Code 3 - The Firefighters Podcast

The National Fire Protection Association seems like a pretty important

organization. For example, Its reports are routinely used by fire departments

to justify staffing requests.

But not everyone is satisfied with how the NFPA operates. Some members of the fire

service believe the standards for equipment service life are too inflexible.

And there’s the question of who writes the standards in the first place.

One of the NFPA’s loudest critics on social media is Bobby Eckert. He’s a

Captain with the City of Camden Fire Department in New Jersey. Bobby also owns

and operates Eckert Fire Tactics.

We decided to ask Bobby to explain his concerns about the NFPA.

We initially asked the NFPA to participate in a debate-style format with Bobby,

but they declined the offer. Instead, they offered a representative who would

do a one-on-one interview.

We agreed to that, and I was able to ask questions of the NFPA’s Responder Technical

Lead, Curt Floyd.

Then we matched up Curt’s answers with Bobby’s questions.

One

of the best ways to learn anything is by experience.

A

better way, though, is to learn from others’ experiences.

That’s

why we’re talking with today’s guest—to get some insight from someone who

learned the hard way.

Captain

Jeremiah King has been with the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority for

more than 20 years.

But

the story of this response takes place when he was about four years into his career.

And

as you’ll hear, that career—not to mention, his life—nearly came to an end one

night on a structure fire in a large home.

One of the best ways to learn anything is by experience.

A better way, though, is to learn from others’ experiences.

That’s why we’re talking with today’s guest—to get some insight from someone who

learned the hard way.

Captain Jeremiah King has been with the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority for

more than 20 years.

But the story of this response takes place when he was about four years into his career.

And as you’ll hear, that career—not to mention, his life—nearly came to an end one

night on a structure fire in a large home.