Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell recently concluded her tenure as the U.S. Fire Administrator. Over the past four years, she used her position to drive change and advocate fiercely for firefighters. She joins Knox & Friends to discuss how she got into the fire service, where her passion comes from, why NERIS is so important, who she looks up to, what’s next for her, and much more.

In this podcast, Kelly Ransdell discusses her plans as NFPA’s new Director of Public Education and where her passion for public education comes from. One of her priorities includes the continuing development of the Steps for Safety program, which pairs fire and EMS professionals with community partners to educate older adults about home fire and fall safety through group presentations and home visits.

What turned out to be a false alarm at a school got local agencies in Columbus (Georgia) talking about delayed access. That led to discussions among various departments, including the fire department, Homeland Security department, police and sheriff departments, and school district. The result was the initiation of a Knox eLock Program throughout Columbus. What could have been a complicated, time-consuming endeavor to get off the ground instead went smoothly. Learn how the program became a partnership and a “no-brainer” in this Knox & Friends podcast.

Kyle Green, fire marshal with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, has spent his entire fire service career in Alaska—and he wouldn’t change a thing. In this podcast, Kyle discusses the unique challenges of fighting fires in Alaska and how the university he works at is facing today’s fire and life safety issues head-on. Kyle also shares his tips on visiting Alaska and what he loves most about the state. 

Chief Ron Siarnicki recently retired as the Executive Director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). The reins of the NFFF have been passed to Victor Stagnaro, who joined Knox & Friends to discuss his past involvement with the NFFF, how he plans to fill the "big shoes" left by Ron, the significant role of the NFFF in the fire service industry, the NFFF's launch of the "Expand Your Legacy: Become a Living Kidney Donor" campaign, and much more.

The latest electronic advancements from Knox have opened up new opportunities for Knox to expand beyond fire departments. In fact, an increasing number of commercial businesses are realizing that the Knox eLock System can provide significant benefits within their safety and security framework. In this episode, Jeramie Morris of Dow discusses the challenges and issues facing today’s fire and life safety professionals in the private sector. 

After a critical injury while preparing for a training drill, FDNY firefighter William (Billy) Moon succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the age of forty-seven. His wife, Kristina, carried out Billy’s wishes to donate his organs to help others. In this podcast, Kristina discusses Billy’s legacy and the transformative gift of being an organ donor. Her story increases awareness and education about the need for organ donors among first responders. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Knox Company collaborated in the development of Expand Your Legacy – Become a Living Kidney Donor, a campaign that includes a powerful four-part video series with a segment featuring Kristina Moon. The video series firehero.org/2023/08/16/living-kidney-donors/ includes stories of two firefighters that received a kidney from a live donor within their fire department family, along with the story of Knox CEO Joni Trempala, and her journey as she waits for a kidney donor.

NASFMs new “Bridging the Gap – Preparing Your Jurisdiction for Civil Unrest”  guide and training course focuses on educating and preparing fire marshals, inspectors, and code officials on proactively mitigating firefighter safety issues and fire damage before civil unrest incidents occur. An important takeaway from the podcast is the importance of jurisdictions requiring the installation of Knox FDC Locks™ , Knox Standpipe Locks®, and Knox Storz Locks® to protect fire protection systems and hydrants during protests and demonstrations.

This informative episode features Assistant Chief, Joshua Frost w/the Zionsville, IN Fire Department. He illustrates the successes that are possible with a secure rapid access solution that provides accountability through audit trail reporting and a system that can exponentially expand and grow unlimited types of internal and external possibilities. Through their work, Zionsville FD has set the bar high for others creating a groundwork that embraces and embodies a collaborative approach using a technology that reaps daily benefits.

In this month’s Knox and Friends podcast our featured guest is Jason Schnase, Battalion Chief of Training and Safety at the Seattle Airport and chair of the ARFF Working Group.

Mark Brady, a nationally-recognized and respected public information officer, joins Knox and Friends to discuss his career and how social media has forced today’s PIO to think more creatively on reaching key audiences. 

Chuck Wilson, the president of the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS), explains how schools need to employ better technology and protocols when it comes to active shooter preparedness, and the importance of first responders having safe and rapid access to the keys they need. Chuck also discusses the importance of the PASS guidelines, which are the most comprehensive collection of school safety guidelines today. 

Justin Daniels,  Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Operations, University of Oklahoma – Norman Campus, and the president of the Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS), discusses the latest happenings at the CCFS including the upcoming Campus Fire Forum. He also shares how the University of Oklahoma started its comprehensive rapid access program with the Knox eLock System, including how he overcame challenging obstacles and was able to secure campus-wide consensus on a phase-in program. 

David Davis, the Fire Logistics Specialist with Wake Forest (NC) Fire Department, shares how they have implemented rapid intervention strategies, including a Knox HomeBox Program for their growing senior community. The HomeBox expedites entry at residential properties, without costly damages, and provides the ability to easily, and quickly, secure the home following a call for service or medical transport.

There are many issues involved in protecting communities from fire risks, yet important prevention methods are sometimes overlooked. Meet Chief Shane Ray, a dedicated career firefighter and the current president of the National Fire Sprinkler Association. Chief Ray has seen many dangerous situations, prevention, and fire safety solutions throughout his long career in the industry. Listen as he explains how installing and properly protecting fire sprinkler systems makes the difference when fires happen. His compelling experiences emphasize important actions that can be taken to ensure a safer future.