Roundtable Talk - Understanding the Risks: Big-Box Fires and Non-Fire Emergencies

Tom Merrill is a 37-year fire department veteran and serves with the Snyder Fire Department, which is located in Amherst, New York (first ring suburb of the City of Buffalo). He served 26 years as a department officer including 15 years in the chief officer ranks. He was chief of department from 2007-2012 and currently serves as a Fire Commissioner for the Snyder Fire District. Tom has conducted various fire service presentations throughout the country including FDIC, The National Volunteer Fire Council Training Summit, VCOS and many other national, state and regional conferences. His popular presentation "The Professional Volunteer Fire Department" is based on the series of articles he has written for Fire Engineering regarding developing and maintaining a professional reputation in the volunteer fire service. In addition Tom delivers keynote addresses and other presentations focusing on leadership, officer development, engine company operations and fire service history, heritage and pride.  Tom also hosts a regular podcast sponsored by Fire Engineering titled “The Professional Volunteer Fire Department” and he is employed full time as a fire dispatcher for the Town of Amherst Fire Alarm Office.

Mike is a 45-year veteran of the fire service and a 27-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), retiring as Captain of Ladder 123.  As a firefighter in Ladder Company 43, Dugan received the James Gordon Bennett medal in 1992 and the Harry M. Archer Medal in 1993, the FDNY’s highest award for bravery. He developed training programs that were taught to all FDNY members. Mike is a contributing editor at Fire Engineering Magazine. He is a teacher at the Fire Department Instructor Conference (FDIC) and  is a  Fire Engineering and FDIC  Executive Board member. He is a featured lecturer around the country, teaching Truck Company Operations, Building Construction 's impact on firefighter safety, Leadership and  issues involving today's fire service. He was awarded the "Tommy Brennan Life Time Achievement Award" in 2021. 

Mike Gagliano has over 33 years of fire/crash/rescue experience with the Seattle Fire Department and the United States Air Force. Mike teaches across the country on Fireground Tactics/Decision-Making, Air Management, Leadership and Company Officer Development. He is currently the president of the Firefighter Air Coalition (aircoalition.org).

Captain Gagliano has written numerous fire service articles and is co-author of the bestselling books Air Management for the Fire Service and Challenges of the Firefighter Marriage. He is a member of the Fire Engineering/FDIC Advisory Board Firefighter and the Emeritus Board of the Firefighter Safety Research Institute.

Mike co-hosts the popular Fire Engineering radio webcast “The Mikey G and Mikey D Show” and partners with his wife Anne (Firelife.com) to teach strategies for developing and maintaining a strong marriage/family.

Clark Lamping is a 26-year veteran and a 15 year Captain and with the Clark County (NV) Fire Department. In his career, he has spent 17 years working on Las Vegas Blvd.  He currently holds a Master’s degree in Crisis and Emergency Management and a Bachelors degree in psychology- both from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, (UNLV). He is a rescue squad officer with Nevada Task Force 1 with multiple deployments.  He has instructed at FDIC, MAFFC, Firehouse, and HROC. 

Kevin Ward has been serving as the Fire Chief for Layton City, Utah since 2004. Prior to that, Chief Ward served over 23 years with the Chandler Fire Department, retiring as a Battalion Chief. He served as a Captain for 18 years, as well as the Hazardous Materials Team Coordinator for over 10 years. Chief Ward started his emergency services career in Los Angeles County in 1977, graduating from Daniel Freeman Paramedic School, working in the City of La Verne for a private EMS provider. He has served two terms as President of the Utah State Fire Chiefs Association, and currently serves as Utah Director to the Western Fire Chiefs Association.

Chief Ward is an adjunct faculty member for Utah Valley University’s Fire & Rescue Academy (UFRA), serving as a Command Training Center and Fire Officer instructor since 2006.  He is a member of the FireShowsWest Educational Committee, is a regular attender of the National Fire Academy, and former Chair of the Utah Fire Officer Designation Program. Chief Ward is a regular contributor to the UFRA magazine, “The Straight Tip”.

He is serving in his fourth term as an “at large” elected member of the Board of Trustees for the Weber Fire District, and is the current Board Chair. Chief Ward has a BA in Fire Service Administration, and has held National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) qualifications as a Type 3 Incident Commander, Strike Team leader, and Structure Protection Specialist.