Volusia County Fire Chief Joe King told the county's new podcast that his department is organized into multi‑level command ranks, covers a mix of urban and rural terrain and handles mostly medical and vehicle calls while training for large, coordinated responses.

King spoke on the first episode of the county's "Giving Government" podcast hosted by Kelsey Russler and Maggie Durant of the Volusia County Community Information Team. The discussion detailed how the fire rescue system is structured, what crews train for, and the supports available to crews after difficult incidents.

King said the department's command ranks include deputy chiefs and division and battalion chiefs who oversee four geographic quads. "19 fire stations," King said when summarizing the county's apparatus footprint, and he noted there are 59 stations countywide when city departments are included. He described a command structure with two deputy chiefs (administration and operations) and multiple divisions and battalions that supervise lieutenants and firefighters at each station.

Discussing what crews most often respond to, King said succinctly, "Medical calls." He and the hosts explained that many motor‑vehicle incidents are primarily medical responses rather than large extrication incidents, and that crews also prepare for structure and wildland fires, technical rescues and mass incidents.

Training, the podcast showed, is physically demanding. During a hands‑on segment the hosts described hefting ladders and wearing turnout gear. In the training demonstration one ladder was noted as weighing "35 pounds," with a larger ladder described as "72 pounds," and speakers also noted about 35 pounds of protective gear. The hosts said the county runs regular joint trainings; King said the county training center holds facility drills and that the agencies invite neighboring departments "so when we get on scene, you automatically know the first couple steps are always the same."

King described how local departments practice mutual‑aid and multi‑agency response policies so large incidents run on shared, rehearsed procedures. "We're all just gotta get together and work together," he said, emphasizing drills and common operating guidelines to make complex responses manageable.

On the topic of personnel and shift work, the podcast outlined the 24‑hour shift rhythm used by crews. King and the hosts discussed how shift schedules shape family life and recovery time; one host noted the perception that firefighters "sleep at work" is a misconception and that the two days off after a 24‑hour shift are often used for recovery.

Mental‑health supports were raised repeatedly. King said the county has "a county wide system team, critical incident stress management team that anytime something happens, they can be, you know, dispatched right out," and he credited Human Resources staff such as Dana Page for advancing support programs. He described peer and supervisory conversations after calls as an important first step and encouraged leaders to foster open debriefing rather than letting crews isolate on their phones.

The podcast also touched on fleet and staffing changes: King noted the county is "phasing [rescue engines] out now that we have the staffing that we have," referring to blended engine/ambulance units that some departments used when staffing was constrained.

King framed his leadership goals around restoring a strong department culture. A longtime firefighter, he said he wants to leave "a department that is where, you know, where we're trying to be, that better culture, that better family," adding that he hopes people remember the relationships and teamwork built over a career.

The episode concludes with the hosts reminding listeners a full "day in the life" video of the training and ride‑along will be posted on the county's YouTube channel.