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‘I don’t like close games; I like blowouts’: Nicol Juratovac talks aggressive fire attack

The San Francisco assistant chief shares tactical tips for dominating the fire so it has no chance of victory

The best words San Francisco Assistant Chief Nicol Juratovac heard when she got on the job 27 years ago were “interior offensive aggressive attack” – and she’s still advancing that mindset to her crews and students today. As she explains on this week’s podcast, when it comes to fireground tactics, Juratovac wants to dominate and smash the enemy (aka fire) with so much force that it has no chance of victory – and she does that by being a student of the game day in and day out, honing her skills on everything from incident command and apparatus positioning to forcible entry and roof operations. Juratovac shares tactical tips on all of the above, plus we dig into all this:

  • Three fires that produced important lessons learned
  • How she’s become the “master of her own destiny” at scenes
  • Generational differences in learning the craft
  • Why she advises firefighters and officers to not get “too cute” on the fireground

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

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Previously on the Better Every Shift Podcast
As we mark 20 years since Hurricane Katrina, Chief Marc Bashoor reflects on recent shakeups at the agency and its ultimate responsibility
Better Every Shift’s resident scientist shares how the upcoming Science to the Station event helps firefighters connect with peers and experts
The incoming and outgoing IAFC presidents address common challenges facing fire service leaders, plus the power of collaboration
Chiefs John Tippett and John Oates debunk the idea that safety and aggression are mutually exclusive
Detailing simple steps to reduce exposures and improve long-term health