Peter Matthews talks with Battalion Chief Michael Dozier of The Company Officer about the deep-rooted cultural challenges facing today’s fire departments.

Dozier starts by breaking down what “culture” truly means in the fire service and how departments across the country, at every rank, are struggling with communication, trust, and aligning expectations. He explains how key points contribute to cohesive teams, and what firefighters at each rank can do to maintain accountability and strengthen commitment.

The podcast also explores the unwritten rules that influence daily operations, including those that help firefighters succeed—and those that create barriers. Dozier closes by sharing how regional differences, especially in areas like his where many firefighters are transplants, further shape the way culture is built and sustained.

Peter Matthews sat down with Capt. Ariel “AJ” Jackson to look at his role in developing an officer mentoring and training program for the Anne Arundel County, MD, fire officers.

Jackson, a second-generation firefighter, talks about the night he was promoted and the working fire with entrapment that followed. That fire turned into a career-long learning experience for him in which he partnered with another firefighter to develop a company officer mentoring program that’s been used by the department. He takes listeners through the process and offers insights that can be used by any department.

A veteran of the fire service, Jackson finishes up the podcast with an explanation of why he still attends conferences as a student to continue learning.

Peter Matthews invites author Michael Glore, who is a deputy chief with the Reading, PA, Fire Department, to share his interest in fire service history and how the war stories from the past has shaped today’s fire service.

Glore, who has nearly 40 years in the fire service and has co-authored four fire service history books, explains why firefighters should know their department’s history to help make tactical decisions, but also to understand by certain tactics are understood.

The show is filled with historical nuggets for all listeners from the recent 40th anniversary of firefighter fatality fire in Reading involving a flashover, to an early example of a BLEVE to firefighter cancer. Glore explains how firefighters can capture their history and how to share it with others.

Resources

• Pottsville Firefighting
• Reading Firefighting
• Schuylkill County Firefighting
• The Great Memorial Day Fire of 1945 and Other Schuylkill County Disasters
• Fire Alarm Boxes Silenced in PA Town, For Now