What The Fire

The hangout for everyone who works around fire. Join our host, Vithyaa Thavapalan an international certified forensic fire investigator as we get into the world of fire. We trade scene stories, break down the how-did-that-happen bits, and spotlight the folks we team up with: investigators, engineers, adjusters, insurers, lawyers, other experts - expect the whole crew. Expect plain chats, practical takeaways, and a few laughs along the way. It’s candid, useful, and a little smoky, just like the job. Grab a coffee, pop on your headphones, and come behind the tape with us.

What The Fire is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 15 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts What The Fire, a education show with 15 episodes published.

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  Episode #2

  After the Disaster: What Does Recovery Really Mean?

  Sep 29, 202647 minS2

  What does it actually mean to recover after a disaster? In this episode Vithyaa speaks with disaster recovery expert Dr Kate Brady about what happens long after the immediate crisis has passed. Drawing on more than a decade of experience in disaster recovery, Kate shares what she has learned from people affected by fires, earthquakes and other major events, from the man who simply wanted his fence rebuilt so he could work out where to begin, to the woman who could no longer trust the ground beneath her feet after the Canterbury earthquakes. The conversation explores why recovery is deeply personal, how disasters can reshape a person's sense of safety and control, the way children respond to trauma, and why “getting back to normal” is not always possible, or even the right goal. At the heart of the episode is a simple question: When we say someone has recovered, what do we actually mean? A thoughtful conversation about listening, compassion, control and the human experience that continues long after the fire is out. Kate Brady LinkedIn Vithyaa Thavapalan LinkedIn Forensic Origin and Cause Investigations What The Fire LinkedIn Instagram TikTok Facebook

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  Episode #13

  Women In Fire: Changing The Culture, Not The Woman

  May 18, 202653 minS1

  <p>Episode 13: Belonging Over Fitting In with Melinda “Min” McDonald</p><p>In this episode of What the Fire, I’m joined by Melinda “Min” McDonald CF, Senior Firefighter with Fire and Rescue NSW, President of Women and Firefighting Australasia, Churchill Fellow, and PhD candidate at the University of Technology Sydney.</p><p>Min’s work sits at the intersection of operational firefighting, organisational culture, leadership, inclusion, and community risk reduction. In this conversation, we explore what it means to belong in the fire service, rather than simply fit in.</p><p>Min shares her journey into firefighting, her experience as a woman i...

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  Episode #12

  Prevention vs Box Ticking: Fire Suppression and the Real Risk Control with Vince Atkinson

  Apr 22, 202653 minS1

  <p>In Episode 12 of What The Fire, we sit down with Vince Atkinson to unpack what fire suppression really means in high-risk environments, particularly the mining and heavy equipment space.</p><p>Vince shares a practical, outcomes-driven approach to fire risk: understanding where ignition is most likely to occur, prioritising preventative controls, and using suppression as a mitigating measure to reduce consequences when risk remains.</p><p>We also explore what’s changing globally in the fire suppression market , from procurement pressures and “box-ticking” approaches, to the industry-wide transition away from AFFF foams toward fluorine-free alternatives (F3). Vince explains why educat...

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  Episode #11

  The Biggest Mistakes In Fire Investigation: An Insights Episode

  Apr 13, 202612 minS1

  <p>This episode is a little different. It is a solo episode, with Vithyaa unpacking one of the most important topics in the field: the biggest mistakes made in fire investigations.</p><p>Drawing on her experience across complex losses, Vithyaa shares the common pitfalls that can weaken an investigation, from reaching conclusions too early to misunderstanding fire patterns, overlooking key evidence, and using language with more certainty than the facts support.</p><p>This episode is a practical discussion on why thoroughness, discipline, and staying current matter so much in origin and cause work. Whether you are a fire...

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  Episode #10

  Training, Standards and the Truth: 44 Years and the Future of Investigation

  Apr 6, 202643 minS1

  <p>Jim Kanavy, a fire investigator, instructor and long-time leader in the fire investigation profession with more than 44 years in the fire service.</p><p>Jim shares how he started as a junior firefighter in Pennsylvania at just 14 years old, built a career across public and private fire investigation, worked with accelerant detection canines for more than two decades, and became deeply involved in training, standards and professional development through the IAAI, NAFI and NFPA.</p><p>We talk about how fire investigation has changed over the years, from older indicators and outdated beliefs to the increased use of science...

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