Table of Contents
- Set Up Mental Health Support
- Launch Peer Support Systems
- Involve the Community in Fire Prevention
- Start Buddy Checks to Beat Isolation
- Roll Out Tactile Alerting Systems
- Kick Off Firefighter Mentorship
- Commit to Physical Fitness
- Boost Inter-Agency Collaboration
- Prioritize Work-Life Balance
- Try AI for Peer Support
1. Set Up Mental Health Support
From: Student Of The Game Fire Podcast - "Joel Cherry"
Listen at: 01:18:46 – 01:21:09
Difficulty: Medium
Application Area: Training & Education
Who is this for? Investigator, Administrative Staff
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
Fire investigation is a tough job that takes a toll on you emotionally, mentally, and physically. Joel Cherry suggests that having a licensed clinician available right within the organization makes a big difference, staff can get help without feeling stigmatized.
What to do?
Bring on or contract a mental-health clinician for a trial drop-in program one day a week. Run it for 90 days while tracking how often it’s used and gathering feedback.
Success Indicator:
A 30% drop in EAP referrals and an average satisfaction score of over 4 out of 5 in anonymous surveys.
2. Launch Peer Support Systems
From: Behind The Shield - "Andrew Douglas & Blake Richardson"
Listen at: 00:09:22 – 00:10:39
Difficulty: Medium
Application Area: Case Management
Who is this for? Case Manager/Supervisor
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
Using tools like Siento lets departments track peer-support requests, assign trained colleagues, and monitor outcomes. This approach builds wellness strategies based on data.
What to do?
Test a pilot with a small peer team using Siento, or a similar tool, by importing existing contacts and setting up an anonymized ticket system.
Success Indicator:
Recording 100% of peer-support contacts and keeping the average response time to under 24 hours within 60 days.
3. Involve the Community in Fire Prevention
From: Behind The Shield - "Anthony Ortiz"
Listen at: 01:15:00 – 01:27:00
Difficulty: Medium
Application Area: Evidence Management
Who is this for? Forensic Specialist
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
Walking through high-risk properties with owners can uncover hazards before they spark a fire. It also gives investigators a head start on understanding layouts they might encounter later.
What to do?
Set up monthly walkthroughs with code enforcement and business owners in your three highest-risk areas.
Success Indicator:
A 25% reduction in repeat violations and quicker scene orientation during incidents.
4. Start Buddy Checks to Beat Isolation
From: Transition Drill - "Tactical Transition Tips: Round 99"
Listen at: 10:06 – 11:00
Difficulty: Medium
Application Area: Collaboration & Communication
Who is this for? Multi-Agency Team
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
Regular check-ins help fight loneliness and stop small issues from turning into big crises.
What to do?
Start a “Thursday-10” rule: every Thursday, call or text 10 peers to see how they’re doing.
Success Indicator:
At least 90% participation and fewer unexpected absences during holiday seasons.
5. Roll Out Tactile Alerting Systems
From: Behind The Shield - "Andrew Douglas & Blake Richardson"
Listen at: 00:25:26 – 00:29:17
Difficulty: Low
Application Area: Technology Integration
Who is this for? Investigator
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
Vibration-based notifications like those from Ease Alert let crews wake up without the stress of loud sirens. This helps preserve sleep quality and quickens response time.
What to do?
Equip one apparatus bay with vibration pagers for a 30-day trial period and measure the turnout times.
Success Indicator:
At least a 10% improvement in response times along with better self-reported sleep quality.
6. Kick Off Firefighter Mentorship
From: Behind The Shield - "Anthony Ortiz"
Listen at: 01:10:00 – 01:20:00
Difficulty: Medium
Application Area: Training & Education
Who is this for? Investigator
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
Hosting free skills camps helps introduce the fire service to young people, expanding recruitment opportunities and boosting diversity.
What to do?
Partner with local schools to organize a quarterly “Fire Skills Bootcamp” over the weekend.
Success Indicator:
A 20% increase in the number of qualified applicants over the course of one year.
7. Commit to Physical Fitness
From: Behind The Shield - "Anthony Ortiz"
Listen at: 01:30:00 – 01:40:00
Difficulty: Low
Application Area: Training & Education
Who is this for? Investigator
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
Daily fitness challenges build stamina and prepare firefighters for demanding physical tasks during investigations.
What to do?
Launch a departmental “Run-1-Mile-a-Day” challenge and share progress using an app like Strava.
Success Indicator:
At least 90% completion of the 30-day challenge and fewer injury reports in the following six months.
8. Boost Inter-Agency Collaboration
From: Student Of The Game Fire Podcast - "Joel Cherry"
Listen at: 01:05:52 – 01:06:59
Difficulty: Medium
Application Area: Collaboration & Communication
Who is this for? Multi-Agency Team, Investigator
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
Mutual-aid relationships shouldn’t just help out during fires. They’re also crucial when personnel face personal crises, building trust across different areas.
What to do?
Draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with two neighboring agencies focused on “well-being mutual aid.”
Success Indicator:
An MOU signed within 60 days and at least one joint support action in the first year.
9. Prioritize Work-Life Balance
From: Student Of The Game Fire Podcast - "Joel Cherry"
Listen at: 01:05:52 – 01:06:59
Difficulty: Medium
Application Area: Process Improvement
Who is this for? Case Manager/Supervisor, Investigator
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
Encouraging time off and flexible schedules can make all the difference in preventing burnout and keeping the team intact.
What to do?
Introduce a “use-it-or-keep-it” annual leave reminder and make sure each employee gets at least one wellness day every quarter.
Success Indicator:
A 15% drop in sick-leave misuse and fewer mentions of burnout in exit interviews.
10. Try AI for Peer Support
From: Behind The Shield - "Andrew Douglas & Blake Richardson"
Listen at: 00:38:02 – 00:39:15
Difficulty: Medium
Application Area: Training & Education
Who is this for? Forensic Specialist
Operational Impact Score: 8/10
Using AI simulations lets peer supporters practice handling tough conversations without risking real relationships. This hones their listening skills and intervention tactics.
What to do?
Set up a 30-day trial of Siento Sim and have each peer supporter complete three practice sessions.
Success Indicator:
Achieving an 80% or higher competency score on post-simulation evaluations.
Put These Ideas into Action in Your Fire Investigations
From building mental-health resilience to using new tech for alerts, these 10 actionable ideas can improve wellness, readiness, and community ties, essential elements of successful fire investigation work. Pick one project this week, define a simple measurement for success, and start tracking progress. Remember, small steps add up to safer scenes, stronger teams, and more effective investigations.
