This episode is a grounded debrief from being boots on the ground at Intersec Dubai, not a second hand summary or a glossy highlight reel. Intersec matters because it shows where global investment, policy attention, and operational thinking are actually heading long before those ideas trickle into day to day firefighting. From advanced PPE and industrial scale suppression systems to drones designed to integrate directly into command structures, the show sits at the intersection of technology, risk, and real world application. Walking the floor, speaking directly with manufacturers, sector leaders, and practitioners from around the world, the focus was simple. What is coming next, what problem is it trying to solve, and does it genuinely improve firefighter safety and effectiveness rather than just looking impressive on a stand.

Intersec is not just about kit. It is about perspective. Hosted at the Dubai World Trade Centre, in a city built on scale and intent, the event forces you to look at the fire service through a wider international lens. Alongside innovation, there were conversations about health, cancer prevention, leadership, policy, and how different nations are quietly evolving their approach to risk. This episode reflects on what stood out, what challenged assumptions, and what is worth bringing back into honest conversations at home. It will never fully capture the scale or energy of being there, but it offers a clear snapshot of what was seen, what mattered, and why staying curious and present in these spaces is essential if we want the fire service to move forward with intent rather than drift on habit.

See discussed here :

• HAIX
• DE-WIPE
• DRONES
• NAFFCO
• FF TURBINE MINIMAX
• WILLIAM WOOD WATCHES
• INTERSEC DUBAI

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our partners supporting this episode.

• GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
• FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators
• MSA The Safety Company
• JAFCO
• IDEX
• FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD

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***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

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This episode kicks off a new series of conversations exploring the British Firefighter Challenge Series, a nationwide circuit made up of thirteen events running from April through to September 2026. From stair runs and regional challenges to the crown jewel event at Moreton-in-Marsh and an international 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb in the United States, the series represents a growing movement within the UK fire service that brings together fitness, teamwork, community engagement, and professionalism. Collectively, these events are helping to raise the ceiling on what firefighter fitness looks like, shifting it away from minimum standards and toward something lived, visible, and shared.

In this opening episode, I’m speaking with Benjamin Le-Fevre and Dan Watson from the Northeast Firefighter Challenge, using their event as a lens to explore the wider challenge landscape. We talk about how fitness challenges can act as powerful tools for connection and education, how community-focused events change the conversation around health and wellbeing, and why culture matters more than compliance. This episode sets the tone for the entire series, exploring what firefighter fitness can become when it’s built around purpose, community, and professionalism rather than simply meeting a minimum standard.

Find info about British Firefighter Challenge Series

North East Firefighter Challenge 2026 | A competition organised by Firefighters, for Firefighters.

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Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

our partners supporting this episode.

• GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
• FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators
• MSA The Safety Company
• JAFCO
• IDEX
• FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
• HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
• Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20

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***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

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On November 13, 2019, a career lieutenant died, and four other firefighters were injured while fighting a residential structure fire. What began as a seemingly routine night-time call rapidly escalated into a complex, high-risk incident involving crews operating above the fire, deteriorating conditions, wind-impacted fire behaviour, and critical information gaps. Early reports of life risk shaped decision making, while building construction, access limitations, and changing fire dynamics steadily reduced options for crews committed inside.

In this episode, we break the incident down using a 4D debrief framework, focusing on the timeline, the drivers behind key decisions, and the factors that contributed to a fatal outcome. Drawing from an 80-plus page investigation report, we translate the lessons into clear, practical learning that can be applied by firefighters anywhere in the world. This is a respectful, tactical debrief designed to improve understanding of fireground decision making under pressure, and to help prevent the same sequence of events from repeating elsewhere.

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

our partners supporting this episode.

• GORE-TEX Professional Clothing
• FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators
• MSA The Safety Company
• JAFCO
• IDEX
• FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD
• HAIX Footwear - Get offical podcast discount on HAIX HERE
• Xendurance - to hunt performance & endurance 20% off HERE with code ffp20

Send us a text

Support the show

***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***

Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew