High-Rise Firefighting: Lessons from Chicago’s Fireground w/ Tim Walsh | Fully Involved Podcast (E3)

When the standpipe’s clogged, the stairwell’s full of smoke, and you’re 40 floors up — you’d better have more than a textbook plan. Chicago FD veteran and Illinois Fire Service Institute Director of Corporate Relations Tim Walsh breaks down the gear, tactics, and mindset that get the job done in high-rise firefighting.

In this episode:
• Why live-burn, hands-on training matters
• High-rise standpipe realities: flow, pressure & dirty water
• The bleeder valve story that changed the game
• Smoothbore vs. combination nozzles under fire conditions
• Transitional attack, tank water, and ventilation discipline

00:00 – What You’ll Learn in This Interview
01:14 – What’s Your Upcoming Focus at IFSI?
02:46 – High-Rise Training at IFSI
04:18 – High-Rise Phase 1: Arrival
05:54 – How Did the CFD High-Rise Bag Evolve?
06:34 – Problem: FDC Connections Damaged
07:38 – High-Rise Phase 2: Making the Push Inside
09:10 – Why Can a Bleeder Valve Save Standpipe Ops?
11:14 – High-Rise Phase 3: Search + Suppression
13:04 – Smooth Bore vs. Fog in High-Rises?
14:27 – Mistakes New Firefighters Make?
16:06 – Bonus Tip - Which Nozzle is Right for This Situation?
16:42 – High-Rise Phase 4: Ventilation
17:22 – Best Nozzle for Ventilation?
18:11 – What’s Your Origin Story?
20:18 – Big Water Lessons from Chicago FD
22:36 – Most Misunderstood Thing About Exterior Attack?
23:46 – Advice for the Next Generation of Firefighters
25:13 – Find Your Nozzle – TFT.com/shop

Veteran Chicago firefighter and IFSI Director of Corporate Relations Tim Walsh shares the street-smart tactics that keep companies alive and effective in the toughest fire environments. From arrival to knockdown, this is high-rise gold for both career and volunteer crews.