Every firefighter has a call they'll never forget.

Not because it made the headlines. Not because it was the biggest fire. But because it changed the way they think, the way they train, and the way they lead.

In this episode of The Carolina Fire Watch, produced in partnership with the North Carolina State Firefighters' Association (NCSFA), host Brian Kelly sits down with Assistant Chief Paul Watlington of the Burlington Fire Department and Training Officer for the Yanceyville Fire Department.

Paul shares two defining incidents from early in his career—a first working house fire and the Big Party Night Club Fire—that forever shaped his approach to preparation, situational awareness, leadership, and firefighter development. Through those experiences, he explains why understanding the "why" behind training is just as important as mastering the "how."

Before our featured interview, we preview SAFRE 2026 with a representative of the North Carolina State Firefighters' Association, discussing this year's conference highlights, including:

• The new Opening Ceremonies format

• Recognition of the Firefighter of the Year

• The inaugural Timothy L. Bradley Hall of Fame induction ceremony

• Scholarship recognitions and leadership transitions

• The keynote presentation by retired Chicago Fire Department officer Steve Chikerotis

• The joint NCSFA and North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs business session

We also recognize North Carolina fire departments celebrating milestone anniversaries during this month's Carolina Fire Spotlight and take a look back at This Month in North Carolina Fire Service History, with historical research and resources courtesy of North Carolina fire service historian Mike Legeros.

Whether you're a new firefighter, a seasoned company officer, or a chief officer, this episode is a reminder that every emergency is an opportunity to learn—and every lesson learned is an opportunity to prepare the next generation.

In This Episode:

🔥 SAFRE 2026 Preview

🔥 Firefighter of the Year & Hall of Fame Recognition

🔥 Two Calls That Changed Everything

🔥 Leadership Through Experience

🔥 Understanding the "Why" Behind Training

🔥 Preparing Firefighters for the Unknown

🔥 Carolina Fire Spotlight

🔥 North Carolina Fire Service History with Mike Legeros

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your crew. Your support helps us continue highlighting the people, history, and stories of North Carolina's fire service.

Follow The Carolina Fire Watch for new episodes, shorts, and updates.

Stay safe. Stay engaged. And we'll see you on the next watch.

In this episode of The Carolina Fire Watch, host Brian Kelly sits down with Chief Quentin Cash of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to discuss Firefighter Safety Stand Down 2026 and this year's theme, "Fit to Serve, Fit for Life."Firefighter wellness is about more than physical fitness. It includes sleep, recovery, nutrition, behavioral health, injury prevention, and creating a culture that supports firefighters throughout their careers and beyond. Chief Cash shares insights from both the volunteer and career fire service, discusses the importance of Safety Stand Down, and highlights resources available to departments across North Carolina and the nation.In this episode:🔥 Firefighter Safety Stand Down 2026🔥 Fit to Serve, Fit for Life🔥 Volunteer and career fire service wellness challenges🔥 Sleep, recovery, and firefighter readiness🔥 Building a culture of health and safety🔥 Free Safety Stand Down resources🔥 NVFC programs and member benefits🔥 Recruitment, retention, and firefighter longevityWe also recognize North Carolina fire departments celebrating milestone anniversaries in June and highlight 26 departments that achieved improved ISO ratings during the second quarter of 2026.This month's "This Month in NC Fire Service History" segment looks back at historic June fires in Wilmington, North Carolina, including an 1898 waterfront fire and a significant downtown fire in 1974. Historical content was inspired by the work of North Carolina fire service historian Mike Legeros and his ongoing efforts to preserve our state's fire service history. Learn more at facebook.com/legerosfire.The Carolina Fire Watch is produced in partnership with the North Carolina State Firefighters' Association (NCSFA).🎧 Listen and Subscribe:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1od3QahwY7XsXvY0YP2UTy?si=089b9ca12b1f48f1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-carolina-fire-watch/id1866088991Learn More:Safety Stand Down: https://safetystanddown.orgNational Volunteer Fire Council: https://www.nvfc.orgNorth Carolina State Firefighters' Association: https://www.ncsfa.com#CarolinaFireWatch #NCSFA #SafetyStandDown #NVFC #FirefighterWellness #FirefighterFitness #VolunteerFirefighter #FireService #NorthCarolinaFireService

What does the fire service have to do with politics?

More than most firefighters realize.

In this episode of Carolina Fire Watch, we sit down with Chief Steven Roberson of the City of King Fire Department and President of the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association, along with Deputy Chief Doug Bissette of Wilson Fire-Rescue Services, to break down the real impact of Fire Service Legislative Day.

We cover:

🔥 Why Legislative Day matters more than you think

🔥 How firefighters can effectively engage with legislators

🔥 What actually happens behind the scenes in the legislative process

🔥 The difference between the short session and long session

🔥 Why some fire service bills move forward—and others don’t

🔥 How the fire service can become more unified and impactful

This isn’t about politics—it’s about representation, relationships, and making sure the fire service has a voice when decisions are being made.

🚒 Carolina Fire Spotlight

This month, we recognize Deputy Chief Kane Johnson of the Morehead City Fire & EMS for his nearly 40 years of service, leadership, and commitment to the next generation of firefighters.

We also honor the legacy of Chief Roy S. Spell, past President of the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association, whose impact continues across North Carolina.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Follow Carolina Fire Watch for monthly conversations focused on the North Carolina fire service, leadership, and the issues that matter most.

📧 Submit Carolina Fire Spotlight nominations:

thecarolinafirewatch@gmail.com

🚨 Ready When the Call Comes: Inside North Carolina’s SERT Program 🚨

What does it really mean to be ready when the state calls?

In this episode of The Carolina Fire Watch, we break down the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) and how fire departments across North Carolina coordinate, deploy, and respond during major incidents.

From wildfire season to hurricanes this is a system every firefighter in North Carolina needs to understand.

🎙️ Featuring:

🏆 Chief Anderson, Greenville Fire Rescue March Madness Winner

🚒 Tony Bailey, North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal (Ratings & Inspections Division)

🔥 In this episode, we cover:

• What emergency rostering actually means

• The difference between rostering and deployment

• How departments are selected and deployed during large-scale incidents

• Why self-dispatch is not allowed

• What your department should be doing NOW to prepare

📜 Also in this episode:

• Carolina Fire Spotlight: Chief Michael Jordan (Maysville Fire & EMS)

• The story of the Goldsboro Rescue Squad (1953)

• The evolution of rescue, EMS, and statewide response in North Carolina

• NEW Carolina Fire Watch merch announcement

🎯 Why this matters:

With increasing call volume, staffing challenges, and more complex incidents statewide coordination is more important than ever.

This episode connects the past, present, and future of the fire service in North Carolina.

👍 If you got value from this episode:

• Like the video

• Subscribe to the channel

• Share it with your department

👇 Drop a comment:

Is your department rostered and ready?

#CarolinaFireWatch #NCSFA #FireService #SERT #NorthCarolinaFire

What happens when pride, planning, and purpose collide?

This month on The Carolina Fire Watch, we explore the evolving mission of the fire department and what it means to lead in a time of growth, shifting expectations, and increasing scrutiny.

From turf challenges to strategic planning and community risk reduction, this episode tackles the big questions facing today’s fire service:

• Are we operating as a system beyond the fireground?
• How should departments prepare for the future?
• What role does leadership play in building trust and sustainability?

If you're a firefighter, officer, chief, or public safety leader, this conversation will challenge and inspire you.

#CarolinaFireWatch #FireServiceLeadership #FutureOfFireService #EmergencyServices #PublicSafety

In this episode of The Carolina Fire Watch, we take an in-depth look inside the QVC Distribution Center fire, one of the largest structure fires in North Carolina history, and break down what it took to manage an incident of this scale.

We’re joined by Chief Cooke, who helps set the tone by explaining the VFD district, the response area, and how the initial request for assistance quickly expanded into a massive, multi-agency operation. From early decision-making to mutual aid coordination, this episode highlights the leadership, communication, and command challenges that come with large-scale incidents.

🔥 In this episode:

Inside the QVC Fire: What made this incident unique

How the response grew from local to statewide mutual aid

Leadership and command considerations during long-duration events

Lessons learned that apply to departments of all sizes — career and volunteer

Carolina Fire Wire: recognizing departments across NC, including a Davie County shout-out

This Month in NC Fire Service History: the rollout of computer-aided dispatch (CAD) at Charlotte Fire in 1988

Bucket Brigade: a fun, rapid-fire segment to wrap things up

Whether you’re a fire chief, officer, firefighter, or dispatcher, this conversation offers real-world insight into incident management, preparedness, and collaboration when it matters most.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on all major podcast platforms

👍 Like, subscribe, and share to support NC’s fire service stories

In the inaugural episode of the Carolina Fire Watch podcast, hosts Brian and Barry discuss the importance of the state roster for firefighters in North Carolina, highlighting its implications for training, benefits, and community engagement. They delve into historical insights from the Newland Fire Department, outline monthly segments for the podcast, and emphasize the significance of scholarships and grants available to firefighters. The conversation also covers the legislative aspects of roster management, training requirements, and the importance of accurate retiree designations. The episode concludes with a fun segment called the Bucket Brigade, where Barry answers lighthearted questions.The Carolina Fire Watch podcast aims to engage and inform firefighters in North Carolina.The state roster is crucial for maintaining benefits and training requirements.Historical insights can provide valuable lessons for current firefighters.Monthly segments will keep the community engaged and informed.Scholarships and grants are available to support firefighter training.Certification of the roster is essential for accessing benefits.Training hours are a minimum requirement for maintaining active status.Retiree designations have changed and are important for benefits.The roster management system is user-friendly but requires attention to detail.Communication with new fire chiefs is vital for effective leadership.