The NFPA Podcast

It's well known that lithium-ion batteries off-gas heavy metals and other toxic substances when they catch fire and/or go into thermal runaway. What we don't know is to what extent these toxic compounds contaminate firefighter turnout gear, or whether the typical firehouse washer extractor is effective at cleaning the gear after a battery incident. My guests today, NC State University researchers Bryan Ormond and Arjunsing Girase, are working on a project to find answers to both questions. We talk about their promising early findings and discuss some of the PPE research underway now that could one day transform our methods for cleaning firefighter turnout gear.  The interview was recorded live at the 2026 NFPA Conference in Las Vegas.  LINKS:  Learn more about the work being done at NC State's Milliken Textile Protection and Comfort Center Learn more about the Ormond Research Group Visit IEM, our sponsor for this episode of the NFPA Podcast

Most people think that fire protection engineers and firefighters have the same goals and motivations, but that isn't always the case. Those slight misalignments and misunderstandings can sometimes result in poor designs and unsafe conditions for responding crews during an emergency. Today on the podcast, we hear about what happened when a group of fire protection engineers visited a fire academy to run through drills, talk with firefighters, and look at fire protection through a different lens. What did they learn? How did it help them do their jobs? Is this something more engineers should do?    This episode was recorded live at the 2026 NFPA Conference in Las Vegas. LINKS:  For more information on the project and how to organize something similar, contact Jeremy Souza and Joshua Donovan Visit Asset Panda, our sponsor for this episode of the NFPA Podcast!

As more cities transition to lithium-ion powered bus fleets, transit authorities, safety managers, and fire departments are having to figure out how to contend with a different and potentially much more complicated hazard than the diesel-powered buses they replaced. There are still many safety gaps and unknowns. How do electric bus fires and related hazards compare to those of traditional buses or even the typical electric vehicle? What design retrofits and new mitigation and protection strategies are needed at bus depots? What should responders know? Jesse chats with two researchers from Energy Safety Response Group who were involved in an extensive new Fire Protection Research Foundation project that tries to answer some of those questions. The interview was recorded live at the 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. Links:  Read more about the Fire Protection Research Project, "Lithium-ion battery Transit Bus Fire Prevention and Risk Management." See the various trainings and resources NFPA offers for responding to and preparing for electric vehicle incidents. Fire Prevention Week 2026 (October 4–10) is focused on consumer lithium-ion products and safe charging practices. For resources, toolkits, and educational materials, visit fpw.org. Visit IEM, our sponsor for this episode of the NFPA Podcast!

Twenty-five years ago this month, nearly 350 New York City firefighters died during the collapse of the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001. For the next 10 months, FDNY members spent countless hours searching for victims and clearing wreckage from Ground Zero and related sites. Many of those workers have since come down with various respiratory diseases, cancers, and other ailments as a result of their work. But among all this loss, tragedy, and sacrifice, there is also a tremendous success story here. Just a month after the attacks, FDNY stood up what would become the FDNY World Trade Center Health Program to monitor and treat its exposed members. The program has been nothing short of miraculous at diagnosing and treating diseases stemming from 9/11. In fact, by many metrics, FDNY members exposed at Ground Zero have better health outcomes than the general population.  Today on the podcast, we talk with Dr. David Prezant, the chief medical officer at FDNY, about this remarkable program. We discuss how the program works, what its success says about routine health monitoring and early treatment, and we reflect on the enduring impact that 9/11 has had on firefighter PPE and overall firefighter health and wellness. Links:  Read the new NFPA Journal feature about the many enduring legacies of September 11 View NFPA's new 9/11 archive, "NFPA and the World Trade Center: 25 Years Later"  Learn more about the FDNY World Trade Center Health Program Visit Asset Panda, our sponsor for this episode of the NFPA Podcast  

This September, dozens of fire service and government leaders from more than 70 countries around the world will meet in London for the second ever World Fire Congress. Their broad goal is to discuss and share ideas and potential solutions to the many common risks and challenges that fire and rescue services share—everything from extreme wildfires and lithium-ion batteries to firefighter cancer and the looming impacts of artificial intelligence. It's all based on the idea that, rather than each country and department fighting its own battles, working together can solve problems faster and more efficiently, potentially having enormous positive impacts for firefighters and the communities they serve.    Today on the podcast, Jesse talks to Otto Drozd III and Stephen Wevers, two accomplished international fire service leaders who are helping to plan and oversee the World Fire Congress. They chat about how the Congress came to be, what it aims to become, and why international cooperation in the fire service is becoming so critical.    The interview was recorded live at the 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. Learn more about the 2026 World Fire Congress in London