Lieutenant - Seattle Fire Department - Retired

Assistant Chief of Operations and Training - Camano Island Fire and Rescue

The basics of skill acquisition , preparation and dedication to training.

Lieutenant - FDNY

For too long, the fire service has relied on the outdated idea that "you'll learn that in the firehouse." The reality is, not every firefighter has access to a culture build on tradition, pride and mentorship. This workshop confronts that disconnect head-on.

Designed for both new and veteran firefighters, this program provides practical guidance that bridges the gap between classroom training and real world fireground experience. From your first day on the job to your first fire and every fire after this class connects the dots between lessons learned, mistakes made, and the culture that defines the fire service. Attendees will walk away with renewed confidence, purpose, and actionable tactics to strengthen their performance and their department’s culture.

Lieutenant - Wichita Fire Department

Extrication is a volume game plain and simple. Time in the junkyard followed by volume on the street gives you a taste for what you are up against. Tactical Extrication is just as the title implies. The training presented is formulated off many years in the yard backed up by a high-volume response area for vehicle entrapments. In the modern fire service environment, it is against the norm to not show the new “shiny thing”. Is cutting a car up on the top of a building after repelling off another building followed by a simulated earthquake cool? You bet it is! However, serving on busy heavy rescues for a large portion of my career along with traveling nationally presenting Tactical Extrication we have established a proven gameplan for many of the issues that you will experience in the real world. The end goal is a program that will enhance your department's extrication times with realistic skills that will push you forward from the everyday extrications as well as the challenging.

Engine 14 - Baltimore City Fire Department - Retired

In the early morning hours of January 24, 2022, McMaster responded with the members of Engine 14 to a three-story dwelling fire in Baltimore. While operating inside the structure, a sudden collapse trapped four firefighters beneath the debris. McMaster was the only firefighter to survive the collapse. He sustained critical injuries and was trapped for an extended period before being rescued.

McMaster credits his training in skip breathing, along with the courage and determination of his fellow firefighters, with helping him survive the ordeal. His experience has given him a unique perspective on firefighter survival, the importance of training, and the profound bond shared among members of the fire service.

Today, McMaster’s story stands as a powerful testament to perseverance, preparation, and the unwavering commitment firefighters have to one another. His survival and willingness to share his experience continue to provide valuable lessons for firefighters about operating under extreme conditions and maintaining composure when faced with a life-threatening emergency.