The Brady Bunch: Managing the Marriage of Fire & EMS
John R. Smith
Friday, June 13, 2025
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Fire Departments and EMS Services are merging across our nation, whether for financial, staffing, merging of leadership, or some other reason. In this course, we will take a look at challenges and advantages of combination Fire/ EMS Departments. Through two separate department views and working previously as both a Chief Officer and EMS Supervisor, the Instructor has experienced existing, new, and ended merges of Fire/ EMS. Currently working in a trial role as an EMS Paramedic in a combination Fire/EMS house, the perspective is an unbiased look into the Fire Officer and EMS Officer lessons learned and process of adapting to both services. We will also cover the cultural contrasts and similarities of both services, and how to use them to your advantage as an Officer in creating a successful atmosphere and culture.
John R. Smith
John Smith is the Volunteer Assistant Chief of Dillon County Fire Department Station 3 where he has served since 2013 in various positions including as the Chief and as a career Engineer/Paramedic. John began his career in the fire service as a volunteer, serving the community of Lake View in Dillon County. Since his career began, he has held many positions in public safety, including Current Past President of the Pee Dee Firefighter’s Association, DHEC CEP Instructor, Supervisor/Training Officer at Marion County EMS, SC Fire Academy Instructor, and volunteer with Mullins Fire Department. John is passionate about the culture of the fire service and the rural fire department’s place in it, as well as the role the volunteers play in serving these communities. John is a contributor for Firehouse Junkyard Dogs’ and co-host of the podcast “Fatboy’s Shop Talk”.
