The Firehouse Yak: Jesiah Newsome – Removing the Ego from Today’s Firefighter Training
July 1, 2024
Peter Matthews talks with Reading, PA, firefighter Jesiah Newsome about the importance of keeping training both motivational and inspiring, especially for younger firefighters. They also discuss how a big hurdle in today’s training is the ego of instructors, and how they can lead to negative experiences.
Newsome explains the need to create a positive learning environment from rookie school, throughout their career. He is also a deputy chief with the Blandon Fire Company in Berks County, PA, and both a state and national fire service, sharing his experiences from each role on this podcast.
He approaches the fire service with the manta, “You can either bitch about it, or fix it” and explains how you can move yourself and the department forward by ensuring you have the desire to learn, and help others strengthen their skillsets.
Newsome says those who aspire to have a meaningful career, whether volunteer and career, need to short- and long-term goals and offers insight into his goals to provide listeners with concepts they can adapt.
Peter Matthews is the conference director and editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department.
