Peter Matthews talks with Jacob Gates, a lead instructor at the Ohio Fire Academy, about the need to stay relevant while instructing multiple generations of the fire service and staying up-to-date strategies and tactics.

Gates, who also serves with Mifflin Township Division of Fire in Gahanna, OH and the Falls Township, OH, Fire Department explains some of the changes he has witnessed as teaching styles evolve and recruit/member learning styles change. He shares advice to help the next generation of fire instructors prepare for their roles and why instructors always need to be freshening up their skills.

Gates, who followed in the footsteps of his father, Brent, also addresses family at the station and at home. He explains the importance of prioritizing the importance of your family at home.

Resources

• Jacob Gates’ bio and contributor page

Capt. Joe DeVito talks about the need for added training and an enhanced understanding of thermal imaging cameras (TIC) for firefighters during today’s emergency responses.

DeVito talks about the lack of training for most firefighters, from the basics of fireground operations to rescue and other incidents. They talk about how to overcome the common misconception that a TIC is primarily an officer’s tool and why every member needs to know how to use it. DeVito compares maximizing your TIC to understanding all the apps on an new iPhone.

Switching topics, DeVito talks about being on the job in Florida in an area that’s been hard-hit by hurricanes recently and how that’s impacted the members and the residents they protect. Much of his area was destroyed, so the return to the station after the hurricane required resiliency and a desire to build the neighborhood back up, plus how to take care of the firefighters before, during and after the storms.

Resources

• Joe DeVito’s Firehouse.com bio page and article

Station Design Conference Director Janet Wilmoth and Principal Architect Rob Manns discuss the impact of the Station Design Conference on recent fire station construction projects, and how attendees can maximize what they get out of attending the annual conference focused on fire station designs and construction for new and renovated stations.

Wilmoth planned the 11th annual conference, taking place in Glendale, AZ, May 20-22, with a focus on building stations designed to last 50 years in the fast-moving environment of building design, construction materials and technology and new materials. The two explain how the conference is designed for education and time with service providers and why attendees should plans their schedule carefully.

Manns, a principal architect with Manns Woodward Studios, explains how attendees can maximize their conversations with speakers, architects, builder and component representatives and peers through networking and coming equipped with questions.

For departments who are seeking advice on current or future plans, Wilmoth explains the 1-on-One Sessions pair agencies with architects to look at blue prints for advice on design and layout concepts to ensure the station meets their needs.

As the show wraps up, they discuss some of the trends they’ve seen in volunteer fire stations, from the need for sleeping spaces to stations built to transition from volunteer to combination and how understand the future of the organization can save them money in the long run.

Resources

• Station Design Conference
• Manns Woodward Studios
• Revamping America's first responder infrastructure – an untapped market for contractors
• Janet Wilmoth’s Firehouse contributor page
• Robert Manns’ Firehouse contributor page