In This Episode

End-of-year check-in, burnout vs bandwidth, and a listener-requested deep dive on ICS — plus a What3Words tangent (because of course) and a big 2026 announcement from Brian.

The crew rolls into the final stretch of 2025 running on fumes: Brian’s voice is cooked, Adam’s been sick for weeks, Doug is… at the emergency vet because a dog ate a sock (classic). The guys talk holiday reality, emotional bandwidth, and how hard it is to truly “shut off” work.

Then a listener (Jeff) hits them with a solid request: let’s talk ICS — from small incidents to big ones, staffing, comms, unified command, and why the chain-of-command matters even when it feels inconvenient.

Matt ties it into his own real-world lesson: don’t bypass your assignment / supervisor just because the Division is “right there.” ICS isn’t just for the person talking on the radio — it’s for the whole system listening.

Matt also breaks down What3Words (and how it helps with remote rescues and wildland ops), Adam talks unified command challenges, and Brian sets the record straight on how volunteer departments handle ICS on the East Coast.

And then… Brian drops the news: a new North Carolina fire-service podcast is officially live.

Key Topics

• End-of-year fatigue + why the “heaviness” of late December is real

• Emotional bandwidth and the struggle of checking work email nonstop

• Housekeeping: Patreon, merch, and what the team needs to grow it

• Moment of silence for fallen first responders

• Thoughts & prayers for Sam from Fire Tech and his dog battling Lyme disease

• Listener request from Jeff: Tabletop discussion on ICS

• Why ICS works best when you don’t skip the chain

• Unified command realities with fire/EMS/law (and why it breaks down)

• Volunteer vs career: ICS isn’t a staffing issue — it’s a culture & training issue

• Wildland fire ICS: strike teams, divisions, branches, briefings, and why it scales

• What3Words + Avenza maps for remote rescue location accuracy

• Call to action: Rate ICS in your area from 0–10

• Big news: Brian launches “Carolina Fire Watch” (NC-only fire service show)

  
  

  Quote-Worthy Moments

• “I hate that little red dot with the number in it.”

• “ICS can expand and retract… and that’s the beauty of it.”

• “Inspect what you expect.”

• “If you allow agencies to respond who won’t do ICS… you’re assuming liability.”

Call To Action

🚨 On a scale of 0–10, how well does ICS actually work in your area today?
Drop your number + why (and keep it respectful — don’t name departments).

Sponsors

• Unkie’s Seasoning – go grab the goods and support the family

• The Burn Box (Tom) – monthly firehouse gear, tools, and surprises

  
  

  
  

  Community / Snail Mail Shoutouts

• Big love to Rhett (longtime listener, age 6) — and yes… the “Sorry Rhett” shirt is coming.

• Comments of the week included gift-giving as a captain/crew leader and a bunch of holiday love.

Big Announcement

🎙️ Brian launched a North Carolina-only fire service podcast:
“Carolina Fire Watch” — in partnership with the North Carolina State Firefighters Association, built for the ~56,000 firefighters across NC. Monthly episodes, recorded today, and inspired by the community and conversations coming out of SAFRE + listeners like Jeff.

The crew rings in the New Year with laughs, real talk, and a full reset for 2026. From Unkie’s wild coin story (and the infamous “goats” detail) to a heartfelt moment of silence, this episode hits the perfect mix of firehouse humor and purposeful reflection. Then the guys revisit their 2025 “Word of the Year,” share what worked (and what didn’t), and lay down their 2026 words with intentions they’re ready to live out.

• Unkie breaks down the coin mishap and the ABH ship firefighter history behind the design

• New Year’s perspective check: “We’re 25 years past Y2K…” 🤯

• Quick roster update: Doug’s out handling family life (staying “present” like he promised)

• Housekeeping: Patreon updates + listener engagement plans

• Sponsors shout-outs: Unkie’s Seasonings + The Burn Box

• A meaningful moment of silence honoring fallen firefighters and recognizing expanded cancer-related benefits for families

• The crew revisits 2025 “Words of the Year” and reflects honestly on growth, balance, and reality

• 2026 “Words of the Year” revealed: Prioritize. Step Up / Step Out. Consistency. Evaluate.

• Snail Mail: Listener Zach’s word “Seek,” plus questions about Unkie’s book coming to Audible and a shoutout to Job Town Tools

• “Success is forged in the fire of discipline…”

• “If you can make yourself 1% better every day… you’re way ahead of the game.”

• “Faith, family, then fire… not the other way around.”

• “It’s okay if the only thing you did this year was survive.”

• Brian: Accountability (and the ongoing struggle with balance + order of priorities)

• Unkie: Discipline (and a reminder that surviving the year counts)

• Matt: Study (growth as a captain, but learning the hard lesson: out of sight = out of mind)

• Freddy: Consistency (consistent effort, but also “consistently busy” — learning when to breathe)

• Brian: Prioritize (Faith → Family → Fire + health and fewer “yes” commitments)

• Unkie: Step Up / Step Out (ownership + leaving behind what no longer serves)

• Matt: Consistency (compound interest in knowledge, relationships, and leadership)

• Freddy: Evaluate (take a breath, assess bandwidth, and refocus on what matters)

• Zach (Spotify): Word = “Seek” — seeking God to be a better man, husband, friend, future firefighter, and healthier overall.

• Listener question: Will Unkie’s book be available on Audible? Answer: Yes (in progress / TBD details).

• Billy (Job Town Tools): “Bosses should absolutely get their guys a little something.” Mentions Crew Packs designed for exactly that.

• Unkie’s Seasonings

  • Garlic & Herb currently sold out (because y’all crushed it)

  • Hickory Smoke Salt / “Salty Fireman” still available

• The Burn Box

  • Monthly fire service gear box: gloves, hoods, tools, stickers, turnout bags, and more

Drop your Word for 2026 in the comments and tell us why. One word. Real intention. Let’s revisit it together a year from now.

In This EpisodeQuote-Worthy Moments2025 Words Recap2026 Words of the YearSnail Mail ShoutoutsSponsorsCall to Action

In This Episode

• Christmas energy from the jump: Foreigner references, “when the **** did we get ice cream?” and the show immediately going off the rails (as usual).

• Patreon is officially LIVE:

  Patreon LINK!

  • Rookie Tier ($5): Member shout-outs, submit topic requests, and a chance to be chosen for the Turnout Drill via Wheel of Names.

  • Engineer Tier ($10): Everything in Rookie plus behind-the-scenes videos, occasional bonus episodes, and entry into a monthly raffle for fire goodies.

  • The mission: grow the show’s reach (marketing + expanding the community), not “back pocket” money.

• Merch update: Store is moving, more items coming, and the crew is pumped to keep evolving it.

  MERCH LINK!

• Sponsor love: Quick hits for The Burn Box / FD Collectors Club and Unkie’s Seasoning (with some classic side quests along the way).

• Real-world reminder: Talk about a house explosion in Salisbury that injured firefighters—thankfully no deaths—and a broader reminder about highway operations and winter hazards.

• Christmas gifts at the fire station:

  • Matt breaks down how gift-giving can get awkward when expectations aren’t clear.

  • Solution: just ask the crew upfront if they want to do a gift exchange and set a price limit.

  • Brian shares a boss move: cooking for the crew during the day to build connection without adding another night obligation.

  • Adam talks “in-house” traditions: crew tools, shared gift ideas, and company pride items (bags, mugs, station-branded gear).

• Christmas lights at the firehouse:

  • Stations that go full-send on decorations (including a kitchen that looks like Christmas exploded—in the best way).

  • A tradition of cutting a “Charlie Brown” tree behind the station and decorating it with firehouse flair.

• Snail Mail segment:

  • Listener questions on other fire podcasts to check out (National Fire Radio + Fire Engineering get mentioned).

  • A great listener comment about why it’s hard to talk about calls with people outside the job—followed by a powerful conversation on talking to your spouse, setting boundaries, and protecting your mental health.

• Big picture: Gratitude for the community, momentum heading into year three, and excitement for what’s coming in 2026.

• “Patreon… you gotta get on!”

• “It’s seven minutes and thirty seconds… new record for off the rails.”

• “Do you guys put up Christmas lights around your firehouse?”

• “Sometimes they don’t understand it—but they need to hear you.”

✅ Join Patreon: Support the show + unlock bonus content + raffle entries.
✅ Check the merch store: New designs/items always coming.
✅ Follow/Subscribe: Spotify + Apple + YouTube (video episodes).
✅ Comment: Does your station do gift exchanges? And do you decorate the firehouse?

Quotes / Moments You’ll RememberCalls to Action