Best Firerescue1 Podcasts (2026)

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Your 2025 after-action review 54:26

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19d ago54:26

54:26

Chief Jason Caughey joins Zam this week to put a cap on 2025 — a reflection on fire service challenges and achievements, plus opportunities for growth in the new year. Tune in to hear their takes on recent hazing controversies, staffing impacts, leadership accountability and other hot topics from the year. Zam and Caughey also share their milestone…

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‘Chiefing 101’: The evolving nature of the fire chief role 54:18

26d ago54:18

54:18

The fire chief job is quite simply not what it used to be — it’s a lot MORE. Assistant Chief (ret.) Jo-Ann Lorber details how the fire chief role has expanded over the years, plus the impact of technology, heightened expectations of accountability and transparency, and how to square these new responsibilities amid a culture focused more and more on…

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‘Stop killing people in training’: Carey’s call to action 50:33

1M ago50:33

50:33

Bill Carey’s recent article “Everyone goes home — except some recruits and applicants” sparked a lot of conversation about fatalities that occur during agility tests and academy drills, and the need for tougher medical screening, heat-stress limits and on-site EMS. The former lieutenant breaks down what the data tells us about firefighter training …

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‘Lead yourself first to lead others better’: Chief Randy Bruegman returns 57:52

2M ago57:52

57:52

Chief Randy Bruegman returns to Better Every Shift to discuss the vacuum of good leaders in the fire service and the many ways leaders (and aspiring leaders) can elevate their leadership game. Zam and the Bruegman tackle marketing mindsets, common traits of strong leaders, plus all this: Managing fast-paced change Strategic visioning “4 minutes to …

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Chad Crouse talks AI: We can’t ‘outsource all the thinking’ 44:39

2M ago44:39

44:39

AI can be an incredible tool, but as Division Chief Chad Crouse explains, we can’t use it to “outsource all the thinking.” There are critical parts of the job that require your personal development and review. Chief Crouse breaks down not only when and where to use tools like ChatGPT but also how to maximize their output so you have more time for m…

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How to process challenging calls: Dr. Derrick Edwards shares the key step 1:03:48

2M ago1:03:48

1:03:48

If you’ve ever been mentally “stuck,” replaying a particularly challenging call or ruminating on a conversation that angered you, then this is the time to tune in. We’re revisiting a powerful episode with Dr. Derrick Edwards, a 20-year fire service veteran who also serves as a professional counselor, digging into several psychological concepts that…

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‘We’re all in this together’: Chief Mary Cameli talks innovation and regional support 44:28

2M ago44:28

44:28

Why is everyone in Arizona so friendly? It’s a regional thing — an approach to customer service and community care that originated with fire service legends like Chiefs Alan Brunacini and Dennis Compton. And Mesa (Arizona) Fire Chief Mary Cameli is keeping that torch lit with the department’s strong focus on CRR, member health and safety, and mutua…

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‘You are in control’: Dr. Nicole Sawyer on how mindset drives health 48:19

3M ago48:19

48:19

Chronic stress is a job hazard. It impacts your ability to function on the fireground, which is also one of the factors causing your stress in the first place. It’s a cycle filled with physiological and psychological triggers that sometimes feel impossible to overcome. Dr. Nicole Sawyer — a licensed clinical psychologist and public safety mental he…

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‘You just don’t quit’: Chief Jeremy Craft’s lessons for leadership — and rodeo 44:53

3M ago44:53

44:53

There’s an unspoken rule in the rodeo world that to be successful, you need a don’t-quit attitude — it’s important when you’re riding bucking horses and it’s also important when you’re a fire service leader. No matter what the roadblocks, you don’t quit until you get the job done. That’s the philosophy that’s driven Lehi (Utah) Fire Chief Jeremy Cr…

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‘This game of trade-offs’: Jeff Stull talks NFPA standards 53:09

3M ago53:09

53:09

NFPA standards can be lengthy and hard to follow; fortunately, we’ve got Jeff Stull here to break down what you need to know, particularly as it relates to the newest big development — the consolidation of key PPE and SCBA standards into NFPA 1850. Stull shares insights into the standards-development process and why it’s always a “game of trade-off…

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Biohack your health: Mike Binney talks fatigue management 50:32

3M ago50:32

50:32

Assistant Chief Mike Binney is here to help you biohack your health. If you don’t know what that means, don’t worry, Binney breaks it all down — what the latest research shows about sleep habits and fatigue management, plus the work underway to understand the impact of changing traditional shift schedules. Binney also speaks to the role of mobile i…

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‘Technology is the lure’: Kirk McKinzie talks FF recruitment 51:48

3M ago51:48

51:48

“If it doesn't have a touchscreen on it, I'm not using it.” That’s the message from some digital natives unsure about whether a traditionally tactile profession like the fire service is right for them. But as tech-expert Captain Kirk McKinzie explains, with the current pace of technology, there are countless opportunities for more tech-minded indiv…

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Rainn Wilson on ‘Code 3’ and the brutal beauty of EMS life 23:54

4M ago23:54

23:54

Editor's Note: Enjoy this bonus episode of the EMS One-Stop podcast featuring special guest Rainn Wilson. In this episode of the EMS One-Stop podcast, our host, Rob Lawrence, sits down with Hollywood actor Rainn Wilson, who stars as Randy in “Code 3.” Known worldwide for his role as Dwight Schrute in The Office, Wilson has stepped into the world of…

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‘Code 3’: A love letter to fire and EMS 46:21

4M ago46:21

46:21

“Code 3” — the action-comedy centered on a paramedic’s life in crisis — hits select theaters this week, and co-writer Patrick Pianezza joins Better Every Shift to detail the behind-the-scenes movie magic that transformed his real-life EMS experiences into an independent film starring Rainn Wilson, Lil Rel Howery and Aimee Carrero. Pianezza, who als…

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Zam’s hot takes: FF arrests, FDNY EMS, shift schedules + more 39:08

4M ago39:08

39:08

It’s been a wild week, with several controversial news items hitting inboxes and driving discussions on FireRescue1. Zam and Janelle dig into the stories that have generated hundreds of comments in FR1 forums recently, from the recent arrests of two members of a contracted fire crew in Washington, to one lieutenant’s call to break FDNY fire and EMS…

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‘It’s the backup line’: The real role of FEMA 50:06

4M ago50:06

50:06

With FEMA news changing by the day, Chief Marc Bashoor reflects on the current shakeups at the agency as well as the criticisms it faced 20 years ago following Hurricane Katrina. The chief offers insights into why FEMA’s role in disaster response has been misunderstood for years, plus the federal-level changes that could better elevate the role of …

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‘Who’s your phone-a-friend?’: Dr. Sara Jahnke on the power of health-focused networks 48:21

5M ago48:21

48:21

Returning (again!) to Better Every Shift, fire service scientist-extraordinaire Dr. Sara Jahnke gets real about the firefighter/research connection: Historically, “we’ve done a sh*tty job translating science to practice” — but that’s changing with the growing movement around Science to the Station, an event that brings together firefighters, resear…

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‘Nobody has a unique problem’: Waldo and Wolford talk shared solutions 41:41

5M ago41:41

41:41

Fire-Rescue International is underway, and with that comes the leadership handoff at the IAFC. Before Chief Josh Waldo hands the baton to Chief Trisha Wolford, the two return to Better Every Shift to reflect on Waldo’s time as president and what awaits Wolford as she steps into the president’s boots — or really, if you know her, high heels. The chi…

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Aggressive firefighting: ‘We’ve corrupted the concept’ 56:04

5M ago56:04

56:04

The two smartest Johns in the fire service are digging into the hottest topic in the fire service. Chiefs John Oates and John Tippett unpack the What Firefighters Want in 2025 survey results, tackling the much-debated question of whether safety culture and aggressive tactics can coexist. Spoiler alert: They can! But it’s how they coexist that’s dri…

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Extra Alarm: How to deliver strong initial on-scene size-up reports 10:11

5M ago10:11

10:11

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Chief Keith Padgett, who emphasizes the importance of clear, consistent communication from the first-arriving officer to establish command and set the tone for incident operations. He outlines a standard format for initial reports that includes arrival notification, structure description, visible con…

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‘You can really decrease your risk’: Dr. Jeff Burgess talks firefighter cancer 48:58

6M ago48:58

48:58

“We can now answer all sorts of questions” about firefighter cancer risks and mitigations, shares Dr. Jeff Burgess, one of the most well-known fire service researchers who is fighting the good fight — for you. Dr. Burgess, who serves as director of the Center for Firefighter Health Collaborative Research at the University of Arizona, details the tw…

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Extra Alarm: Continuation of command — what happens when the IC goes down? 9:22

6M ago9:22

9:22

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Deputy Chief Vince Bettinazzi, addressing the critical steps for managing a situation where the incident commander (IC) becomes incapacitated. Bettinazzi emphasizes the importance of preparing for such scenarios, including training and designating backups. He explores the impacts on fireground operat…

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‘As goes the Metro, so goes the global fire service’: Inside the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association 51:45

6M ago51:45

51:45

“Metro Chiefs is leading the fire service — and I know there are other entities that would argue that, but I’ll take that to the bank.” Fire Chief John Butler, president of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association,” emphasizes the influence of the association, which represents just 1% of departments but covers 50% of population. Part of Metro’s inf…

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‘We rehearsed this’: Chief Eric Morgenthaler talks mayday command 56:11

6M ago56:11

56:11

In the nanosecond after hearing the mayday, Castle Rock (Colorado) Battalion Chief Eric Morgenthaler went from “Is this really happening?” to “I know what I need to do.” His crew had trained repeatedly on scenarios just like this — a firefighter through the floor. Morgenthaler shares a play by play of the mayday as well as his command mindset throu…

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Extra Alarm: Emergency logistics — who’s your go-to officer? 12:48

6M ago12:48

12:48

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Paul Fawcett, tackling the critical role of logistics officers in emergency response operations. Fawcett addresses the necessity for a logistics team to manage and streamline complex responses, highlighting their responsibility to provide supplies and ensure that facilities, food, sanitation, lightin…

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‘Come from curiosity’: Chief Corey Smedley on earning trust as an outside hire 54:15

6M ago54:15

54:15

“Everybody’s going to be a leader.” Fire Chief Corey Smedley encourages his entire workforce to step into their own leadership roles and not be afraid to make mistakes. Smedley, who is nearing one year as fire chief for Montgomery County (Maryland) Fire & Rescue, is the organization’s first outside hire for the top spot. The chief reflects on how h…

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‘Sleep washes the brain’: How shift workers can improve sleep 58:19

7M ago58:19

58:19

The recipe for sleep health: “Build a sleep window, protect the sleep window, and let your sleep accountant balance the books.” On this Better Every Shift playback, we revisit one of our most enlightening episodes, as Dr. Glenn Landry — a self-proclaimed “sleep geek” — details how shifter workers can improve their sleep. He explains the science beh…

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Extra Alarm: The do’s and don’ts of commanding your first fire 14:20

7M ago14:20

14:20

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Senior Captain Chris DelBello, who focuses on the dos and don'ts for commanding your first fire, including checklists for before, during and after the incident. Other topics addressed: pre-fire preparations, such as sharing expectations with firefighters, familiarizing oneself with command worksheets…

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‘Release of calmness’: Detailing the procedure helping firefighters manage PTSD 54:48

7M ago54:48

54:48

“The calmness comes because the fire alarm in the brain has stopped flogging your body.” That’s how Dr. Jim Lynch describes the effect of a stellate ganglion block — an injection he says turns off the unproductive and chronic fight-or-flight response experienced by many firefighters with PTSD or anxiety conditions. Dr. Lynch details the science beh…

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‘Everything went lights out’: SoCal firefighter details close call 1:12:38

7M ago1:12:38

1:12:38

“I thought he was dead. He thought I was dead.” Firefighter Andrew Klein shares the harrowing story of a recent flashover that left him disoriented and worried his captain was dead in the same terrifying instant his captain thought Klein was dead. Klein shares the play by play of the commercial fire scene — a light smoke condition that turned viole…

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Extra Alarm: Squad programs — reshaping fire response 13:58

7M ago13:58

13:58

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Assistant Chief Chad Costa, highlighting squad programs as a solution to rising medical call volumes in fire services. Squad programs involve deploying smaller, specialized units for medical emergencies, preserving larger apparatus for critical incidents and extending their operational lifespan. Cost…

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‘I don’t want to see grieving families’: Danny Kistner talks NFFF mission and support 53:12

7M ago53:12

53:12

“There’s always a better way to do something; we just haven’t discovered it yet.” Chief Danny Kistner, the new director of fire service programs for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, underscores the need for continuous improvement, especially when it comes to finding new ways to reduce firefighter LODDs. Kistner details the threefold mis…

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Accreditation in action: CPSE’s Preet Bassi talks tracking FD practices and progress 55:27

7M ago55:27

55:27

“We often do what is inspected, not what is expected.” Preet Bassi, CEO for the Center for Public Safety Excellence, joins the show this week to talk fire department (and personal) accountability and improvement, specifically through the process of accreditation and credentialing. Bassi underscores that if a department doesn’t have a way to track t…

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Extra Alarm: Mixed signals – managing conflicting orders within the chain of command 15:54

7M ago15:54

15:54

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Battalion Chief (ret.) Greg Rogers, addressing the critical issue of conflicting orders in fire department operations and underscoring the importance of adhering to the established chain of command. Rogers acknowledges the tendency of individuals to obey authority figures, even when orders are confli…

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The National Firefighter Registry is back: Help fellow FFs ‘be healthier and live longer’ 49:36

8M ago49:36

49:36

The National Firefighter Registry is back! The registry – a massive project to understand and reduce risk of cancer among U.S. firefighters – was temporarily offline following layoffs at several NIOSH programs. Fortunately, the administration has restored the NFR employees’ positions, and the site is back up and running. Dr. Kenny Fent, the NFR tea…

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How to hit the ‘RESET’ button on behavioral health 49:01

8M ago49:01

49:01

“You’re not Superman; you can’t carry it all.” Sarasota (Florida) Deputy Chief Darin Wallentine urges all listeners, no matter your rank, to carve out time to focus on your behavioral health. If you don’t know where to start, this year’s Safety Stand Down offers a variety of resources centered on the theme “Break the Stigma: Behavioral Health RESET…

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Extra Alarm: The all-in engine company – making it work with 3 members 8:48

8M ago8:48

8:48

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Jeffrey Bryant Jr., a firefighter/paramedic with the Aurora (Illinois) Fire Department. Bryant outlines strategies for a three-person engine company, highlighting the roles of the officer, driver and firefighter, and their tasks in search and suppression. Bryant underscores the importance of training…

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Dr. Reggie Freeman returns to talk higher education, plus Zam’s MBA 52:44

8M ago52:44

52:44

It’s a special show this week, as Dr. Reggie Freeman returns to talk all things higher education and help us celebrate a milestone moment for Zam. It was Chief Freeman who, during his first appearance on Better Every Shift, encouraged Zam to go back to school – and he did. Zam and Freeman share their personal education journeys, detail what they ha…

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Chief Reid Vaughan: ‘If you can fog a mirror, I’ll find you a job’ 55:26

8M ago55:26

55:26

“There’s a job for everybody” at the volunteer fire department. That’s Chief Reid Vaughan’s perspective on recruitment. Cuba, Alabama, where Vaughan serves as fire chief, doesn’t have a lot of financial support, meaning officials have to get creative about how to best serve the community. Vaughan shares volunteer recruitment strategies plus smart w…

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Extra Alarm: Fire service pruning – make way for fresh ideas, technology and practices 7:48

8M ago7:48

7:48

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Division Chief Eric Latimer, who uses the metaphor of pruning a rose bush to emphasize the importance of evaluating and updating fire department practices, policies and technology. Pruning is necessary to eliminate outdated methods and make way for new, more efficient practices. Areas for potential p…

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NFL lineman honors fallen firefighters through ‘My Cause My Cleats’ program 42:45

9M ago42:45

42:45

It’s Draft Day – a perfect opportunity to spotlight one player who has chosen to support the fire service through the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” program. Colts center Danny Pinter, who has several ties to the fire service, honors fallen firefighters on custom designed cleats each season. Zam and Janelle met Pinter a recent National Fallen Firefight…

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Extra Alarm: The importance of proportional response on and off the fireground 6:09

9M ago6:09

6:09

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Linda Willing, who tackles the significance of proportional responses. Willing emphasizes how underreaction can condone inappropriate behavior, while overreaction can waste resources and damage trust. Using real-life examples, she illustrates that responses should be fair, consistent and proportional…

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Chief Kim Zagaris reflects on the Oklahoma City bombing 30 years later 1:08:56

9M ago1:08:56

1:08:56

“I’ve seen some horrendous accidents and things – never in my life had I seen anything similar to this.” Chief Kim Zaragis describes the scene of the Oklahoma City bombing – a terrorist attack that killed 168 people and injured more than 600 others on April 19, 1995. As we mark 30 years since the horrific incident, Chief Zagaris recounts his 16 day…

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Extra Alarm: Fleeing to the firehouse – when work becomes an escape 10:22

9M ago10:22

10:22

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Dr. Rachelle Zemlok, a clinical psychologist focused on first responders families. Dr. Zemlok examines the tendency of some firefighters to spend extra hours at work to escape personal problems, leading to emotional distance and strained relationships at home. The structured environment of firefighti…

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‘Interior offensive aggressive attack’: Juratovac shares her favorite words 1:16:26

9M ago1:16:26

1:16:26

Firefighters sometimes get “too cute” on the fireground, trying to do too much or step outside their area of expertise. On this Better Every Shift playback, San Francisco Assistant Chief Nicol Juratovac shares some examples and urges firefighters to focus on their bread-and-butter tactics for a strong “interior offensive aggressive attack” – her al…

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Chief Brian Fennessy talks ‘mind-blowing’ L.A. urban conflagration 1:15:16

9M ago1:15:16

1:15:16

When fires erupted in Los Angeles in early January, the incidents seemed to shift from wildfire to urban conflagration in an instant. Orange County Fire Authority Fire Chief Brian Fennessy, who grew up in Altadena, hurried back to his home community as it was being run over by the Eaton Fire. What Fennessy witnessed was mind-blowing – only a few ho…

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Extra Alarm: It’s time for a cabinet-level Department of Emergency Services 14:05

9M ago14:05

14:05

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Chief Marc Bashoor, who addresses the crucial need for a unified and elevated national fire service structure. Bashoor argues against the closure of the National Fire Academy (NFA), emphasizing its critical role in providing consistent, advanced training across all states. He also critiques the fragm…

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Thermal imagers: Andy Starnes talks fireground ‘force multiplier’ technology 1:02:48

10M ago1:02:48

1:02:48

“What’s the building hiding from you?” That’s a key question from Chief Andy Starnes, our resident thermal imaging expert on this special episode of Better Every Shift. Starnes, the founder of Insight Fire Training, joins Zam to dig into all things thermal imaging technology, including how TICs can reveal the building’s hidden dangers, how and why …

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Extra Alarm: Electric vehicle fires – where the waiting game wins 8:51

10M ago8:51

8:51

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Captain Patrick Durham with the Troy (Michigan) Fire Department. Captain Durham addresses the issues firefighters face when dealing with electric vehicle (EV) fires, particularly the challenges posed by thermal runaway events in lithium-ion batteries. Durham covers various methods and tools for extin…

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Critical connections: The challenges and solutions in public safety communication 52:51

10M ago52:51

52:51

Whether responding to a medical emergency, coordinating disaster relief, or ensuring officer safety in high-risk situations, public safety radio systems provide mission-critical communications that enable first responders to fulfill their missions. What does it take to ensure these systems remain functional, interoperable and adequately funded? Thi…