The Pipeman

The Pipemen sit down with Mike Smith from FDNY Engine 48 to talk engine company culture, mentorship, and the traditions that shape good firemen. Mike shares what it’s like working in a house with such a strong history—including being part of the same company where the late Andy Fredericks once worked and left a lasting legacy on engine company operations.Mike takes us inside the culture of Engine 48 and talks about the firefighters and officers who invested in him along the way. From mentorship and guidance to expectations and accountability, he shares how the people around him helped shape the fireman he is today—and why passing that knowledge on to the next generation remains such an important part of the fire service.This is part 2 of a 2-part episode.

The Pipemen sit down with Mike Smith from FDNY Engine 48 to talk engine company culture, mentorship, and the traditions that shape good firemen. Mike shares what it’s like working in a house with such a strong history—including being part of the same company where the late Andy Fredericks once worked and left a lasting legacy on engine company operations.Mike takes us inside the culture of Engine 48 and talks about the firefighters and officers who invested in him along the way. From mentorship and guidance to expectations and accountability, he shares how the people around him helped shape the fireman he is today—and why passing that knowledge on to the next generation remains such an important part of the fire service.This is part 1 of a 2-part episode.

The Pipemen sit down with Mark Carcamo, Colin Kelley, Cameron Monahan from the West Coast Offense.The Pipeman podcast discuss with WCO what it takes to develop a seamless relationship with the truck company from an engine perspective. We dive into what coordinated ventilation really means and how to support vent teams during a roof member rescue operation as the engine. This conversation provides a framework for any engine company working alongside the truck on how to achieve a seamless relationship.This is part 2 of a 2-part episode.

The Pipemen sit down with Mark Carcamo, Colin Kelley, Cameron Monahan from the West Coast Offense.The Pipeman podcast discuss with WCO what it takes to develop a seamless relationship with the truck company from an engine perspective. We dive into what coordinated ventilation really means and how to support vent teams during a roof member rescue operation as the engine. This conversation provides a framework for any engine company working alongside the truck on how to achieve a seamless relationship.This is part 1 of a 2-part episode.

The Pipemen sit down with Chief (Ret.) Dave McGrail from the Denver Fire Department.In this podcast we take a look at engine and truck operations and how they continue to be shaped by the work of Chief McGrail, including The Great Debate. We discuss the impact Andy Fredericks had on the American fire service. We also discuss Andy’s writings such as Return of the Solid Stream and Little Drops of Water: 50 Years Later and his FDIC speech, “Don’t Worry About that Nozzle, Kid” that emphasized fundamentals, water application, and a disciplined strategy.Chief McGrail discusses a few significant high-rise incidents in the American fire service - including One Meridian Plaza, Memphis and Houston NIOSH reports. Additionally, we talk about the Los Angeles First Interstate and San Francisco’s Butler wind-driven fire, all which continue to reinforce the need for strong standpipe, suppression, and high-rise tactics.The Pipemen go deep with a discussion on standards like NFPA 13E (fire department operations in sprinklered buildings), NFPA 13R (residential sprinkler systems), and NFPA 14 (standpipes). All of these frame today’s best practices and help connect the lessons of the past to the operational readiness demanded today.