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
Claim This Podcastby What The Fire - Forensic Origin and Cause Investigations
14 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇦🇺
Podcast Overview
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.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
11/12/2025
1 verified contact email on file for What The Fire
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Recent Episodes
May 19, 2026
Women In Fire: Changing The Culture, Not The Woman
<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 in a traditionally male-dominated profession, and the importance of creating workplaces where people can show up as themselves and do their best work.</p><p>We also discuss her Churchill Fellowship, where she investigated co-designed community risk reduction programs around the world, and her doctoral research into organisational culture in Australian fire services and the role of cultural humility in shaping safer, more inclusive leadership and workplace practice.</p><p>This is a conversation about women in firefighting, leadership, identity, culture, community, and the systems and structures that either help people thrive or hold them back.</p><p>In this episode, we discuss:</p><p>Women in firefighting and the importance of representation</p><p>The difference between belonging and fitting in</p><p>Organisational culture in emergency services</p><p>Cultural humility and inclusive leadership</p><p>Community-centred emergency management</p><p>Co-designed community risk reduction programs</p><p>What needs to change for women and diverse people to enter, stay, and thrive in the fire service</p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/minmcd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Melinda Min McDonald LinkedIn</a></p><p><a href="https://www.wafa.asn.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Women and Firefighting Australasia</a></p><p><a href="originandcause.com.au">Forensic Origin and Cause Investigations</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/originandcause/">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/whatthefireau/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/whatthefireau/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@whatthefireau">TikTok</a></p><p>Vithyaa Thavapalan <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vithyaa-thavapalan-6453a3108/">LinkedIn</a></p><p><br></p>
April 22, 2026
Prevention vs Box Ticking: Fire Suppression and the Real Risk Control with Vince Atkinson
<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 education and post-incident learning are essential for improving real-world performance, and why emerging technologies like battery electric equipment are forcing the sector to play catch-up with new fire risks.</p><p>Whether you work in mining, safety leadership, procurement, insurance, or investigation, this episode is a grounded look at what good fire protection should actually deliver.</p><ul><li>What fire suppression is and why suppression isn’t the same as extinguishment</li><li>How fire risk assessments should drive system selection and design</li><li>Common suppression agents used globally (and where they’re typically applied)</li><li>The shift from AFFF to fluorine-free foams (F3) and why it matters</li><li>How procurement decisions can compromise safety outcomes</li><li>Why education, commissioning, and ongoing support are non-negotiable</li><li>The value of post-incident analysis to improve future outcomes</li><li>The growing challenge of electric and low-emission equipment fires</li><li>“Education is key in fire suppression.”“Find something you love doing.”</li></ul><p>fire suppression, fire safety, mining industry, fire risk assessment, fire protection systems, AFFF, F3 foams, procurement challenges, electric vehicles, industry trends</p><p><br></p><p>Vince Atkinson <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vince-atkinson-41b3b566/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">LinkedIn</a></p><p><a href="originandcause.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Forensic Origin and Cause Investigations</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/originandcause/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/whatthefireau/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/whatthefireau/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@whatthefireau" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">TikTok</a></p><p>Vithyaa Thavapalan <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vithyaa-thavapalan-6453a3108/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">LinkedIn</a></p>
April 14, 2026
The Biggest Mistakes In Fire Investigation: An Insights Episode
<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 investigator, insurer, lawyer, or someone involved in fire claims, this episode offers valuable insight into how investigations can go wrong and what good practice really looks like.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>In this episode, Vithyaa covers:</strong></p><ul><li>Reaching conclusions too early</li><li>Why scene appearance can be misleading</li><li>The importance of strong documentation</li><li>Testing hypotheses properly</li><li>Misunderstanding fire patterns</li><li>Knowing what you are actually looking at</li><li>Electrical systems and fire-caused damage vs cause-related damage</li><li>The role of witness information, timelines, and other external data</li><li>Using careful language in reporting</li><li>Recognising the limitations of an investigation</li><li>Why staying current in the field matters</li></ul><p><strong>Sound bites:</strong><br>“Don’t jump to conclusions too early.”<br>“Scene appearance can be misleading.”<br>“Know what you’re actually looking at.”</p><p><br></p><p><a href="www.originandcause.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Forensic Origin and Cause Investigations</a></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/whatthefireau/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/whatthefireau" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@whatthefireau" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/104803411/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">LinkedIn</a></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vithyaa-thavapalan-6453a3108/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Vithyaa Thavapalan LinkedIn</a></p><p><br></p>
14 total episodes available
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