42 - Beyond the Pump Panel with Eric Johnson

About this episode

Dan chats with Chief Eric Johnson about the critical role of the motor pump operator in firefighting.

Beyond the Pump Panel: Mastering the Role of the Motor Pump Operator In this episode, Dan chats with Chief Eric Johnson, a 40 year veteran of the Wisconsin fire service and founder of First Due Fire Training, to dissect the often overlooked complexities of the motor pump operator. Moving far beyond "pulling levers," Eric explains why the engineer is the most critical link in fireground safety and rescue effectiveness. The conversation covers the technical "street science" of firefighting, from the dangers of hose kinks and the myths of inherited pump charts to the vital importance of flow testing your equipment. Whether you are a career or volunteer operator, Eric’s practical fireground focused training philosophy offers a masterclass in ensuring that when the nozzle opens, the water and the pressure are exactly where they need to be. Eric has been in the fire service since 1984, starting with the Oconomowoc Fire Department. He worked for the Green Bay Metro Fire Department from 1993 to 2019, retiring as station captain and paramedic. He was also the Assistant Chief of Training for the De Pere Fire & Rescue from 2018-2021. Eric is the owner of First Due…

People in this episode

Host: Dan Retzlaff

Guest: Eric Johnson

Topics covered

• motor pump operator
• fireground safety
• firefighting training
• flow testing
• fire service

Keywords

• motor pump operator
• fire safety
• fire training
• flow testing
• fire service

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: First Due Fire Training, Wisconsin Fire Journal Magazine

Places: Wisconsin, Oconomowoc Fire Department, Green Bay Metro Fire Department, De Pere Fire & Rescue

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