Let’s take a hard look at FDIC 2025. What is FDIC ( Fire Department Instructors Conference ), a comprehensive platform for learning, networking, and showcasing the latest technologies and services.

But what do we really get when we attend?

What’s the real crisis we should all be talking about?

Anyone?
Anyone?

Could it be the escalating wildfire crisis—costing more lives, more homes, more money, and devastating our environment and air quality?

So, how did FDIC address the greatest crisis, financial burden, and loss in the country today?

What Manufacturer or Educational institution addressed this primary concern at FDIC 2025?

What "best practices" or “lessons learned” are actually going to reduce risk, improve outcomes, or prevent loss?

How did 2024 end? How did 2025 begin?

Let’s be honest—when we interviewed attendees and had real conversations, the response was blunt: “Nothing really new.”
That was the exact same feedback echoed at the WUI Conference in Kansas City, 2025:
“We already know this.”
“We’ve heard it all before.”
“Just more buzzwords and sales pitches.”

So, what is true innovation?

What does it take to be successful?

Is it about applying imagination and creativity to create tangible outcomes?

Is it about being told NO, it cant be done, we do it this way...Or do you go out and change the world, similar to 3M's tagline?

So what did "Innovation" look like at FDIC 2025:

Apparatus:

Pierce Manufacturing -

Their Logic Control System, which gives “departments the ability to run lights, sirens and pump operations from one user-friendly setup

Rosenbauer America -

Their Logic Control System, which gives “departments the ability to run lights, sirens and pump operations fromone user-friendly setup

Spartan -

50 years of Spartan apparatus innovations, including the S-180 Pumper Series, the Smeal Type 1 pumper, and a 100-foot platform, as well as the all-electric Vector.

KME - 

Multiple apparatus displayed, including a KME Severe Service Pumper and a KME Tractor

Drawn Aerial.

Gear -

The exhibit hall was chock full of new gear products featuring safety advancements and

tech-infused bells and whistles. What caught your eye?

Hex Armor -

A sneak peek of their newest structural glove, launching later this year.

Lion Fire Gear -

The LION RedZone Particulate Blocking Turnout Gear.

Tools -

Bullard -

Demonstrate their latest thermal imaging camera innovations.

WATERAX Pumps -

Attendees had the chance to see several wildland water pumps and ask questions.

What is missing here? Nothing new in tactics? Education? Science?

Which manufacturer actually delivered real innovation?
Who went beyond the buzzwords, did the real work, and brought something genuinely new and INNOVATIVE to the show?

Question: How do any of these products actually put out fires faster, safer, using less water—and at the lowest cost?

Summary:

So What Is True Innovation?

We’re not talking about incremental improvements or rebranded gear.

We’re talking about real change—the kind that saves lives, homes, and ecosystems.

Think of 3M’s tagline: “Innovation is about solving unsolvable problems.”

That’s what this industry needs.

We need to:

• Challenge outdated assumptions (like over-reliance on the fire triangle).

• Rethink tactics and technologies—from nozzles to deployment models.

• Prioritize education and science, not just equipment sales.

• • Confront uncomfortable truths about leadership, funding models, and institutional complacency.

The Future Demands More Than Buzzwords

Innovation isn’t a booth with lights. It’s not a new logo or a “tactic” repackaged for the fifth time.

It’s the courage to disrupt, the data to guide change, and the vision to build what’s never been done before.

The fire service has always been built on bravery.

Now, it’s time to be brave enough to break the mold.

Question: Where was the science in this session?

Session Title: Technology Won’t Change the Fire Service Unless We Do: Sara Jahnke, Science to the Station

Key Themes and Takeaways

• Technology as an Enabler, Not a Solution Alone:
  Jahnke emphasized that simply introducing new technologies—such as wearable devices, advanced data systems, drones, and connectivity tools—is not enough. The real change requires fire service professionals to adapt their attitudes, workflows, and openness to innovation3.

• Critical Questions for Departments:
  Attendees were challenged to reflect on their own organizations by considering questions like:
  Are you using data to make informed decisions in your agency?
  Can your department stay connected when networks go down?
  Are you prepared to use drones effectively?
  If technology can clearly improve outcomes, what’s holding back full adoption3?

• Barriers to Adoption:
  The session explored why, despite clear benefits, many departments are slow or hesitant to integrate new technologies. Cultural resistance, lack of training, and uncertainty about how to operationalize new tools were discussed as major obstacles3.

• Actionable Insights:
  Jahnke advocated for a proactive approach where leaders and members at all levels:
  Foster a culture open to change and experimentation.
  Engage in ongoing education about emerging technologies.
  Collaborate to develop best practices for technology integration3.

• Interactive Discussion:
  The session included breakout groups for attendees to discuss these challenges and share strategies for bridging the gap between technology’s promise and real-world impact in their own departments.

Sara Jahnke’s message was clear: the fire service cannot expect technology alone to drive progress. True advancement depends on a willingness to adapt, learn, and lead cultural change from within—ensuring that technology serves as a catalyst for safer, smarter, and more effective fire service operation.

Where is the SCIENCE?

• "Science" ≠ Mindset:
  Using "science" to describe cultural adaptation risks watering down the term. Science requires testable hypotheses, controlled studies, and reproducible data—not just advocacy for openness to technology.

• Vendor-Driven Narratives:
  If the session leaned into "embrace tech because it’s the future" without grounding claims in peer-reviewed research, it could indeed mirror vendor messaging (which prioritizes adoption over rigorous validation).

Could Calling cultural advocacy “science” muddy the waters. If the session didn’t root its arguments in specific research or data, was the title misleading?—How could this be a disservice to firefighters who rely on science to stay alive?

Where Do We Go From Here?

• What “science-first” tactics could look like.

• Cost-per-acres and why firefighting economics must be part of the conversation.

• The educational revolution -  we need to build a new generation of tacticians—not just technicians.

Because if 2025 is just another year of doing what we’ve always done… we already know the outcome. keep doing the samethin over and over and expect a ifferent outcome is what...?

Anyone?

INSANITY.

Let’s Get Real:

Did FDIC 2025 move the needle on wildfire prevention?
Did it offer concrete tools, education, or new frameworks to prevent loss of life, property, and air quality?

Or was it another comfortably familiar echo chamber, filled with gear, slogans, and applause, while the real crisis burns just beyond the walls of the convention center?

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RUFF FIRE is dedicated to challenging the status quo of the fire service. We believe, like the tiny particles dancing in a fire explained by the PENAM+ framework (Protons, Electrons, Neutrons, Atoms, and Molecules), that a fresh approach is key. Traditional methods are no longer enough. We must delve deeper into the science of fire, utilizing innovative technology and tactics to safeguard lives and property. As Einstein stated, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." The fire service needs a revolution, and RUFF FIRE is here to lead the charge.

At RUFF FIRE, we're committed to pushing boundaries. We actively experiment and embrace transformative advancements, all grounded in a scientific understanding of fire. Our goal? To save lives and protect property through groundbreaking methods. With unwavering determination, RUFF FIRE stands ready to pioneer a new era in fire service. Together, let's break the cycle of inefficiency and forge a safer future, informed by the fascinating dance of particles that is fire.