Are We Training Firefighters Wrong? | Chris Gott & Justin Brunner

Are we genuinely developing better firefighters, or are we simply getting better at ticking boxes, completing assessments and documenting competence?

In this episode of The Firefighters Podcast, I sit down with Chris Gott and Justin Brunner for a fascinating conversation about the future of firefighter training, operational competence, leadership, artificial intelligence and how we can develop better decision-makers.

Connect with our guest here | Chris Gott | Justin Brunner

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Why does meaningful change remain so difficult when decades of research, inspections and cultural reviews have already identified so many of the problems? In this episode, Im joined by Janette Morris, former senior fire and rescue leader and HMICFRS inspector; Dave Baigent, former firefighter and long-standing researcher of firefighter culture; and Leanne Allen, operational firefighter and researcher with experience internationally. Together, they challenge assumptions around leadership, inclusion, recruitment, accountability and the traditions that shape our profession, exploring what it might actually take to create lasting cultural change.

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Recorded at the World Fire Congress 2026 in London, I sat down with Dr Lori Moore-Merrell, former US Fire Administrator and founding Chair of the World Fire Congress, and Phil Garrigan, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), to explore some of the biggest challenges facing fire and rescue services around the world.

We discuss the growing threats of wildfire, extreme weather, operational pressures and funding challenges, alongside the importance of international collaboration and learning from major incidents. Lori shares why we must never waste the lessons of tragedy, while Phil reflects on the UK's changing risk profile and the need to influence meaningful change. We also explore the human impact of major disasters and the extraordinary challenges facing firefighters in conflict-affected nations.

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Lithium-ion batteries are now embedded in almost every part of modern life, from mobile phones and power tools to electric vehicles, public transport and large-scale energy storage systems. But as this technology becomes more widespread, are fire and rescue services keeping pace with the risks?

Recorded live at the World Fire Congress 2026 in London, this episode of The Firefighters Podcast features Dr Stephen Kerber of UL Research Institutes and the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), one of the leading voices in research-led firefighter safety.

Stephen explores the increasing operational challenges associated with lithium-ion batteries, the hazards that can emerge throughout their lifecycle and the diverse environments in which firefighters are now encountering them.

Of particular concern is the potential for flammable battery gases to accumulate within enclosed compartments, creating conditions for deflagration.

But this conversation is about more than understanding the hazards. It's about translating scientific research into better education, improved standards, more effective operational preparation and greater public awareness.

As lithium-ion technology continues to evolve, our understanding, training and response must evolve alongside it.

An important listen for firefighters, incident commanders, trainers, fire safety professionals and anyone involved in preparing our services for emerging risks.

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***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

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Recorded at the 2026 World Fire Congress in Westminster, I sat down with London Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith for a conversation about some of the biggest challenges facing the modern Fire and Rescue Service. We talk about what London learned after being caught out by the 2022 wildfires, how training and capability have changed since then, the need for greater national consistency and a future College of Fire, and how artificial intelligence could support operational decision-making without replacing the critical human element of incident command. We also look internationally at high-rise firefighting, robotics, smart buildings and specialist teams, and discuss why learning from fire and rescue services around the world is becoming increasingly important as the risks we face continue to evolve.

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Recorded at the 2026 World Fire Congress in Westminster, I caught up with my friend Professor Rowena Hill from Nottingham Trent University, who also chairs the NFCC Academic Collaboration, Evaluation and Research Board. In this conversation, we explore firefighter health and wellbeing through a much wider lens than physical fitness alone, looking at psychological and social health, resilience, moral injury, retirement and identity, and why I believe we need to become far better at preventing problems rather than simply responding once somebody reaches crisis. We also look at research from the UK and internationally, and talk about the wider role the modern Fire and Rescue Service can play in early intervention, problem-solving and supporting the communities we serve.

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***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

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This conversation with Katherine Lamb, founder of Effective Command, explores what effective incident command really looks like beyond simply following procedure. We discuss professional judgement, risk-based decision-making, command competence, behavioural assessment and the difference between being qualified to command and being genuinely capable of making decisions under pressure.

Katherine also shares how the Effective Command approach is using data around command behaviours to identify recurring strengths and weaknesses, and why developing adaptable, thinking incident commanders is essential when real incidents rarely fit neatly into a textbook.

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***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

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In this episode, I travelled to Northern Ireland to sit down with Simon Hunter and Chris Colgan with the team at Hunter Apparel Solutions for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of firefighter PPE, innovation, leadership and firefighter protection. We explore how modern fire kit is designed and developed, the growing understanding around contamination and decontamination, the responsibility manufacturers have to the firefighters wearing their products, and how listening directly to operational crews can drive meaningful change. The conversation also goes beyond PPE into the culture, values and leadership behind Hunter Apparel, offering a fascinating look inside a company working at the intersection of firefighter safety, technology and real-world operational need.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

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Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are

William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website

PBI high-performance fabrics

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing

MSA The Safety Company

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DELTA FIRE

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Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew