EmergencyFD Storyline

THE STORYLINE STORY: You know his voice but do you know the man? Why would a man with years of experience in radio and television take an interest in the world of firefighting and emergency services? What is this thing called EmergencyFD and the reason for this podcast.... EmergencyFD Storyline? The tables turn.... the interviewer host Tom Mann becomes the interviewee. Danni Synot interviews Tom Mann about the story of EmergencyFD and this podcast. Dann...

05-14

30:41

"BAD AX LADIES": Two second generation firefighters mentoring young women to join the fire service. They are called the Bad Ax Ladies from the Carbondale Fire Department in Carbondale, Illinois. Two firefighters who took the initiative to start a program to encourage and mentor young women who may be considering a career in firefighting. But that is not the whole story. My guests know firefighting…Its' been passed down from their dads…. You might say “The...

04-23

46:55

"WORDS FROM THE WISE": The voice of a firefighter with decades of experience. Chief John Reagan began his career in the fire service at a time when most firefighters were called leather lungs or smoke eaters. He worked at a time of great change for the fire service. Despite advances in fire tech, SOPs, apparatus, etc., the job remains the same. It takes a special person to run into danger while others are running out. Chief John Reagan is one of those individuals . ...

03-01

01:07:41

This edition of EmergencyFD Storyline is called "FIRE OPS 101: SHARING THE JOB." Check out the video overview of the Fire OPS 101 story recorded in Carbondale, Illinois. Click this link: https://youtu.be/b8jRvpOr7Ss "SINCE I FIRST STARTED THIS PODCAST, I HAVE WANTED TO SHARE THIS STORY-THE STORY OF HOW A LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT TEAMED UP WITH THEIR FIRE UNION AND MADE AN IMPACT ON LOCAL AREA GOVERNMENT LEADERS AND THE MEDIA. HONESTLY, I WAS IMPRESSED BECAUSE I WAS THERE. &nb...

06-01

40:16

Firefighting is a calling…. a commitment to serve others. It is also a commitment to serve one another within the fire family. Despite its’ traditions, firefighting is also a commitment to a lifetime of learning, training, and working hard so you can be on top of your game when duty calls. My guest is Bobby Williams a second generation firefighter. The first time I met him…. I said to myself…”now, that is a firefighter”. He looked the part! He talked the t...

12-21

44:08

When I moved from the big city to a rural community, I suspected that the fire department here had to operate differently. From my first day in the area, I started noticing many differences. I didn’t see any fire hydrants and I knew my residential water came from a pretty small water department. It seemed there was always a brush fire or some type of structure fire off in the distance. Less than a half mile down the road from my home, I saw a fire station…. next to a major i...

10-07

45:05

This edition of EmergencyFD Storyline is called "THE REALITY OF THE JOB...WHEN YOUR CUP RUNS OVER." WHEN THE JOB GET’S TOO REAL... WHEN YOU CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE... WHEN YOU CANT ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE... WHEN YOU CANT TURN IT OFF... POST TRAUMATIC STRESS. EVERYONE EXPERIENCES IT TO SOME DEGREE ON THE JOB BUT POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER OR PTSD IS ANOTHER THING. THIS INTERVIEW’S PURPOSE IS TO HELP START THE CONVERSATION. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. IF...

08-23

38:18

This edition of EmergencyFD Storyline is called "THE MAKING OF A FIREFIGHTER." "WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A FIREFIGHTER? HOW DO YOU START? . THIS INTERVIEW IS ABOUT AS CLOSE TO HOME AS IT GETS. I'VE WATCHED A KID PLAYING AT BEING A FIREFIGHTER GROW INTO A MAN AND GO ON TO BECOME ONE OF THE BEST OF THE BEST…. AND THE JOURNEY WAS NOT EASY. I SAT DOWN IN MY STUDIO TO GET HIS STORY. HE’S BEEN ON THE JOB SINCE HE WAS 18 AND NOW HE IS IN HIS THIRD DEC...

07-30

59:37

This edition of EmergencyFD Storyline is called "Standing Tall When You Take A Fall." Bobby Qualls began his career with the Memphis Fire Department in 1986. Bobby rose though the ranks as a member of the 14's and 7's Engine house to become a lieutenant in on Rescue 2 and 3 in Special Operations. Two of Bobby's gifts is his humor and practical approach to problem solving in the fire service. Tom Mann sits down with Bobby Qualls as he shares his memories, humor, and years ...

04-13

34:14

This edition of EmergencyFD Storyline is called "THE COST OF BEING A FIREFIGHTER." His name is Jim Cunningham. He's been called a "firefighter's firefighter." The new guys call him one of the legends. Now retired, Jim shares his experience as a lieutenant of one of the busiest fire companies in the United States, Memphis' Engine 7. In the 1990s Engine 7 became the catalyst for major changes in the Memphis Fire Department when two of its members paid the ultimate price in g...

02-05

01:00:25

This edition of EmergencyFD Storyline is called "SURVIVING THE UNTHINKABLE." Hear the story of one firefighter's second by second account of an active shooter situation. He survived but the firefighter next to him and the firefighter behind him did not. Don't miss this inspiring story of his survival and learning to live with memories of the unthinkable. This EmergencyFD Storyline audio podcast is part two of a two part series. "I see him fall. I hear glass popping. It was secon...

12-08

30:49

This edition of EmergencyFD Storyline is called "SURVIVING THE UNTHINKABLE." Hear the story of one firefighter's second by second account of an active shooter situation. He survived but the firefighter next to him and the firefighter behind him did not. Don't miss this inspiring story of his survival and learning to live with memories of the unthinkable. This EmergencyFD Storyline audio podcast is part one of a two part series. "I see him fall. I hear glass popping. It was secon...

11-26

31:23

This edition of EmergencyFD Storyline is called "MEDIA-Friend or Foe?" The media/mass communications is changing by the minute. Smart phones and social media make every event live. Every cell phone and every citizen can broadcast an emergency event or feed a live stream to a local/national broadcaster. Local tv news is highly competitive and competes to be first on the scene and live. First responders are stage center at almost every event. Crafting your message is part of the job...

10-06

53:55

This edition of EmergencyFD Storyline is called "LEADERSHIP: Line of Duty Deaths." The episode focuses on the years and experiences of former Memphis Fire Director Charles E. Smith as he confronts the challenges facing a grieving fire department after the tragic death of two firefighters. Don't miss part two of a two part series with former Memphis Fire Director Charles E. Smith as we discuss his memories and lessons learned from the tragic Memphis 750 Adams fire also know as Regis Towe...

09-18

32:05

This edition of EmergencyFD Storyline is called "LEADERSHIP Outside the Box." This episode is focuses on the years and experiences of former Memphis Fire Director Charles E. Smith. Charles E. Smith served as the leader of the Memphis Fire Department from 1992 to 1997 during a great DECADE OF CHANGE for the fire service in Memphis and across the country. During Director Smith's tenure, many forward moving changes took place to the Memphis Fire Department that continue to this...