Keynote Presentation:
“It’s Worth the Risk”

This very passionate and in-your-face presentation is about recapturing the primary mission of the fire service based on the very foundation of what has defined the fire service for decades, building an undeniable trust from the public. We must push for a greater fire service that puts the lives of citizens first, but that also means that firefighters’ lives and property still count. It’s Worth the Risk is not just about aggressive interior firefighting; it is also about standing strong against all odds to create better and more effective firefighters by putting yourself out there. Stay true to yourself, stay true to the mission, and stay true to the job. Aggressive does not mean unsafe and with solid training the risk is truly reduced to a manageable level. Bringing back realistic and practical live fire training is needed because experience matters, and sometimes no matter how right we do this job, things can still go wrong. It’s always been said that you can never train too much for a job that can kill you. Those words are very poignant, yet many firehouses have adopted a culture of training less and complaining more about those who do. Stop worrying about what others are saying, and let’s get back to the job of taking back our fire service. Get out of the recliner, get motivated, and make a difference. It’s Worth the Risk.

About Curt Isakson

Curt “Ike” Isakson is a 30-year veteran of the fire service and is a second-generation firefighter. He is currently a battalion chief for Escambia County, FL, Fire Rescue, where he has worked for the last 19 years. Isakson previously worked nine years for the Pensacola, FL, Fire Department where he was assigned as the company officer on Rescue 31. His fire service experience started at a young age as a junior firefighter with the Midway Fire Protection District in Gulf Breeze, FL, and rose through the ranks to captain. Isakson has worked in volunteer, career and combination departments.