You Are First Due - Now Own it!

This week, we’re joined by two outstanding guests: Erik Phillips, Captain with Las Vegas Fire & Rescue (Nev.) and Fire Chief of Diamond Valley Fire Department (Utah), and Gary Fleischer, District Chief with Worcester (Mass.) Fire Department.

Together, we challenge first-in officers to own their role with clear expectations, disciplined size-ups, and early, coordinated assignments outside the IDLH. We dive into the culture of training, monitoring, and accountable improvement—and how Blue Card turns noise into command during the first five minutes.

You’ll hear stories, tools, and drills on:
• Defining first-due ownership and IC-1 expectations
• Using preplans and everyday calls as micro preplans
• Turning smoke detector checks into high-yield life safety work
• The four-step model: expectation, training, monitoring, accountability
• Level 1 staging as a tool, not a delay
• Eliminating freelancing and duplication of effort
• Building judgment through radio reps and tactical decision games
• Using AARs, hot washes, and audio reviews for continuous improvement
• Reinforcing culture to avoid accidental success and drift
• And a timeless tactical truth: See before you speak

Tune in, train hard, and lead with clarity.
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Chapters

• 0:00 Setting The Table: First-Due Focus
• 3:26 “Own It” Defined: Expectations For IC-1
• 7:16 Pre-Arrival Work And Preplans That Matter
• 10:26 Hard Lessons: Smoke Alarms And Lives
• 13:26 The Expectations Model: Tell, Show, Monitor, Lead
• 18:16 Matching Blue Card To Your Deployment
• 23:16 Orders Outside IDLH And Early Assignments
• 27:16 Stacking Resources, Level One Staging Done Right
• 31:46 Avoiding Freelance: Clear Roles And Reserve
• 35:16 Training That Sticks: Daily Reps And Radio
• 39:46 Tactical Decision Games And Sim Drills
• 45:16 Making Burn Buildings Realistic
• 49:16 Shared Mental Models Across Ranks