In this episode, the boys are back—Matt, Brian, and Unkie—and the kitchen table banter is strong right from the jump. From Brian’s magical new role as Genie in Aladdin (goodbye, Bird Cage 👋) to a real discussion on the national fire apparatus crisis, this episode covers it all.

We dive into the Senate hearing on the fire apparatus shortage and unpack what departments around the country are facing:

• 🚒 3–4 year lead times

• 🔩 Customization bottlenecks

• 💰 Massive profit margins for manufacturers

• 🤯 477 options on a fire truck spec sheet?!

We ask real questions:

• What are firefighters willing to give up to get rigs faster?

• Are manufacturers gaming the system?

• Can departments shift culture and still keep mission readiness?

We also talk DOD fire trucks (Air Force gets everything, Navy gets bare minimum), and what departments can learn from each other across the country.

🧂 Sponsors

• Unkie’s Seasonings – From the firehouse to your house.

• The Burn Box – FD Collectors Club: Get your custom fire gear each month.

  
  

  📬 Snail Mail is BACK!

• Kenny Mitchell calls out a hater calling us out for “clearing our throats too much.” 😂

• One firefighter works fires completely alone?!

• Listeners chime in on comfort zone training and creative extrication setups.

• Genie Brian makes his comeback—he ain’t coming outta that bottle, folks.

• 🧠 Topics Covered:

  Fire truck delivery delays and apparatus funding issues

• • Custom vs. stock builds – what can we live without?

  • Transparency between administration and crews

  • The power of clean rigs, solid maintenance, and pride in your equipment

  • Culture and communication gaps between new and seasoned members

  • The true cost of federal stimulus spending on apparatus backlog

  • Shoutout to our shop mechanics—you’re the real MVPs

  • Mental health, peer support, and encouraging open dialogue

  🎧 Listen Now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your shows.
  📢 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share—and tell your whole crew to do the same.

This week’s episode is packed full of real firehouse talk—from wild call stories to mental health, continuing education, and the one universal truth in the fire service:
👉 If you don’t use it, you lose it.

🔥 Episode Highlights:

• 🚑 Calls Gone Sideways – From patients claiming they’ll swallow their tongue to an actual arm amputation call, the crew breaks down how dispatch info doesn't always match the scene.

• 💥 Training Talk – Why there are strict EMS training requirements, but not enough fireground certification standards.

• 🧠 Mental Health in the Fire Service – Matt and the crew respond to a listener's message about handling "the messy stuff" (blood, vomit, trauma).

• 🪓 Auto Extrication & Rope Drills – Real training setups with junk cars, ladders, rope bags, and more.

• ✉️ Snail Mail Returns! – Shoutout to Morrow CP and other listeners who chimed in with thoughtful questions and firehouse love.

• 🐶 Meet Millie – Doug introduces us to his dog Millie (who has no front teeth and a crooked tongue, and is adorable).

💬 Key Moments:

• "Don't criticize a fire you weren’t on." – A deep dive into armchair quarterbacking and post-call debriefs.

• “Smells like sepsis.” – The entire crew bonds over the unmistakable smell of nursing homes.

• “Get creative with your training.” – Matt shares how a strip of duct tape turned a middle school wall into a rescue drill site.

• "Always look for another way." – Unkie challenges listeners to go beyond “we’ve always done it this way.”

🎧 Also in This Episode:

• Burn Box shoutouts

• Unkie’s Cajun Chicken & Rice recipe

• Jokes about Doug’s “glizzy microphone”

• CPR stories, training standards, and big-city EMS setups

• The OODA Loop explained (and roasted)

📬 Snail Mail Is OPEN!
Got a question, comment, or funny firehouse story? Drop it on Spotify, Instagram, or email—we might read it next week.

🎧 Now streaming on Spotify, Apple, Amazon & YouTube
📲 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with your crew.

In this episode, Matt and Brian dive deep into some of the challenges (and hilarious moments) happening both in and out of the firehouse. From Matt’s code 3 siren strategy to Brian’s communication fatigue, this one’s got a little bit of everything: loud opinions, soft wisdom, and yes... more Snail Mail.

🔥 Highlights Include:

• 🚨 Driving Code 3: Matt shares his take on how and why sirens should be used—air horns included

• 🧠 Leadership, Followership & Informal Influence – What role do you play in the firehouse?

• 📲 Comment Culture & Keyboard Commanders – A look at how feedback lands in the fire service, both online and in person

• 📬 Snail Mail Returns! Featuring real listener responses, debates on informal leadership, stew showdowns, and a surprise shoutout

• 💬 Communication in an “over-communicated world” — why tone matters more than ever

• 🧠 “Don’t criticize the fire you didn’t fight.” – A real convo on armchair quarterbacking & healthy critique

  Frank Viscuso - https://www.tiktok.com/@frank_viscuso/video/7542851995170868494?lang=en

• 🧂 Food talk! Unki Seasoning + Blackstone pasta gets a highlight

• 👕 Burn Box shoutout + FD Collectors Club faves

• 💛 Moment of Silence for responders injured or lost in the line of duty

💡 Key Themes:

• 🚒 Don’t confuse noise for leadership – real influence starts with humility

• 🧠 Effective communication is a skill—and a responsibility in the firehouse

• 🎧 Social media isn’t always the kitchen table—but it can be

• 🙌 Be present, be positive, and bring the energy—especially if you're new to the job

🎧 Now Streaming on Spotify, YouTube, Apple & Amazon
💬 Got thoughts or questions? Drop them in the comments or send us a message for Snail Mail – we might read yours next!

#TheCoolFiremanPodcast #Episode122 #SnailMailReturns #FireServiceLeadership #Code3Driving #KitchenTableTalk #WellSaid #AirHornDebate #FirefighterCommunication #BurnBoxLove #UnkiSeasoning #MomentOfSilence #BrotherhoodStrong