Fire, EMS and Community Paramedicine

September 29, 2015
Chief Patrick J. Kenny talks about his recent FDIC.com article, “‘Mayday'” for Mental Health.

August 4, 2015
RMRS Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory Research Mechanical Engineer Dr. Bret Butler talks about his latest research on estimating safety zones and its application to urban interface clearing and fuel treatments. Video Website NWCG IRPG (Green Book)

July 14, 2015
Retired Fire Chief Paul Stein, noted author, expert witness and speaker talks about today’s fire service, what is required to get hired, promoted and make chief officer.

May 5, 2015
Southern California Edison Fire Management Officer Troy Whitman and PIO Rondi Guthrie talk about the utilities fire management program and their unique pilot program for detecting wildfires in the front country in conjunction with Santa Barbara County Fire.

April 21, 2015
Cal EMA Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief Lorenzo Gigliotti talks about the 2007 Angora Fire near South Lake Tahoe and the California drought situation.

March 3, 2015
Long Beach Chief Mike DuRee talks about the improvements to the department’s EMS delivery and program testing.

February 10, 2015
Just retired Los Angeles County Chief Deputy Mike Metro talks about the fire service and EMS delivery system.

January 20, 2015
California Fire Safe Council Chairman Jerry Davies talks about current and future projects and grant funding. Fire Safe Council Website

January 6, 2015
Former California State Fire Marshal Ronny J. Coleman talks about the National Fallen Fire Fighters Tampa 2 Report. NFFF website

December 23, 2014
California Emergency Medical Services Authority Community Paramedicine Project Manager/Consultant Lou Meyer talks about the EMSA Community Paramedic Pilot Project. Website CP OSHPD Radio Talk Version lkm 12-20-2014v4

November 4, 2014
Santa Barbara County Fire Department Captain Howard Orr talks about his electrical shock during a wildfire and his remarkable recovery.

October 14, 2014
Former California State Fire Marshal and The National Fire Heritage Center President Ronny J. Coleman talks about the history of the American fire service. Website

September 30, 2014
Plumas County Fire Safe Council Chair Jerry Hurley talks about the successes of their local Fire Safe programs. Website

August 13, 2014
VFIS Sales Executive and Assistant Chief of Training & Safety for Smith Valley Fire Protection District Nevada Wayne Eder talks about public safety insurance coverage and the volunteer fire service. Website

July 1, 2014
Former California State Fire Marshal Ronny J. Coleman talks about the history and duties of the fire marshal as well as introducing his new website Table Talk. Website

April 29, 2014
Santa Barbara County Fire Battalion Chief Chris Childers and Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council chair retired Santa Barbara City Fire Battalion Chief John Ahlman talk about this summers fire season, Foresters and Fire Wardens Association, and Read-Set-Go.

March 18, 2014
Retiring Sebastopol Fire Chief Bill Braga talks about his career and current issues confronting the California fire service.

March 11, 2014
Ted and Mike talk about the challenges confronting volunteers and volunteer organizations today

February 18, 2014
Recently retired State Fire Marshal’s Office Division Chief Ben Ho talks about his extraordinary story of leaving Vietnam during the war to come to America with his brother to start a new life. As two of the “Boat People of Vietnam,” this is an extraordinary story of risk, hard work and perseverance coupled with the help and dedication of several remarkable people along the way.

February 2, 2014
Families of the Fallen founder Susan Van de Pol talks about the death of her husband, Los Angeles City Fire Department firefighter Bob Ortega and the founding of a national support group for firefighters. Website  and The Los Angeles Firefighter, Vol. 44, No. 5, September/October 2006

January 29, 2013
DHS, U.S. Fire Administration National Fire Academy Superintendent Dr. Denis Onieal talks about the Academy and the Emergency Management Institute. Website
(Interview from the National Academy)

April 2, 2013
Dr. Alexander Weiss, former Northwestern University Center for Public Safety and Professor of Management and Strategy at the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management. We talked about the future of public safety.  Website

August 27, 2013
Idyllwild Fire Chief Patrick Reitz talks about the recent Mountain Fire.Website

August 20, 2013
Multi-agency program “One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire” is discussed with members of the US Forest Service. Website

September 3, 2013
Author Ray Ford and Chief Mike Mingee talk about Ray’s article Valuing a Firefighter’s Life No One Should Ever Die to Save a House. Ray Ford article.

October 8, 2013
California Fire Safe Board Member Jerry Davies talks about the current trends in the insurance world and how it impacts home owners.

October 30, 2012
Dr. Glenn Miller returns to talk about the denial of death and related topics and the relationship with the Emergency Medical System.

September 25, 2012
Former California State Fire Marshal Ronny J. Coleman talks about the National Fire Heritage Center from the annual California State Firefighters’ Association annual conference in Anaheim. Website

August 14, 2012
Santa Barbara County Emergency Medical Services Agency Medical Director Dr. Angelo Salvucci, John Eaglesham and Susan Klein-Rothschild talk about the county EMS system, CPR and AED use, the STEMI program, Medical Reserve Corps. and response time issues. website

August 7, 2012
Office of Quality and Patient Safety, University of New Mexico Hospitals and Department of Emergency Medicine and the University of New Mexico School of Medicine Dr. Marc-David Munk talks about his April 2012 editorial in Pre-hospital and Disaster Medicine, Value Generation and Health Reform in Emergency Medical Services

July 10, 2012
Santa Barbara County Public Health Dr. Wadda and PIO Susan Rothschild-Kline talk about the impacts of the Affordable Health Care Plan.

July 3, 2012
Weaverville VFD Fire Chief Scott Alvord, Hayfork VFD Fire Chief David Hayfork and Downriver VFD Fire Chief Martin Dooly talk about the volunteer fire service with Mike from Weaverville as Ted joins in from Santa Barbara.

June 26, 2012
Public Education and Information Officer for the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Department Timothy R. Szymanski talks about his recent article Why Every Department Needs A Public Information Policy. Website

March 13, 2012
Magic Castle owner Milt Larsen talks about the October 31st fire and the aftermath. The conversation includes fire sprinklers, insurance, prevention and business planning for emergencies. Website

January 31, 2012
Former California State Fire Marshal’s Kate Dargan and Ronny J. Coleman talk about the Urban Interface and their join article Wildfire: Past, Present and Future.

August 23, 2011
Ted and Mike visit with Phil Taylor, Office of Emergency Management for Los Alamos, New Mexico to talk about the recent wildfire and their evacuation process. Website

June 14, 2011
Los Paderes National Forest Assistant Chief Brad Joos talks about the Santa Maria Air Attack Base, the use of aircraft on wildfires and the USFS Environmental Impact Statement. Website

January 11, 2011
Former California State Fire Marshal Ronny Coleman joins Community Alert to talk about the California volunteer fire service and the California State Firefighters’ Association Volunteer Committee. Website

May 18, 2010
Author and researcher David Nabhan talks about his new book on earthquake predictorsForecasting the Catastrophe: An Analysis of When and Where the Next Earthquake on the West Coast Will Strike. Website

April 20, 2010
Abociacio de Bomberos del Estado de Baja California, Inc., Training Officer Marcos Olmosjoins Community Alert to talk about the recent earthquake and how continued training in California has helped withtheircurrent efforts and recovery. This is a follow-up show to last weeks interview with El Centro Chief Steve Wilson.

April 13, 2010
El Centro Fire Department Battalion Chief Steve Wilson talks about the recent 7.2 earthquake and the damage caused. Website

April 6, 2010
Fresno Fire Chief Randy R. Bruegman joins Community Alert to talk about the Mission, Values and Vision of the Fresno Fire Department. Website

March 16, 2010
Retired State Fire Marshal Kate Dargan talks about Wildland Interface Issues and the Community Wildland Prevention Program.

March 2, 2010
Retired Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Tom Franklin talks about the future of the California fire service.

—–
Community Alert airs on Tuesday, 11 AM and 9 PM, repeating on Saturday at 1 PM on KZSB-AM 1290 and on www.newspress.com. Click on the dates below to hear the show for that day.

Funding provided by a grant from the Cooperative Fire Program of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Pacific Southwest Region, through the California Fire Safe Council (11USFS0172 and 14USFS-SFA0010) with additional funding from the Fire Services Training Institute.

Community Alert is produced by the Wildland Residents Association, Inc., San Marcos Pass Volunteer Fire Department (WRA). Any use of these links is for personal use only. Commercial use of these programs or content is prohibited without prior written permission from the WRA. Written permission email [email protected].

The views and conclusions contained in these programs are those of the hosts and guests and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the California Fire Safe Council, the U.S. Forest Service, FSTI or KZSB AM-1290. Any mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement by the California Fire Safe Council, the U.S. Government, FSTI or the WRA.

September 29, 2015 Chief Patrick J. Kenny talks about his recent FDIC.com article, “‘Mayday'” for Mental Health. August 4, 2015 RMRS Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory Research Mechanical Engineer Dr. Bret Butler talks about his latest research on estimating safety zones and its application to urban interface clearing and fuel treatments. Video Website NWCG IRPG (Green Book) July 14, 2015 Retired […]

About the Author

Michael S. Williams

Michael S. Williams

Founder the Fire Services Training Institute

Williams founded the Fire Services Training Institute in 1995 to find solutions to the challenges confronting the volunteer fire service. He has been an active member of California State Firefighters Association (CSFA) since 1994, having served on the volunteer and public relations committees, and as a southern division deputy director. He sits on several local organizations including the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council, the Tri-Counties Training Officers Association, Santa Barbara Chapter of CAER and is a founding member of the Santa Barbara PIO group Emergency Public Information Communicators (EPIC). He has been the author of many articles and a columnist for a local newspaper on public safety matters. He is also the co-host of Community Alert on KZSB AM-1290 in Santa Barbara. Williams has been a member of the California State Board of Fire Services since 2008. Prior to becoming involved in the volunteer fire service, Williams was a California police officer for 12 ½ years and a POST certified Field Training Officer. He is a licensed private investigator and security consultant specializing in self-insured, government and insurance defense assignments.

Related Articles

Chief Stein’s Leadership Tips

A Train Ride Congrats, You Are the New Boss - Now What? Crack berry Emotional Communication in Check Ethical Decision Making In The Work Place Excellence In The Fire Service Honored and Humbled Leadership Challenges Trust, Respect and Role Modeling Living Backwards...

Contact Table Talk

For further information about Table Talk please feel free to contact us. Chief Ronny J. Coleman FireforceOne 8866 Saint Anthony Court Elk Grove, CA 95624 916-689-5365 [email protected]   Michael S. Williams President-Executive Director Fire Services Training...

About Videos

 “Education is evolving due to the impact of the Internet. We cannot teach our students in the same manner in which we were taught. Change is necessary to engage students not in the curriculum we are responsible for teaching, but in school. Period” – April Chamberlain...

Contact Us

10 + 1 =

How to Reach Us

PO Box 550, Santa Barbara, CA 93116

(888) 977-1635

Who We Are

FSTI has provided training to the volunteer public safety community since 2006. It has been our mission to provide high quality training to firefighters while at the same time promoting community safety.

Fire Services Training Institute (FSTI) is a non-profit public benefit corporation with both state and federal tax exempt status.