WFD Ops Talk
The people, the work, and the ideas driving the fire service forward.
Ops Talk is hosted by Eric Linnenburger, Deputy Chief of Operations at Westminster Fire Department. We profile the people doing the work and discuss the ideas driving the fire service forward.
We sit down with firefighters, officers, specialty teams, and outside voices to cover position profiles that go beyond the job description, leadership at every level, lessons learned from real incidents, and the progressive thinking shaping the industry's future.
Whether you're a firefighter looking to grow professionally, aspiring for leadership, or simply interested in what makes a fire department operate, these honest conversations offer practical insights you can use.
Questions or topic suggestions? Email opstalk.wfd@gmail.com
*Ops Talk is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Always follow your department's procedures and guidelines.
WFD Ops Talk
Fire Officer Development with Chief Kris Blume
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Summary
In this episode of Ops Talk, Deputy Chief Eric Linnenburger sits down with Fire Chief Kris Blume, author of "Carry the Fire: The Crucible of Leadership in the Fire Service." They discuss officer development, mission-driven culture, and the critical difference between command presence and command resonance. Chief Blume shares insights on accountability done right, leading with authenticity, his journey to fire chief, and how to stay connected to your purpose and the people you serve. Essential listening for current and aspiring fire service leaders.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Leadership in Fire Service
03:14 Chris Bloom's Journey to Fire Chief
06:51 Transitioning from Tucson to Meridian
10:46 The Role of Company Officers in Fire Service
14:41 Building Relationships and Support Systems
18:42 Exploring 'Carry the Fire' and Officer Development
21:17 Mission-Driven Culture in Fire Service
27:51 Decision-Making Under Pressure
31:46 The Importance of Intent in Leadership
38:54 Real-Life Examples of Mission-Driven Decisions
42:07 Empowering Community Service Through Leadership
45:38 Command Presence vs. Command Resonance
51:49 Building Command Resonance in Leadership
56:43 The Importance of Accountability in Leadership
01:05:54 Weathering the Storm of Leadership Challenges
01:13:16 Final Wrap Up
Where to get "Carry The Fire":
https://fireengineeringbooks.com/books/carry-the-fire-the-crucible-of-leadership-in-the-fire-service/?srsltid=AfmBOormbw8YiNV3IzWlBRvZRCcRHMKi5306qlJ1CvA0TCLcPSScANPR
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=carry+the+fire+blume&crid=1RG8E035AOWU3&sprefix=carry+the+%2Caps%2C172&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-expert-pd-ops-ranker_1_10
Contact: opstalk.wfd@gmail.com
Eric Linnenburger:
linkedin.com/in/eric-linnenburger
elinnenb@westminsterco.gov