Episode 9: Dave McGrail

The Pipemen sit down with Chief (Ret.) Dave McGrail from the Denver Fire Department.

In this podcast we take a look at engine and truck operations and how they continue to be shaped by the work of Chief McGrail, including The Great Debate. We discuss the impact Andy Fredericks had on the American fire service. We also discuss Andy’s writings such as Return of the Solid Stream and Little Drops of Water: 50 Years Later and his FDIC speech, “Don’t Worry About that Nozzle, Kid” that emphasized fundamentals, water application, and a disciplined strategy.

Chief McGrail discusses a few significant high-rise incidents in the American fire service - including One Meridian Plaza, Memphis and Houston NIOSH reports. Additionally, we talk about the Los Angeles First Interstate and San Francisco’s Butler wind-driven fire, all which continue to reinforce the need for strong standpipe, suppression, and high-rise tactics.

The Pipemen go deep with a discussion on standards like NFPA 13E (fire department operations in sprinklered buildings), NFPA 13R (residential sprinkler systems), and NFPA 14 (standpipes). All of these frame today’s best practices and help connect the lessons of the past to the operational readiness demanded today.