Colorado Fire News: Recent Episodes
Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
Operated by the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC), this podcast aims to educate and inform listeners about all fire activities including wildfire suppression, technology in fire and public safety, residential and commercial fire safety, and all things firefighter training. Our hosts include our 4 Section Chiefs and every now and then- our fearless leader, Director Mike Morgan. Their guests will include people from across the public safety spectrum in local, state, federal and private organizations. We invite you to listen in and learn more about us at dfpc.colorado.gov
In episode 14, FLS Section Chief Brunette interviews JHL Constructors Senior Superintendent Eric Larchick. Larchick and Chief Brunette discuss the field of Carpentry and construction, the capacity to which DFPC works with general contractors and sub-contractor companies, what its like to build schools and more!
JHL Constructors is a fully integrated, Colorado-based and Colorado-focused builder, proudly serving clients in Infrastructure and Vertical Building. Our core markets are education, municipal, multifamily, land development, transportation, and water. As a culture-centric, 100% employee-owned company for over 36 years, we focus on relationships, reputation, taking ownership, and delivering first-class outcomes. We take exceptional care of our team members who, in turn, take exceptional care of our clients and industry partners as we continue our commitment to Building Colorado’s Future.
In episode 13 of The Colorado Fire Podcast, Chris Brunette gets to sit down with Lyons Fire Departments Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal, Steve Pischke. Chief Pischke was one of the original members of the State's Multi-Agency Fire Investigation Team (MAFIT) of Boulder County. The MAFIT was formed in 1993 for the purpose of providing agencies in and around Boulder County, Colorado a resource to assist in the determination of origin and cause of fires. The team has extensive education and experience in the area of fire and explosion investigation as well as law enforcement training that can aid in the apprehension of arson suspects. The resource is free of charge to requesting agencies on a mutual aid basis. The MAFIT assists with the investigation of explosions and fires in structures, vehicles, and wildlands.
Listen in as Arvada Fire's Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Chief, Deanna Harrington discusses her passion for CRR and ways to get involved in the CRR community!
- Resources mentioned:
- strategicfire.org
- Upstream, by: Dan Heath
- Fire Prevention: A Comprehensive Approach, by: Jim Crawford
- Arvada Fire CRR Resource page
If lighting fireworks is included in your plans, please make sure you’re doing it safely and protecting all of your friends, neighbors, and our Colorado open spaces and wildlife by only using permissible fireworks, purchased from a Colorado licensed fireworks store, stand, or tent. Information on fire restrictions and bans can change rapidly. The most current information can and should be obtained from your local county sheriff or the forest service.
In Episode 011, DFPCs Fire & Life Safety Section Chief discusses fireworks safety with 2 fireworks industry titans- Britton Cottrell from TNT Fireworks and Aeron Calkins from Olde Glory Fireworks.
Using the historic model of community participation in firefighting, we are asking the public to join a modern Fireworks Bucket Brigade - to be a part of the human chain and a partner in properly disposing of fireworks. Learn more at https://dfpc.colorado.gov/fireworks
DFPCs Fire & Life Safety Section Chief Chris Brunette sits down with John Fuentes and Rachel Plessing-Architects from TreanorHL to discuss the process of design, the complexities and opportunities that come with designing safe schools that will last a lifetime.
TreanorHL specializes in planning, programming and design for justice, higher education, healthcare, historic preservation, special interest housing, advanced industries and K-12 architecture. Our interior design and civil engineering studios provide services across all these markets as well as directly to clients needing interior design or civil engineering services. Learn more at https://www.treanorhl.com/
When Fire Origin & Cause Investigations turn into Criminal Investigations with Matt Araki
Investigator Araki sits down with DFPCs Fire & Life Safety Section Chief to discuss fire origin and cause investigations and the criminal side of fire investigations (arson investigations). Araki discusses his transition into the investigation side of fire and how his job is a unique opportunity to help Coloradans.
Learn more about West Metro Fire Rescue at https://westmetrofire.colorado.gov/
FLS Section Chief Chris Brunette sat down with Kristen Hayes, Community Risk Reduction Specialist with Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District (FFFPD) and President of Colorado Risk Reduction Network (CRRN) to discuss the evolution of fire related public education efforts in Colorado. Hayes and Brunette dive into the areas of injury and fire prevention
Learn more about CRRN at www.coriskreduction.com
Learn more about at www.fffd.us
Ep. 007: When School Safety & Fire Prevention Meet with School Resource Center Director, Christine Harms
Fire & Life Safety Section Chief Brunette sat down with the Colorado School Safety Resource Center Director Chris Harms to discuss the interconnectedness of school safety and fire prevention.
Learn more about Colorado's School Safety Resource Center at https://cssrc.colorado.gov
Fire & Life Safety Section Chief Brunette sat down with the Colorado School Safety Resource Center (CSSRC) Director Chris Harms to discuss the interconnectedness of school safety and fire prevention.
Learn more about CSSRC at cssrc.colorado.gov/
DFPCs Professional Qualifications & Training Section Chief Lisa Pine interviewed Elizabeth Fire Protection District Chief, TJ Steck about the impact and importance of the Firefighter Safety Disease Prevention Fund. HB 22-1194 allocated 5 million dollars for the direct distribution of firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) to include structural and wildland PPE, wildland line packs, fire shelters, and self-contained breathing apparatus to fire agencies throughout Colorado.
Click here to learn more about HB 22-1194.
Click here to learn more about Elizabeth Fire Protection District.
This month, Fire & Life Safety Section Chief Chris Brunette interviewed Cornelia Orzescu, Chief Building Official for Town of Bennett and outgoing President of the International Code Council, Colorado Chapter.
Orzescu discusses her role with ICC, the growth of the ICC-Colorado chapter, and the future of building code enforcement in Colorado.
Learn more about ICC at www.coloradochaptericc.org
DFPCs Fire & Life Safety Section Chief Chris Brunette had the opportunity to sit down with a legend in the fire service: Jerry Means.
Currently, Means is the Lead Investigator at Adams County Fire Rescue and in this episode, Means and Chief Brunette discuss his successful and exciting career in the fire world.
DFPC was lucky enough to call him one of our own- a DFPC member- as our first Fire Origin & Cause Investigator after he many years as a CBI Agent Investigator.
Means walks us through the challenges of being an investigator including the mental health aspect to how one can have a long, successful career in Fire investigations.
Welcome to the first episode for DFPCs Fire and Life Safety (FLS) Section's! This month FLS Section Chief Brunette is interviewing Kathy Hook, Fire and Life Safety Educator and Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist with the Colorado Springs Fire Department. As the program lead for the nationally acclaimed FireFactor program, Kathy has a passion for assisting youth and their families who have been involved in youth-caused fire incidents with the goal of education and prevention.
Kathy has taught the Colorado Risk Reduction Networks Youth Firesetter Intervention certification class ; she also has been awarded the Fire Educator of the Year for the State of Colorado.
Learn more:
Unfortunately, children misusing fire is the leading cause of child fire casualties. Younger children are more likely to start fires in their home where older children and teenagers are more likely to start fires outside. To show the impact of fires set by youth in our community, consider these facts:
- Over one million dollars of property loss has resulted from youth set fires in Colorado Springs over the past five years.
- Over 1,000 children have been referred to the Colorado Springs Fire department for youth misuse of fire incidents over the past eight years.
- Youth arson is on the rise and is the fastest growing juvenile crime in the nation.
- Nationally, 85% of all children killed in fires, die as a result of a fire they started themselves.
- Fire and burn-related deaths are the second leading cause of accidental death of children under the age of fifteen.
Oren Bersagel-Briese is a 27-year member of the fire service and is currently the Division Chief of Training with the Castle Rock. He grew up in the fire service and has a long family history of fire service.
Chief Bersagel-Briese has extensive teaching experience, is one of the founders of the Denver 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, and is a member of the NFFF 9/11 Stair Climb Steering Committee.
Chief Cappo is currently the Division Chief of Operations & Training at Estes Valley Fire Protection District in Colorado. DFPCs Professional Qualifications and Training Section Chief had the opportunity to sit down with Chief Cappo and discuss the evolution of fire training, tech advancements in training, and his passion for the fire service.
AboutChief Capo has been a firefighter since 1996. He achieved his B.A.S. in Public Safety Administration and instructs on all levels and topics of firefighting. Paul Capo holds his National Registry Paramedic Certification and is the Founder of When Things Go Bad, Incorporated where he develops a vast compliment of firefighter curriculum and training. His diverse teaching includes, but not limited to: FDIC (Fire Department Instructors Conference), Fire House Expo, Orlando Fire Conference, Fire Rescue East, Wichita HOT, etc. where he trains on multiple subjects in fire service academia. In addition, he frequently instructs and consults in areas of firefighter self-preservation – the physiological changes during firefighter survival.
Contact Info:
Chief Paul Capo
C: (970) 815-1452 | O: (970) 577-0900 | pcapo@estesvalleyfire.orgwww.estesvalleyfire.org