Episode #361
When Your Department Doesn't Have Truck Companies with Jim Silvernail
Today, we’re diving deep into fireground operations and functional strategy. Our focus is on how departments can adapt when dedicated truck companies are not available. When you need an effective, efficient, and safe coordinated fire attack, truck company operations aren't optional—they are an absolute necessity. But what happens when your department doesn't have dedicated truck companies in the station? To answer that question, we are joined by a veteran fire chief and co-author of the 2024 Fire Engineering book, The Non-Traditional Truck Company. Jim Silvernail is chief of the Kirkwood Fire Department of St. Louis County, Missouri. He’s a 25-year veteran of the fire service here to discuss how your department can build a "jack-of-all-trades" culture and how suburban and rural departments can master truck work using the rigs they already have.
