Mics and Sirens is the official podcast for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) of Western Australia.
With staff and volunteers, both on and behind the frontline, dedicated to protecting our State of more than 2.5 million square kilometres, there are many stories of hope and resilience.
From that very first call for help, to those on the frontline putting themselves in harm’s way, and those who pick up the pieces once the sirens fade.
We take you behind the scenes to meet the people behind the positions and explore the passion, commitment and grit that keeps communities safe.
Publisher
Western Australian Department of Fire and Emergency Services
Women on the frontline was once a rare sight, but they are now a rising force in emergency services. It’s a change DFES and other fire agencies have, and continue to, champion.
We sit down with the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions Allison Donovan and WA’s first female Level 3 Incident Controller who shares her insights about gender equality in firefighting and an initiative she’s working on to diversify the frontline.
*This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth.
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Credits:
Interviewer: Di Darmody
Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough
Guest: Allison Donovan, Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions
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Transcript:
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/4oAHTyO (https://bit.ly/4oAHTyO)
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This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright) for copyright information.
3 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT
Episode 7 – The power of a volunteer
Volunteers are the heart of emergency services, but knowing everyone’s strengths can be difficult to identify…until now.
Meet Michael Tovine from Fire and Emergency New Zealand and volunteer firefighter who helped design a portal containing the superpowers of local volunteers to be used for special missions.
*This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth.
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Website https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/ (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/)
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Credits:
Interviewer: Di Darmody
Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough
Guest: Michael Tovine, Fire and Emergency New Zealand
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Transcript:
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/4pCy84h (https://bit.ly/4pCy84h)
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This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright) for copyright information.
26 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT
Episode 6 – Outrunning electric vehicle fires
While there’s an increasing number of electric vehicles on our roads, it’s fortunate that not many of them have caught fire in Australia yet.
But when electric vehicles ignite, their high-voltage lithium batteries release a toxic gas and take a long time to get under control. It’s important for our first responders to know what to do if they ever catch fire.
This episode explores a new tool developed by AFAC and led by Deputy Director for Operations, Emma Conway for first responders to combat electric vehicle fires.
*This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth.
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Website https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/ (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/)
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Credits:
Interviewer: Di Darmody
Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough
Guest: Emma Conway, Deputy Director Operations AFAC & EVEREST Program
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Transcript:
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/4rjiiwX (https://bit.ly/4rjiiwX)
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This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright) for copyright information.
19 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT
Episode 5 – Flying into the frontline
Drones aren’t a new technology, but emergency services are increasingly taking their eyes in the sky to expand their line of sight and improve incident response.
Hear from Russell Turner from Fire and Rescue New South Wales, the agency that manages Australia’s largest Remotely Piloted Aircraft System on the swarms of drones flying directly into the frontline and keeping firefighters safe.
*This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth.
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Website https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/ (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/)
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Credits:
Interviewer: Di Darmody
Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough
Guest: Russell Turner, Fire Rescue New South Wales
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Transcript:
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/43lHMj4
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This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright) for copyright information.
12 Nov 2025
Episode 4 – Fire spotters from space
There’s a new game-changing fire-spotter in the sky, named one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2025.
Fires as small as five square metres can be detected in just minutes, which helps emergency services act faster, smarter and safer.
Hear from the scientist and strategist Dr Karen O’Connor from the Earth Fire Alliance who is behind the first-of-its-kind technology changing the way we detect potential emergencies and protect people and property across the globe.
*This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth
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Website https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/ (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/)
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Credits:
Interviewer: Di Darmody
Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough
Guest: Dr Karen O’Connor, Earth Fire Alliance
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Transcript:
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/3JKGGXn
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This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright) for copyright information.
5 Nov 2025
Episode 3 – Doing a better job to stay safe
Every emergency is typically defined by preparation, prevention, response and recovery. But in the words of the former Head of United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction, it’s a vicious cycle that needs to be broken.
Hear Mami Mizutori’s strategies for anticipating risks, reducing impacts and building communities that are truly resilient.
*This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth.
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Website https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/ (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/)
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Credits:
Interviewer: Di Darmody
Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough
Guest: Mami Mizutori, former Head of United Nations Office for National Disaster Risk Reduction
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Transcript:
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/3WATrXu
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This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright) for copyright information.
29 Oct 2025
Episode 2 – Learning from the Grenfell Tower tragedy
Images from the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire tragedy are unwillingly etched in the minds of people all over the world. Flames took hold and got to the top of the 23-storey housing block in 30 minutes.
This episode Mark Hardingham CBE QFSM takes us inside the lessons of the UK’s deadliest residential building fire that claimed the lives of 72 people.
*This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth.
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Website https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/ (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/)
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Credits:
Interviewer: Di Darmody
Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough
Guest: Mark Hardingham, former UK Chair of National Fire Chiefs Council
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Transcript:
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/479sU9N
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This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright) for copyright information.
22 Oct 2025
Episode 1 – After the firestorm; Palisades and beyond
Wildfires are typically fuelled by wind, heat and overgrown vegetation. But what happens when people’s homes are what propel flames into an unstoppable firestorm.
The former head of the US Fire Administration Dr Lori Moore-Merrell sits down with us to talk about a firestorm that flattened multiple neighbourhoods in Los Angeles and the insights that came from the tragedy.
*This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth.
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Website https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/ (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/)
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Credits:
Interviewer: Di Darmody
Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough
Guest: Dr Lori Moore-Merrell, former US Fire Administrator
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Transcript:
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/4oyWlYP (https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F4oyWlYP&data=05%7C02%7CSilvana.PULITANO%40dfes.wa.gov.au%7Ca85f4786f02a480b824a08de108a2ff8%7Cf2c53664ba4842ff8608e4019969d536%7C0%7C0%7C638966382882306890%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3YW9hrTQ9TBulUuDDEXqJ1AvC0BbHb%2B%2ByaAyvljYmiE%3D&reserved=0)
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This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
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Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright) for copyright information.
21 Oct 2025
Season 2, Global voices. Local impact.
Mics and Sirens is the official podcast of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) in Western Australia.
Season 2 of Mics and Sirens was recorded live at the 2025 Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authority Council Conference in Perth, WA. We sat down with international and national experts to unpack disasters that shook the world and gain insights into emergency management innovations.
They share their experience, bringing fresh thinking to the table that helps to shape the future of emergency management. From preparing for disasters, reflecting on catastrophic events, to the eyes in the sky helping protect those on the frontline, through to the power of people fighting the (fire) fight every day – these global voices remind us that progress is built on knowledge and collaboration and can be used to make an impact anywhere in the world.
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Credits:
Interviewer: Di Darmody
Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough
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Transcript: For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/43qgGqV (https://bit.ly/43qgGqV)
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Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright) for copyright information.
30 Sept 2025
Episode 8 - A sit down with the FES Commissioner
Overseeing fire and emergency services across Australia’s largest State is no small feat. It’s not a 9 to 5, Monday to Friday job because emergencies don’t keep business hours.
When critical decisions need to be made, the Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner is always on call.
It’s a role Darren Klemm AFSM has held since 2017 and in that time, he has led DFES through major change and growth.
In his own words, team is the heart of DFES. And Darren has been a team player for decades.
On the frontline as a firefighter and before that on the field as a premiership star in the WA Football League.
Hear about the surprising role the Commissioner could see himself in if he weren’t in the top job and the biggest changes he’s witnessed in his career.
23 Sept 2025
Episode 7 - The future of emergency services
Imagine the year 2075.
Firefighting robots navigate burning buildings, guided by intelligence from AI-powered drones in the sky …or a fire truck extends its retractable legs, stepping over a traffic jam to reach an house fire in record time.
These technologies could be 10, 20 or 50 years away...or they may never leave the realm of science fiction. Either way, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services is looking into the future.
Assistant Commissioner of Future Capability Jon Broomhall leads a new division within DFES, dedicated to exploring emerging trends and technologies that could redefine emergency response.
16 Sept 2025
Episode 6 - Recovering and rebuilding communities
Bushfires, cyclones and floods can change people’s lives forever.
But when the flames are out, the sirens fade, and the roads reopen, the impact is far from over. In fact, that’s when the huge task of recovery begins.
Deputy Commissioner Mel Pexton, who happens to be the highest-ranking female at Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), leads the teams who helps communities rebuild after a disaster, which is a process so complex that can sometimes take years.
9 Sept 2025
Episode 5 - Beyond the fire; uncovering the cause
Most of us have seen a house or building destroyed by fire – in real life or in pictures – and know there is usually very little left among the ashes.
Fire can erase its own trail, turning the task of figuring out what happened into a complex puzzle with missing pieces.
Understanding how or why a fire started goes beyond appeasing our curiosity.
It’s part of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services’ role.
DFES’ Fire Investigator Mark Hayes takes us beneath the rubble and into the world of fire investigation – where every clue matters and no scorch mark goes unnoticed.
2 Sept 2025
Episode 4 - A day in the life of a volunteer
Within Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) there are five groups of emergency services volunteers.
Bush Fire Brigade, Volunteer Fire Rescue Service, Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services, Marine Rescue and the State Emergency Service or the SES.
In her own words, SES volunteer Maxine Burrell, is one of the people in orange you see on the TV.
The ones on people’s roofs after a storm, in the middle of a deserted track looking for a missing person, or on top of a cliff helping an injured hiker.
Maxine is one of the 26, 000 volunteers across WA that work with DFES and give up their time – without being paid – to help people before, during and after an emergency.
26 Aug 2025
Episode 3 - Science and emergencies
Science isn’t a word we’d expect to hear when talking about fire or emergency services.
But major spills and leaks, hazardous material fires, poisonings and explosives are all emergencies that involve chemicals – and we know there is a lot of science behind that.
Jeff Davis is DFES’ only scientist and it’s his job to give advice on how to safely handle potentially dangerous chemicals before, during and after an emergency.
That advice could be given in person, over the phone, even while he’s overseas on a family holiday.
In the world of emergency services – Jeff’s role is critical and could be the difference between a good and bad day.
19 Aug 2025
Episode 2 - Leading a 1-in-100-year flood
On 28 December 2022, Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie crossed over the coast of Western Australia and dumped around 500 millimetres of rain in less than a week.
River levels in the Kimberley town of Fitzroy Crossing got to almost 16 metres high.
More than 200 homes were damaged - several roads and highways too - and remote communities were left isolated. The destruction was widespread.
As the Incident Controller, Glenn Hall ESM was one of many DFES personnel in charge of coordinating emergency response efforts to help keep people out of harm’s way and deliver emergency services within that region.
Hear from Glenn about how he helped to lead the response and recovery efforts for this record breaking flooding disaster.
11 Aug 2025
Episode 1 - The epicentre of emergencies
With so many layers to Western Australia's Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES ), it’s impossible to capture all its stories, and the stories of the people behind the uniforms.
So, let’s start at the very beginning.
That first Triple Zero phone call – where someone in the community has an emergency unfolding before them.
Mark Spatocco, a Communications Systems Officer at DFES, is one of the calm voices on the other end of the line on what could possibly be the worst day of someone’s life.
Hear from Mark about how he gets through those tough calls from start to finish.
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Credits:
Host and producer: Silvana Pulitano
Guest: Mark Spatocco
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Transcript:
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/4mDkb4n (https://bit.ly/4mDkb4n)
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Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright (https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright) for copyright information.
6 Aug 2025
Season 1, Introduction to Mics and Sirens. Stories behind the uniform
Mics and Sirens is the official podcast for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) of Western Australia.
With staff and volunteers, both on and behind the frontline, dedicated to protecting our State of more than 2.5 million square kilometres, there are many stories of hope and resilience.
From that very first call for help, to those on the frontline putting themselves in harm’s way, and those who pick up the pieces once the sirens fade.
We take you behind the scenes to meet the people behind the positions and explore the passion, commitment and grit that keeps communities safe.
Inside a recent episode
Episode 8 – Women leading the (fire) fight
Published 10 Dec 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] I think it was also a little bit about allaying some of the fears. You know, there was sort of that fear of if you're going to give a job to a female, then I'm not going to have a job anymore. They're not overly rational fears, but they were definitely real to people thinking, why are you doing this? Why don't you want men in fire anymore? Those sorts of things. And that wasn't really the reality of, So the workshops gave an opportunity for us to talk about why we were doing it and talk about how important diversity is and that if we've got diversity across our workforce, we're better representing the community and we can do a better job if we're better represented. […]
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