In this episode of The Fire Bay Podcast, we take a hard look at the issues shaping today’s fire service.

We break down the ongoing Clarksville firefighters lawsuit, where members were terminated after advocating for better pay, staffing, and retention—raising serious questions about leadership, culture, and the right for firefighters to speak up.

We also shift to the traditions that define our profession, exploring the history and meaning behind pipes and drums in the fire service, and why that tradition still carries weight today.

Finally, we dive into the NIOSH 5—five factors identified nearly 30 years ago that continue to show up in line-of-duty death reports—and ask the tough question: why haven’t we changed the outcome?

This episode connects advocacy, tradition, and accountability—and challenges the fire service to be better.

In this episode of The Fire Bay Podcast, host Colton Young breaks down how the modern fireground is changing — from the rise of lithium-ion battery fires to nationwide staffing challenges impacting firefighter safety. Colton gives a shout-out to the Atlanta Firefighters Association (Local 134) for their push for four-person staffing and dives into what research says about why it matters. He also touches on leadership, mental health, and the balance between technology and training in today’s fire service.

In this episode, I sit down with Jason Eubanks, founder of First Alarm Fire Training and a 24-year veteran of a major metro fire department. Jason shares his journey through the ranks, the lessons learned along the way, and why strong training—especially for officers and incident commanders—is key to preparing the fire service for the future.