CRACKYL Magazine

19/09/2025

Feedback isn’t just a leadership tool, it’s a responsibility.

In the fire service, where every action counts, the way we give and receive feedback directly influences performance, safety, and team cohesion. Yet too often, feedback is vague, delayed, or avoided altogether.

In this article, Jenn Dawkins, president of Fire Service Women BC, explores how intentional, well-delivered feedback can strengthen crews, build trust, and drive continuous improvement.

Her insights include:

> The role of feedback in operational excellence
> A practical framework for diagnosing performance issues
> 10 guidelines for giving feedback that fosters growth
> The value of 360-degree feedback in high-performance teams

When feedback is clear, timely, and constructive, it becomes a catalyst for development, not just for individuals, but for entire departments.

Read the article here:

https://www.crackyl.com/feedback-is-a-gift/

Fire service leaders: What’s one piece of feedback that changed how you lead? Share your experience in the comments.

Grind When delivered with clarity and intention, feedback becomes a transformative tool for growth, trust, and success.

16/09/2025

🔥 Why We Climb 🔥⁠
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On September 20th, firefighters and supporters will come together at Lambeau Field to climb the equivalent of 110 stories — honoring the 343 firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11.⁠
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Lt. Aaron Zamzow of Madison Fire Department shares how this powerful event is about more than physical strength. It’s a moment of reflection, resilience, and remembrance — carrying the names of the fallen and pushing forward with purpose.⁠
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Join us as we climb to honor, remember, and never forget. 🧗‍♂️🚒⁠ National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Green Bay Metro Fire Department
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16/09/2025

“They weren’t cut out for the job.”

We’ve all heard it. But perhaps the real issue is culture, and not toughness.

Josh Velten’s latest article is a must-read for anyone in the fire service who’s ever welcomed a new recruit and wondered why some never stay.

> Four generations under one roof
> Trauma that hits differently
> Mentorship that makes or breaks careers
> Unspoken rules that leave rookies guessing

This article dives deep into the emotional and cultural challenges new firefighters face, and what departments can do to build a culture worth staying for.

How do you bridge the gap between tradition and transformation? What’s one thing your department does to make new members feel they belong? Let’s talk about it in the comments.

Connect Welcoming new firefighters is about bridging culture, building trust, and making belonging part of the job.

12/09/2025

In the volunteer fire service, where resources are tight and paychecks don’t exist, humility, kindness, and a willingness to serve define true leadership.

This article by Mat Riback explores how the most respected leaders aren’t defined by their titles, but by their actions: listening, showing gratitude, embracing change, and rolling up their sleeves alongside their team.

“Never underestimate how far a simple ‘thank you’ can go.”

Whether you're in the fire service or leading in any capacity, this article reminds us that character builds commitment, and kindness fuels retention.

What does leadership mean to you? Tell us in the comments.

Grind In a world where respect, humility, and action speak louder than rank, true impact begins with kindness and a willingness to serve.

10/09/2025

Firefighters and other emergency responders face more than flames and chaos; they battle intense biological and psychological stress that shapes every decision. From adrenaline spikes to cognitive overload, understanding these hidden forces is key to performance, safety, and resilience.

Discover how training, mental preparedness, and recognizing your “red zones” can transform response outcomes, in this article by Anthony Correia and James Rychard.

Tag someone who needs to see this. Share your own red zone moment in the comments below, and let’s break the silence around responder stress.

Thrive Biological and psychological forces shape firefighter and EMS performance. There are tools to manage the responses.

08/09/2025

“You feel invincible as a firefighter … like you’ve got an ‘S’ on your chest.” But what happens when that invincibility is tested?

After decades of service with New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and his volunteer department, Joe Wisz shares his experience through a cancer scare that began with a routine medical exam. From the anxiety of waiting for biopsy results to the strength found in the firefighting brotherhood, Joe’s story reminds us of the importance of annual checkups, mental health, and leaning on those who’ve walked the same path.

So whether you’re just starting out in the fire service or have years behind you, this is a must-read about resilience, vulnerability, and the support that makes all the difference.

Read the full story and share it with someone who needs to hear it.
https://www.crackyl.com/leaning-on-the-firefighting-family-my-cancer-scare/

Thrive A firefighter’s health exams reveal the importance of vigilance, support, and leaning on the brotherhood in moments of uncertainty.

05/09/2025

Keegan Bradley just showed us what real leadership looks like.

Despite ranking 11th in the world, he left himself off the U.S. Ryder Cup team to prioritize performance over ego. That’s selfless leadership in action.

In contrast, toxic leaders – including those in the fire service – put themselves first, harming morale, health, and mission success.

Fire chiefs and public leaders: Lead like Keegan.

Learn more in this article by Chief Joe Jardin and let us know what you think in the comments below.

📅 Ryder Cup: Sept. 26–28 at Bethpage Black Course.

Grind Pro golfer Keegan Bradley reinforces leadership is about making tough decisions for the greater good.

04/09/2025

Firefighters! Sign up!

Are you an active, retired, or former U.S. firefighter? If so, you can start your registration for the NIOSH National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer in just 5 minutes. Firefighters who join can help reduce cancer in the fire service. Join now: https://nfr.cdc.gov/

03/09/2025

❤️‍🔥 Why We Climb: Green Bay Metro Fire Department ❤️‍🔥⁠
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On September 20, 2025, firefighters, families, and community members will gather at Lambeau Field for the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Each participant climbs 110 stories — the same number as the Twin Towers — to honor the 343 firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001.⁠
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For the Green Bay Metro Fire Department, this climb is deeply personal. They climb to honor the fallen, to support the living, and to ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten. 💔🇺🇸⁠
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All proceeds benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, helping families of fallen heroes heal and carry on their legacy.⁠
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This is more than just a climb.⁠
It’s remembrance.⁠
It’s resilience.⁠
It’s a promise to never forget.⁠
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Stay tuned as we share more stories in our “Why We Climb” series, leading up to the event on September 20.⁠
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CRACKYL is a PROUD National Media Sponsor of this event.⁠

03/09/2025

Sign up today! Link below!

2025 F.I.E.R.O. Fire Station Design - September 21-24, 2025 - Register NOW! - https://mailchi.mp/fieroonline.org/2023_fsd_and_important-updates-9945076
The 2025 F.I.E.R.O. Fire Station Design Symposium is happening September 21–24 at the Hyatt Regency in Greenville, SC — and we’re already 90% sold out. If you’re planning to attend, now’s the time to lock in your spot.

This year’s symposium will be packed with the insights, strategies, and connections you need to prepare your stations — and your department — for the next 50 years.