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Code 3 Podcast: Why everyone wants to work for this fire department

Our host, Scott Orr, interviews Chief Scott Thompson about how culture of learning trumps salary in firefighter retention

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Photo/DoD

Chief Scott Thomspon’s new book, “The Functional Fire Company: Positioning Small Groups for Success & Survival,” explains how to develop a culture of learning and training in your department. And it’s working; Thompson’s department has a record of retaining motivated firefighters, even though neighboring departments pay more. Some firefighters even take a pay cut to join his agency.

Thompson is a 35-year veteran of the fire service and chief of The Colony, Texas, Fire Department. He has been a member of volunteer departments and has worked for some of the fastest growing and most progressive departments in Texas. He has been a classroom presenter and hands-on instructor at FDIC since 2002.

Code 3 is hosted by award-winning journalist Scott Orr, who has covered the fire/EMS/police beat for most of his 30-plus year career in news. He’s worked around the country in both TV and print. Orr was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease over a decade ago, but that doesn’t stop him from interviewing fire service leaders on issues that concern firefighters around the nation.

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