Knox & Friends: Recent Episodes
Knox
Conversations about safety and security issues that may affect homeowners, renters, building owners, and businesses in North America.
Mike Morgan is very involved in the fire industry. From being on the board of the National Association of State Fire Marshals to being heavily engaged with the volunteer firefighting community, Mike still makes time to lead the fire service programs in his home state of Colorado. One thing that currently has him concerned is the attack on model codes and standards. Hear from Mike on this issue, as well as the importance of grooming new leaders, attracting and retaining volunteers, the growth of wildfires, and more in this podcast.
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.
In this podcast, hear from the duo who led the creation of a new online training program from the National Association of State Fire Marshals that helps prepare fire departments – specifically marshals, inspectors and code officials – from the consequences of civil unrest, which has become a common occurrence in cities across the country.
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.
Listen to special guest Justin Daniels, President of the Center for Campus Fire Safety and Oklahoma Fire Marshall. Daniels relates important stories and information relating to protecting campuses and others in today's environment.
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.
In January 1996, a family of five went to bed on a typical cold winter evening in Minnesota, unknowingly aware that high levels of carbon monoxide from a malfunctioning furnace would take the lives of their two youngest children while they slept that chilly winter night. Cheryl Burt painstakingly describes the devastating events that changed them forever. Now one of the nation’s leading advocates for carbon monoxide alarms, Cheryl takes listeners into her families pre and post lives with a raw and emotional narrative. She shares the lifelong pain that was deeply etched into her more than twenty-five years ago and how her excruciating losses grew into a passion to prevent others from enduring a similar tragedy. Her work as a home safety influencer has taken her to senate hearings and other high-profile settings to get carbon monoxide ordinances passed that prevent other families from enduring the same outcome. This is a soul bearing educational story that will change how you look and care for your family members.