What does a farming background teach you about firefighting, risk, and resilience?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy.

Recorded live at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 2025 Conference alongside the AFAC, WAFA, and Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience Conference in Perth, Australia.

In this episode, we sit down with Sophia Curnow, a Western Australia firefighter with more than 22 years of operational experience. Sophia shares how her background in farming and land management shaped her approach to firefighting, risk reduction, and water use, along with lessons learned from incidents like Cyclone Seroja and asbestos contamination events.

The conversation explores practical technology that reduces firefighter exposure, the value of science and engineering for operational crews, and why living with fire, rather than fighting every ember, matters. Sophia also reflects on the importance of listening to those with deeper knowledge, including Indigenous communities whose understanding of fire spans generations.

So take a listen to hear what she has to share.

Episode 305: What Experience Teaches Us About Risk And Resilience with Sophia Curnow