EP2: Roles and Duties - Transcript

Being a firefighter isn’t about proving yourself — it’s about knowing your role, doing your duty, and trusting the team beside you. EP 2 explores how firefighters learn, grow, and earn trust through repetition, structure, and humility.

[SHOW OPENS]

Cory Ashworth:

Welcome back to Fourhall, I'm Cory Ashworth, and this is episode 2, "Roles and Duties." One of the best things about this job is how it constantly pushes you to learn, to train, and get better. Seattle Fire Lieutenant Aaron Fields told me, when it comes to your skills:

Aaron Fields:

No matter how good you're at at these other things, always pick up something new because it keeps you in the beginner's mind.

Cory Ashworth:

That beginner's mind, staying humble and willing to learn, is as important as any tool you'll carry throughout your career. It's easy to assume being a firefighter is all about the big moments. Kicking in doors, pulling people out of burning buildings, cutting someone out of their vehicle while they're dummied in the driver's seat. But to be honest, most of the job, it's quieter. It's more disciplined. It's about showing up, knowing your place on the team, and sticking to it. Even when adrenaline is telling you to do more. The fire service only works because everyone has a role and a duty. So in this episode, we're going to look at that framework. What's expected of you, who calls the shots, and why the best firefighters aren't trying to prove something They're trying to contribute and actually do something. So what do you say? Let's start right there. The core responsibilities of a new firefighter. When you first step into this job, it feels like there's more to learn than you can possibly take in. And sometimes, progress doesn't come as fast as we wanted to. I remember one night shift, about a year into probation, sitting alone in the lecture room with a book and a stack of maps, feeling like I was shitting the bed hard. Vast, my acting captain walked in and he could see that I was clearly cooked.

Vass:

I know the look. I've been there before. Like I could look at you and see that I've been in those shoes before too. And it's like, I could kind of understand. It's a lot when you first get in there.

Cory Ashworth:

And it kind of all hits you at once.

Vass:

Like you've done some things before, but you sort of realize that, okay, man, I got a lot of skillsets and I got a lot of things that I have to get good at it. And I need to do it fast and you feel overwhelmed because you get all that stuff thrown at you early on. And it's a lot to deal with.

Cory Ashworth:

And then he told me something that I never forgot. Don't worry, you only feel this way for the next few years. Yeah, he was messing with me and I didn't catch the joke because I was way too deep in what they call the valley of disappointment. The valley is the stretch where you're showing up, doing the work, expecting progress, but you don't see it. It's like going to the gym for weeks without seeing a single muscle pop. The good news is you can climb out of the valley.

Vass:

You just have to break it down into different categories of learning and find a way to get better at all your skill sets through practice, determination, hard work, focusing on people that you can learn from. You know what I mean? Getting close to the ones that wanna teach you, that genuinely want to show you the skills without the...

Cory Ashworth:

Negativity and bullshit. It's like any other job, sometimes worse. You have to sift through the good and the bad. And this is how you start building toward a tipping point. And once you cross it, you're out of the valley. Things will start to shift, I promise. You stop chasing the crew and start moving with them. Those early days are never wasted. They're hard, but they are the foundation for everything that comes next.

You still with me? Yeah? Good.

As a firefighter, you're expected to master a long list of skills. They're technical, physical, and mental, because they all matter when that call comes. Your crew will drill the fundamentals until they're automatic. breaking down a door, spike goes up, you go down, shutting off gas lines, lighting a scene, and performing CPR on someone who looks like they've been dead for more than a week. Just for another 15 minutes. Beyond the hands-on skills, you'll also need to learn the written playbook that keeps everyone on the same page, the SOPs, Standard Operating Procedures, and the SOGs, Standard Operating Guidelines. You may be asking yourself, why? Well, because even the most talented firefighter will become a liability if they can't work within the system. Let's take a little look at the SOPs and SOGs. SOPs are specific. They are like a recipe, step by step and no deviations. SOGs are different. They give you a framework to work within, but they're a little more loose, leaving room for judgment, depending on the scene. I'll give you some examples. An SOP, the recipe, might tell you exactly how to inspect a ladder. While the SOG might outline how to ventilate a roof, but the method you choose depends on the structure, the fire conditions, and what you see when you get up there. Firefighting isn't about perfection, it's about being ready for the routine and the most unexpected. As Jesse put it:

Jesse Hildering:

Our job is all about the unknown. You never know on any given day what you're going to show up to, right? It's an emergency. And as long as you train and you trust yourself and you trust your teammates, that's what gets me through it. That kind of trust doesn't always come easy. There's been many times where I show up and in that moment, regardless of the call, if If I have a bit of a lapse and I'm not sure if I can do it, I rely heavily on my teammates or just my muscle memory kicks in. Maybe I don't cognitively think of what I'm doing, but my hands are starting to work for me because in training, I've done CPR 100 times. I've thrown a ladder 100 times. I've opened that nozzle and done a certain pattern 100 times. And so when the call actually comes in and you have to use those skills, your body just does it naturally.

Cory Ashworth:

At the heart of it, that's what training really does. builds muscle memory. And when it comes to your training, you're the only one who knows what you don't know. Your crew might notice some of the deficits, but deep down, you already know the spots that feel shaky. So face them head on. Don't ignore those spots. Close the gaps. And remember, no one's looking for perfection. But what matters is putting in the work now, so you're ready when it counts. within the department. Even though we all trained these same standards, no two fire halls run exactly the same. The size of your department, your location, your staffing, all of these shape how things feel and function. But one thing stays consistent. Every department relies on a chain of command, a clear structure for communication and decision-making. The chain keeps things organized when they get chaotic. It means you communicate through your direct supervisor and they do the same, up and down the chain. If you're smart, you'll pay attention to that chain. Learn the role just above you and know the one just below you inside and out. The more you understand that system, the more useful you become inside of it.

Now let's walk through some of the roles you will find in most departments. Fire apparatus driver and operator. They're not just driving the truck. running the pump, managing the water, and making sure everything flows. Literally. It's a big job, and they usually know that rig better than they know their personal vehicle. The first few minutes on scene are critical, and the driver-operator plays a huge role in setting the whole call-up for success. Company Officer Captain, Acting Captain, and Lieutenant The company officer lead the crew. They set the tone and make the first critical decisions on scene. The company officer is responsible for strategy, safety, and keeping track of their crew. Incident Commander IC manages the entire incident, setting priorities, coordinating resources, and ensuring clear communication. Command usually starts with the first officer on scene, like a captain, and may later transfer to a higher ranking officer, like a battalion chief, as needed. Safety Officer Their only job is safety. You get a gold star for that one. They watch for hazards and have the authority to stop any operations as they see unsafe. Which tells you how serious safety is taken in this line of work. Training officer? Well, it is what it sounds like. They oversee training. From rookies to the 30-year veterans, they make sure everyone's skills stay sharp. In this line of work, there is a lot of support roles. They include dispatchers. They're often the first point of contact for emergencies. Public information officers handle the media and community communications. Mechanics keep rigs and tools running. And educators and technicians, they support public safety in essential less visible ways. In smaller departments, one person might wear multiple hats. But regardless of size, the key is the same. Know your role. Respect others and communicate clearly. Community risk reduction. It's not a fire ground save. It's not a big, dramatic rescue. It's the quiet work that stops emergencies before they even start. Low drama. No headlines. Behind the scenes stuff nobody will ever brag about. It doesn't mean we can't make it sound heroic.

Jeff Berlin:

[Community Risk Reduction Imaging]

Cory Ashworth:

That's community risk reduction. And it's not one and done. It's a cycle. Identify the risk. Prioritize them. Build a plan. Act. Adjust. And repeat. You'll also hear about the five E's of prevention. The first three do most of the heavy lifting. Education gives people the knowledge to prevent and respond to emergencies. So this would be like teaching kids stop, drop, and roll. Training Karen and office staff on extinguishers. Engineering is building safety right into the environment, so hazards never become a problem in the first place. So standpipes and high rises, smoke alarms, or car seats. Enforcement uses fire and building codes to to keep spaces safe. Then there's the economic incentives. This rewards safer choices through rebates and insurance breaks. And emergency response. Us. The safety net when prevention doesn't catch everything. Sometimes community risk reduction means showing up at someone's house at 4am because their smoke alarm won't stop beeping and they've called 911. On paper, that's a nuisance call. But in reality, it's prevention. A non-emergency quick fix that might be the reason we never get called back for the real thing.

Most homes rely on a single station smoke alarm, one device with a sensor, a control unit and a speaker that sounds the alarm. According to NFPA 72, that's the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. There are two main types of sensors in smoke alarms, and each one reacts differently to fire. Ionization alarms detect fast flaming fires, so think grease fires, paper, or dry fuels. If you go into the ionization alarm, they use a constant flow of ions between charged plates. Just chilling. And when smoke disrupts that flow, the alarm goes off. Photoelectric alarms detect slow smoldering fires, like those that start in upholstery or bedding. Photoelectric alarms use a beam of light and a sensor. When smoke scatters that beam, the alarm trips. And while we're at it, carbon monoxide detectors. If smoke alarms are about fire, CO detectors are about the invisible threat. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. That's why they call it the "silent killer." CO alarms are designed to measure both how much carbon monoxide is present in a space and how long it's been there, because the danger comes from the concentration and exposure time. When carbon monoxide drifts into a detector, each little molecule will strike a sensor. Inside, like a fuel cell, a reaction begins, sparking a tiny little current. And as the gas builds, that current grows stronger and stronger. And when it grows too strong and for too long, the alarm sounds. It's not a bad idea to encourage homeowners to always have smoke and seal alarms. We all know the alternative is, D-E-A-T-H

Interagency Coordination and Governance If you think about it, emergencies almost never involve just one agency. That's why coordination matters. Without a system, agencies show up, leaders potentially give conflicting orders, and communication can break down. That slows the response, or worse, makes the scene dangerous. That's where the Incident Command System, ICS, comes in. It's a shared framework and a common language. ICS keeps fire, police, EMS, and other agencies working together while still operating under their own chain of command. It's designed to give you unified command, shared objectives, and clear communication. And the bigger the scene, the more this matters. For a second, picture a multi-vehicle crash on the highway. Okay, it doesn't look too bad. Okay, that's bad. Fires handling extrication, EMSs triaging and transporting. Police are controlling traffic. Different agencies with different roles, but ICS ties it all together. So no one's stepping on each other's toes. The job is getting done. And underneath all of that, we find governance. It defines who makes decisions, sets standards, and keeps everyone accountable. Regulations, standards, policy, and yes, those SOPs and SOGs you heard about earlier. Pop quiz. SOP. Standard operating procedure. the recipe. SOG, standard operating guideline, a little loosey-goosey. Okay? With ICS you adapt in the moment but never outside the framework. That's what keeps the response strong and our crews aligned.

Next episode, we'll take a step back and look at how the fire service is built, its roots, its operation, and the discipline that keeps it moving forward.

Aaron Fields:

For me, what I've realized early on was that my work ethic was the only thing I really had control over. And I don't like to lose. And I know that people that are prepared are more successful.

Cory Ashworth:

For show notes, transcripts, and to join the mailing list, visit fourhalll.com. And if you could, right now, please like, follow, and share the show. Your support is helping us grow. Thanks again. We'll talk to you soon.

[SHOW CLOSES]