Modern Engineering on the Frontlines

On this episode of The Backstep Boys, hosts Ron Kanterman and Tom Aurnhammer sit down with Dr. Dan Madrzykowski, senior director at the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), to discuss how modern engineering is revolutionizing fireground tactics. Madrzykowski breaks down FSRI’s expanding research initiatives, including plans for a massive 200-acre campus in White Oak, Maryland, aimed at testing large-scale fire behavior. They detail crucial updates in fire dynamics, offering actionable insights on suppressing lithium-ion battery fires, navigating flow paths, and overcoming the hidden structural hazards of modern lightweight construction. Madrzykowski also highlights line-of-duty incident analyses, emphasizing the importance of understanding the "why" behind tactics.