Welcome back to The Cool Fireman Podcast! In this episode, Freddie makes his glorious return to the mic—and it’s pure gold from the jump.

✅ What’s Inside This Episode:

👨‍🚒 Freddie’s Return
• The crew celebrates Freddie’s comeback (with very gentle Canadian detention jokes)
• The usual banter—gray mustache tips, PB&J wisdom, and why Unkie’s Seasoning is the gift for every firehouse cook

🔥 Sponsor Shoutouts
• Unkie Seasoning – Get your grill game right. Garlic & Herb? Chipotle? They love you back.
• The Burn Box – Doug gives a top-tier unboxing of this month’s firefighter-themed goodies, including their all-in-one koozie/tumbler (with a built-in bottle opener!).

🌊 Special Assignments & 4th of July Staffing
• How different departments prep for fireworks, floods, and wild weather
• Real talk about regional and state-level rescue teams: USAR, Swiftwater, HazMat, Tech Rescue
• The truth about upstaffing for fireworks shows and population booms

⚠️ Texas Flash Flood Disaster
• Discussing the devastating flash floods that hit kids' camps in Texas
• The challenges of sudden water rise, rescues, and National Guard deployments
• Real-time reflections on how fast tragedy can hit

🚑 Firehouse Culture: Safety and Situational Awareness
• The Idaho firefighter ambush tragedy: why situational awareness matters
• Wearing ballistic vests on calls—why more departments are investing in them
• How past tragedies shaped incident command, response protocols, and safety policies

🎯 Pro Tips for New Firefighters
• How to pick a department that offers specialized teams (USAR, HazMat, Swiftwater)
• What to ask in interviews—don’t just say "No questions"!
• The value of station visits and learning from every experience

🕯️ Moment of Silence
• The crew pauses to honor victims of the Texas disaster, fallen firefighters, and those lost in the line of duty.

👥 Callouts & Community
• Big thanks to listeners who comment, share, and help the podcast grow.
• The team discusses the importance of spreading awareness and supporting fundraisers.

🎙️ Join the Conversation!
✔️ Drop a comment on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts.
✔️ Ask us your firefighter career questions—we’ll answer them on air.
✔️ Help us grow by sharing, rating, and reviewing.

🔥 Listen Now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Watch on YouTube!
👉 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube for behind-the-scenes banter, gear unboxings, and more firehouse stories.

firefighting, Texas floods, firefighter safety, emergency response, podcast, fire department, community service, special assignments, interview tips, firefighter training

🔥 Welcome to The Cool Fireman Podcast – Episode 113 (Even if Doug Thinks It’s 109)! 🔥

This week’s episode is packed with real firefighter stories, firehouse humor, and critical fireground safety talk. Whether you’re on shift, off-duty, or just love fire service culture, tune in for a wild ride:

✅ Doug’s Backwoods Adventures

• Tractor life in straw hats and Farmer Fran overalls

• Why everyone thinks he's from Louisiana

• The “nip slip” picture controversy

✅ Firehouse Fun & TikTok Challenges

• Planning one-shot TikTok stitches for the podcast page

• Photo-to-song matching trends

• Robot dance-offs and lip-syncing fails

✅ Extreme Heat & Firefighter Rehab Units

• Nationwide heat wave impacts

• Richmond’s 3-alarm fire in brutal conditions

• How departments use Mobile Service Units (MSU), misting fans, cooling buses, and rehab squads

• Best practices for firefighter safety in extreme heat

✅ Hydration Tips with Megan Lautz of Rescue.RD

• Unkie’s epic PowerPoint presentation

• Essential hydration strategies for firefighters

  • 90–125 oz daily fluid goals

  • Caffeine myths busted

  • Cold drinks for core temp cooling

• Hydrating foods: watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, oranges

• The black pepper on cantaloupe debate

✅ Coffee Talk: Black vs Flavored Creamer Wars

• Legendary firehouse quotes: “Flavored creamer ruined the fire service”

• Team black coffee vs hazelnut creamers

✅ Real Fire Service Stories & Callouts

• Honoring line-of-duty deaths in North Carolina

• Remembering Alicia Monahan

• Personal stories of heat exhaustion on scene

• Rehab protocols from different departments

✅ Special Shoutouts

• Megan Lautz at Rescue.RD for top-notch firefighter hydration tips

• Unkie Seasoning – Get that Chipotle rub!

• The Burn Box crew for epic monthly firefighter gear

✅ 🔥 CALLS TO ACTION 🔥

• Drop a comment: Are you team black coffee or team cream & sugar?

• Share your department’s rehab protocols for hot weather.

• Post yourself doing the robot dance and tag us for a special prize!

• And don’t forget to FOLLOW, SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, and COMMENT wherever you listen or watch.

This episode delivers laughs, real fireground strategies, hydration hacks, and classic firehouse storytelling that'll make you sweat.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch on YouTube!
👉 Link in bio!

Special Guest:
🎙️ Chief Darick Fisher – Navy veteran, retired DOD Fire Chief, small business owner, and published author

In This Episode:
The guys sit down with long-time friend and mentor Darick Fisher to talk about:

• 🔥 His journey from Navy engineer to DOD firefighter and fire chief

• 🧠 What retirement really looks like (“I’m just as busy now, I just don’t punch a clock!”)

• 💬 Why leadership is about empowering others — not barking orders

• 🧍‍♂️ Being your own kind of leader: “Lead by example — your example.”

• 🙌 His clothing brand, FAT Apparel (Faithful. Accountable. Teachable.)

• 📖 His book Beyond the Doors — and the power of purpose-driven storytelling

• 🧠 The meaning behind his “PAR Check” shirts and devotionals on mental wellness and accountability

Key Quotes:

"You don’t need a title to lead — just character."
"Retired doesn’t mean stopped. I still live to make a difference every day."
"We’re not here to be served. We’re here to serve — and that’s how you leave a legacy."

Highlights:

• The importance of mentorship in and out of the fire service

• Fighting fires in dungarees in the Navy 😳

• How a simple men’s group inspired a movement

• And yeah…Unkie might get emotional 🥲

Where to Find Chief Fisher:
📖 Featuring his book Beyond the Doors

👕 faithfulaccountable.com – Clothing, merch & resources

📲 Follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Etsy, and more

🎥 WATCH the full video podcast on Spotify & YouTube
💬 Like, comment & share to support the show
📦 Bonus: Comment on Episode 110 for a chance to win Matt’s June Burn Box!

#TheCoolFiremanPodcast #Episode112 #FaithfulAccountableTeachable #DarickFisher #FirefighterLeadership #RetiredNotDone #BeyondTheDoors #FireServiceWisdom #PARCheck #LeadByExample