In the nanosecond after hearing the mayday, Castle Rock (Colorado) Battalion Chief Eric Morgenthaler went from “Is this really happening?” to “I know what I need to do.” His crew had trained repeatedly on scenarios just like this — a firefighter through the floor. Morgenthaler shares a play by play of the mayday as well as his command mindset throughout the event. Additionally, Castle Rock Fire & Rescue has developed an after-action review and video so others can learn lessons and best practices from the incident.
Watch: Firefighter Mayday – After Action Review video
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Sponsor shout-out: This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by Pulsara. Whether replacing radio reports, alerting specialty teams, or managing mass-casualty incidents, Pulsara simplifies communication. One Tool. Every Day. Regardless of Event. Learn more at Pulsara.com.
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This podcast episode, originally published in July 2025, has been updated.