What The Fire

What does it actually mean to recover after a disaster?In this episode Vithyaa speaks with disaster recovery expert Dr Kate Brady about what happens long after the immediate crisis has passed.Drawing on more than a decade of experience in disaster recovery, Kate shares what she has learned from people affected by fires, earthquakes and other major events, from the man who simply wanted his fence rebuilt so he could work out where to begin, to the woman who could no longer trust the ground beneath her feet after the Canterbury earthquakes.The conversation explores why recovery is deeply personal, how disasters can reshape a person's sense of safety and control, the way children respond to trauma, and why “getting back to normal” is not always possible, or even the right goal.At the heart of the episode is a simple question:When we say someone has recovered, what do we actually mean?A thoughtful conversation about listening, compassion, control and the human experience that continues long after the fire is out.Kate Brady LinkedInVithyaa Thavapalan LinkedInForensic Origin and Cause InvestigationsWhat The Fire LinkedIn Instagram TikTok Facebook

Stephen Elliott on vehicle fire investigation, EV training, and the future of the field. Season two opens with host Vithyaa Thapapalin speaking with Stephen Elliott, Senior Forensic Investigator with EFI Global UK and a specialist in vehicle fire investigation. Stephen brings over two decades of operational forensic experience across the Royal Engineers, fire service, and investigation work, including more than 850 fire investigations and evidence in Coroner’s Court and Crown Court.In this episode, they focus on the rapid evolution of electric and hybrid vehicle fires, why investigator training is lagging behind the technology, and how experience, engineering knowledge, and humility are essential in a field where no one can know everything.TakeawaysSpecialist, not expert - Stephen argues that because technology changes so quickly, investigators should focus on a clearly defined specialty rather than claiming mastery over everything.Reverse engineering approach - For EV fire work, he recommends understanding how the vehicle is built and serviced before trying to determine how it failed.Training before touching - His core safety message is that investigators should get qualified and trained before working on high-voltage systems.Relevant Links:Stephen Elliot⁠Forensic Origin and Cause Investigations⁠ ⁠Vithyaa Thavapalan⁠What The Fire Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and LinkedIn

Episode 13: Belonging Over Fitting In with Melinda “Min” McDonaldIn this episode of What the Fire, I’m joined by Melinda “Min” McDonald CF, Senior Firefighter with Fire and Rescue NSW, President of Women and Firefighting Australasia, Churchill Fellow, and PhD candidate at the University of Technology Sydney.Min’s work sits at the intersection of operational firefighting, organisational culture, leadership, inclusion, and community risk reduction. In this conversation, we explore what it means to belong in the fire service, rather than simply fit in.Min shares her journey into firefighting, her experience as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated profession, and the importance of creating workplaces where people can show up as themselves and do their best work.We also discuss her Churchill Fellowship, where she investigated co-designed community risk reduction programs around the world, and her doctoral research into organisational culture in Australian fire services and the role of cultural humility in shaping safer, more inclusive leadership and workplace practice.This is a conversation about women in firefighting, leadership, identity, culture, community, and the systems and structures that either help people thrive or hold them back.In this episode, we discuss:Women in firefighting and the importance of representationThe difference between belonging and fitting inOrganisational culture in emergency servicesCultural humility and inclusive leadershipCommunity-centred emergency managementCo-designed community risk reduction programsWhat needs to change for women and diverse people to enter, stay, and thrive in the fire serviceMelinda Min McDonald LinkedInWomen and Firefighting AustralasiaForensic Origin and Cause Investigations⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠Vithyaa Thavapalan ⁠LinkedIn

In Episode 12 of What The Fire, we sit down with Vince Atkinson to unpack what fire suppression really means in high-risk environments, particularly the mining and heavy equipment space.Vince shares a practical, outcomes-driven approach to fire risk: understanding where ignition is most likely to occur, prioritising preventative controls, and using suppression as a mitigating measure to reduce consequences when risk remains.We also explore what’s changing globally in the fire suppression market , from procurement pressures and “box-ticking” approaches, to the industry-wide transition away from AFFF foams toward fluorine-free alternatives (F3). Vince explains why education and post-incident learning are essential for improving real-world performance, and why emerging technologies like battery electric equipment are forcing the sector to play catch-up with new fire risks.Whether you work in mining, safety leadership, procurement, insurance, or investigation, this episode is a grounded look at what good fire protection should actually deliver.What fire suppression is and why suppression isn’t the same as extinguishmentHow fire risk assessments should drive system selection and designCommon suppression agents used globally (and where they’re typically applied)The shift from AFFF to fluorine-free foams (F3) and why it mattersHow procurement decisions can compromise safety outcomesWhy education, commissioning, and ongoing support are non-negotiableThe value of post-incident analysis to improve future outcomesThe growing challenge of electric and low-emission equipment fires“Education is key in fire suppression.”“Find something you love doing.”fire suppression, fire safety, mining industry, fire risk assessment, fire protection systems, AFFF, F3 foams, procurement challenges, electric vehicles, industry trendsVince Atkinson LinkedInForensic Origin and Cause Investigations, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTokVithyaa Thavapalan LinkedIn

This episode is a little different. It is a solo episode, with Vithyaa unpacking one of the most important topics in the field: the biggest mistakes made in fire investigations.Drawing on her experience across complex losses, Vithyaa shares the common pitfalls that can weaken an investigation, from reaching conclusions too early to misunderstanding fire patterns, overlooking key evidence, and using language with more certainty than the facts support.This episode is a practical discussion on why thoroughness, discipline, and staying current matter so much in origin and cause work. Whether you are a fire investigator, insurer, lawyer, or someone involved in fire claims, this episode offers valuable insight into how investigations can go wrong and what good practice really looks like.In this episode, Vithyaa covers:Reaching conclusions too earlyWhy scene appearance can be misleadingThe importance of strong documentationTesting hypotheses properlyMisunderstanding fire patternsKnowing what you are actually looking atElectrical systems and fire-caused damage vs cause-related damageThe role of witness information, timelines, and other external dataUsing careful language in reportingRecognising the limitations of an investigationWhy staying current in the field mattersSound bites:“Don’t jump to conclusions too early.”“Scene appearance can be misleading.”“Know what you’re actually looking at.”Forensic Origin and Cause InvestigationsInstagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedInVithyaa Thavapalan LinkedIn