We’re back with Episode 15 of the San Bernardino County Fire PIO Podcast! 
Host Captain Shawn Millerick and the team continue the mission to inform, educate, and entertain. This week’s episode was recorded in pieces between busy schedules, so expect real emotion and some sharp turns in tone—but every moment is sincere.

Episode Highlights

• Mountain Life & Rooster Overtime
  Shawn and Bobby kick things off at sunrise with a rooster cameo and talk about Bobby’s new life in the San Bernardino Mountains—snow chains, 2.5-hour commutes, and the joy of watching his kids roam, explore, and adventure through the forest like it’s their own backyard wilderness.
  

• Honoring Deputy Nunez & Deputy MacKay
  Ryan Beckers joins Shawn to reflect on Deputy Andrew Nunez’s funeral, the moment the folded flag is handed to the family, and what happens after the ceremony is over. Shawn also remembers his friend Deputy Jeremiah MacKay, killed during the Chris Dorner manhunt, and the Lake Arrowhead statue that keeps his memory alive.
  

• Desert Call from a Horror Movie
  Shawn and Battalion Chief Bill Mahan recall a wild call in the El Mirage desert—tattered white dresses, wild dogs, off-grid trailers, twin bearded brothers, and one unforgettable nighttime scene.
  

• Dispatch & Tech: Keeping Crews Safer
  Bill Mahan explains new tablet life-hazard alerts for things like downed power lines and hidden pools, plus his hobby running a museum-quality model railroad.
  

• Tech Corner: Drones, ROVs & DFR
  Jeff Alexy checks in with updates on heavy-lift drones, underwater ROVs with sonar, and the upcoming Drone First Responder (DFR) program aimed at keeping engines off nuisance calls and getting eyes on incidents early.
  

• Awards & Helmet Cams
  The media team racks up Golden Arrowhead Awards, and Bobby thanks firefighters for their  helmet-cam footage that lets the public see interior, exterior, and roof ops like never before.

And of course, the Joke of the Day:
“Why do drones get so many pictures of mermaids? Because they’re aerial photographers.”

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

• Video of All Show Notes for Episode 15
• Being a 911 Dispatcher - Behind the Scenes featuring BC Bill Mahan
• SBCoFD Residential Fire & Dog Rescues Video