hard decisions
Brian shares hurricane lessons learned: evacuations, resource shortages, and what happens when response becomes physically impossible. The crew talks about the public expectation of “they’ll come” vs the operational reality of risk assessments and responder safety.

34:10 – The hardest call
Brian and Doug hit the human element:

deciding to stop dispatching during severe conditions is one of the most mentally draining decisions in a career.

38:00 – Mandatory vs volunteer upstaffing
Doug explains how their staffing system pushes out texts/emails and how, if needed, upstaffing becomes mandatory—especially when conditions demand it.

41:10 – EOC + finance side (FEMA reimbursement)
Brian outlines how disaster declarations and documentation flow through local/state/federal layers and why accurate documentation is essential for:

• overtime reimbursement

• resource requests

• budget survival after repeated disasters
  He also notes current conversations around FEMA process changes due to bureaucratic delays.

49:20 – West Coast comparison: wildfire “upstaffing” via pre-positioning
Matt explains how CA handles wildfire readiness: red flag pre-positioning, North Ops/South Ops strike team staging, OES resources, and “Ready, Set, Go” evacuation messaging.

50:50 – Post-incident notes (critical takeaway)
Brian recommends crews capture notes after each operational period to support post-incident critique and justify future staffing/tools.

Snail Mail (listener highlights)

Zach’s take on promotions
Stay at the level you’re passionate about. Promotion for title/pay increases risk when leadership lacks heart and preparation.

Colt’s question: “How do you lead with love riding backwards?”
Matt shares Pastor Joby Martin’s definition:

Love is my joy in the Lord expressed toward others at great expense to myself.

Calls to action

• Join Patreon: Rookie ($1) / Engineer ($2) for extra content + Turnout Drill opportunities

• Submit a Moment of Silence request: email coolfireman @ gmail.com

• Snail Mail: drop comments/questions on Spotify—your message may be featured

• Stay engaged: support legislative efforts affecting firefighter safety, cancer research, and operational risk