Why Us

Mission Statement

Inspire, teach, mentor, and coach firefighters and fire departments in leadership, team building, tactics, command, promotion and innovative ways of thinking that make the fire service more safe, fun and effective.

Our Vision

The fire service has a growing leadership void that has reached pandemic proportions. Due to this “Leadership Pandemic” we need strong, dynamic, selfless servant-leaders who know how to inspire individuals, build teams, plan for the future, and get replaced.

In addition, the era of experienced, salty fireground technicians has transitioned to a new generation of young officers who do not get the same level of experience and training as their forefathers. They need training more than ever before.

We desire to help individuals and fire departments improve their leadership, tactical and team skills by throwing out cliché management jargon, theories, and boring traditional format. We focus on telling it like it is, using real world experience and proven techniques that work, and are rarely found in textbooks. The candor and interactive setting of the workshops compel the students to open up and be involved. The workshops are as entertaining as they are informative.

Why is our work so important?

Today, there is a fire service leadership pandemic sweeping America! Experienced fire officers are leaving at a growing rate, causing a vacuum in experience, expertise, and leadership. The fire service needs fire officers who can make a difference, and we can help! Our team of highly experienced officers come from all around the United States, agencies large and small, company and chief officers. Each has one thing in common: Passion to teach!

Emergency operations, leadership, risk management and strategic planning are all skills required of officers and fire departments. Whether you are an aspiring individual, or an organization trying to bridge the gap, we specialize in training tomorrow’s best fire service leaders and officers.

FDIC Keynote

Chief Anthony Kastros is an FDIC-International and was the Keynote Speaker at FDIC International 2013. Anthony hosts The Command Show, a monthly blog radio show through Fire Engineering. Kastros teaches leadership/team building and strategy/tactics to firefighters throughout the United States. He has taught thousands of firefighters in leadership, officer development, command and tactics throughout America.

George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award

Anthony Kastros is the recipient of the 2019 International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) George D. Post Instructor of the Year. The George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award recognizes individuals for extraordinary accomplishments in fire service training. Winners of the award are recognized on the main stage during FDIC in April, held in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Individuals who are selected for this prestigious award have:

Advanced the cause of firefighter operational effectiveness and safety;
Gone above and beyond the call of duty in training;
Brought creativity and innovation to fire training programs, or will have shown great persistence in pursuing an innovative program; and
Served as a positive role model for other fire instructors and firefighters throughout the county.

Top Qualifications

Battalion Chief Anthony Kastros and his team of highly experienced, inspiring and respected instructors share a passion to develop outstanding fire officers who are ready to meet modern-day challenges. Chief Anthony (Andoni) Kastros is a 33-year veteran of the fire service and Battalion Chief with Sacramento Metro Fire District (ret). He brings a wide variety of experiences, a high level of energy and a sincere passion to his instruction.
Chief Kastros literally “wrote the book” on assessment centers. He is author of the Fire Engineering book and video series, Mastering the Fire Service Assessment Center – 2nd Edition. The curriculum covers an extremely comprehensive scope of the knowledge, skills and abilities that span the dimensions of leadership, management, and emergency operations. It is used widely throughout the United States for officer development.
Also from Fire Engineering, Anthony and Brian Brush co-wrote the textbook, Mastering Fireground Command – Calm the Chaos! The book is NIMS/ICS, NFPA, FIRESCOPE, and FESHE (Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education) compliant. Fire departments all over North America have adopted this text for officer testing and standard operating guidelines.
In addition, Kastros authored the video series, Mastering Unified Command – From Hometown to Homeland. The video is focused on bridging the gap between fire and law for a true unified response and command platform to face the “New Normal” that is prevalent in America today. The video features many experts from around the United States, including former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta. Kastros is donating all proceeds from this video to fallen fire, police and military organizations.
Kastros is an FDIC-International instructor, and was the Keynote Speaker at FDIC 2013 and is the recipient of the 2019 George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award from the International Society of Fire Service Instructors and Fire Engineering. Anthony hosts The Command Show, a monthly blog radio show through Fire Engineering. Kastros teaches leadership/team building and strategy/tactics to firefighters throughout the United States.
As a USAR Team Manager with Sacramento Task Force 7, he deployed to Ground Zero on 9/11. Anthony spent 4 years with a Type 1 Incident Management Team, was the program manager for Metro Fire’s Command Training Center and began Metro Fire’s Rescue Company program. Anthony holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Human Resource Management, an Associate’s of Science in Fire Technology, and is a certified Fire Officer for California.
Cynthia Kastros is the Operations Manager for FIRE. She is responsible for strategic planning, new program development, business modeling, and operations. She has an extensive recruitment background in the private sector and owned an executive recruitment firm in southern California. She transitioned to the public sector, where she held a position for the California Office of Education, recruiting teachers. Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Human Services, focusing on family and child development.
Anthony and Cynthia Kastros make their home in Carmel, California with their daughters Sophia and Aubrey. Their Faith in God is the center of their lives and drives their instruction and ministry.

The Following Organizations Have Hosted Our Training

Alaska

Alaska Fire Conference
Anchorage, Alaska FD
Central Mat-Su FD

Arizona

Phoenix Firefighters Symposium

Arkansas

Fayetteville FD

California

Alameda County FD
American Canyon FD
American River College
Anaheim FD – North Net Training Center
Bay Area (CA) UASI
Benicia FD
Berkeley FD
Beverly Hills FD
Cal Fire (California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection)
California Fire & Rescue Training Authority
California Fire Chiefs Association – Operations Section
California Fire Training Officers’ Symposium (Fresno)
Carmel FD
Carmel Highlands FPD
Carmel Valley FD
Central Marin FD
Clovis FD
Compton FD
Contra Costa County Fire
Contra Costa County Training Officers
Cypress FPD
Davis City FD
Diamond Springs/El Dorado FD
Dixon
East Contra Costa County
El Dorado Hills FD
Fairfield FD
Firehouse World San Diego
FireNuggets.com
Folsom FD
Fresno FD
Hollister FD
Humboldt Bay FD
Kern County FD
Lodi FD
Los Angeles Area Fire Chiefs Association
Los Angeles City FD
Los Angeles County Fire Department
Marina FD
Menlo Park FD
Merced FD
Milpitas FD
Monterey County Regional Fire District
Monterey County Training Officers’ Association
Monterey FD
Monterey Peninsula College
Monterey Park FD
Mountain View FD
Napa County
Newport Beach FD
Northern California Regional Public Safety Training Authority
Novato FD
Oakland FD
Oceanside FD
Orange County Fire Authority
Pacific Grove FD
Palo Alto FD
Paso Robles FD
Pebble Beach FPD
Petaluma FD
Rancho Cucamonga FD
Red Helmet Training – Rancho Cucamonga
Redwood City FD
Richmond FD
Rodeo Hercules FD
Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety
Roseville FD
Ross Valley FD
Sacramento City FD
Sacramento Metropolitan FD
Sacramento UASI
Salinas FD
San Diego County UASI
San Francisco Paramedic Association
San Jose FD
San Rafael FD
San Ramon Valley Fire
Santa Ana College
Santa Barbara County Fire Chiefs Association
Santa Clara City FD
Santa Clara County Training Officers
Santa Clara County UASI
Santa Maria FD
Santa Monica FD
Santa Rosa FD
Sierra College
Sierra College Regional Fire Academy
Solano County
Southern Marin Fire District
South Placer Fire District
Stockton FD
Suisan City FD
Sunnyvale DPS
Sutter County FD
Tahoe Douglas FD
Turlock FD
UC Santa Cruz FD
Vacaville FD
Vallejo FD
Victorville FD
Woodland FD
Woodside FD

Colorado

Arapahoe County UASI
Colorado Springs FD
Evergreen FD
Foothills FD
Northern Colorado Training Consortium
Pike’s Peak Community College, Colorado Springs
Poudre Fire Authority
South Metro Fire
West Metro Fire

Connecticut

Danbury FD

Deleware

Delaware State Fire College

Florida

Broward County
Miami City Fire Rescue
North Collier FD
Pinellas County Training Officers
South Trail Fire Rescue

Georgia

Covington FD
Forsyth County FD
Sandy Springs FD

Georgia

Covington FD
Forsyth County FD
Sandy Springs FD

Hawaii

Hawaii FD

Idaho

Nampa FD
North Idaho Fire Chiefs’ Association
Treasure Valley FOOLS

Illinois

Algonquin Lake in the Hills FD
Carol Stream FPD
Fire Training Resources
Huntley FD
Illinois Fire Chiefs Association
Lake County
Niles FD

Indiana

Columbus FD
FDIC, Indianapolis (Fire Department Instructors’ Conference)
Lawrence FD

Iowa

Council Bluffs FD
Iowa State Fire School

Kentucky

Bowling Green FD

Louisiana

Louisiana State University

Massachusetts

Southwick FD

Minnesota

Maplewood FD
Minnesota State Fire Chiefs
Roseville FD
Saint Paul FD

Missouri

Florissant Valley Fire District – St. Louis
Muddy River FOOLS

Montana

Billings FD

Nebraska

Lincoln FD
Omaha FD

Nevada

Carson City
Clark County (Las Vegas) FD
Elko FD
Fire Shows West
Reno FD
Sparks FD

New Mexico

San Juan County Fire

New York

Clarence/Newstead Fire Chiefs’ Association – Amherst

North Carolina

Kannapolis FD
Leland FD
Raleigh FD

North Dakota

North Dakota Firefighters’ Association

Oklahoma

Clackamas FD
Corvallis FD
Medford FD
Northwest Oregon Association of Fire Service Trainers
Portland Fire & Rescue
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue

Pennsylvania

Forks Township FD

South Carolina

Spartanburg FD
York County Fire Agencies

South Dakota

Rapid City FD

Texas

Dallas Fire/Rescue
Dallas Fire/Rescue Local 58
Denton FD
Fort Bend County EMS
Houston FD
McQueeney FD
Mesquite FD
Missouri City
Waco FD

Utah

Salt Lake Valley Fire Alliance
Utah Local Governments Trust

Washington

Anacortes
Bellevue FD
Eastside Fire & Rescue
Gig Harbor FD
Kent FD
Mercer Island FD
North King County
North Kitsap Fire
Port Angeles
Puget Sound Fire Authority
Redmond FD
Riverside Fire & Rescue – Centralia
Seatac FD
Seattle FD
Sedro Wooley FD
Snohomish Fire District #4
South County
South King County Fire Training Consortium
Spokane FD
Spokane Valley FD
Tacoma Firefighters Local 31

West Virginia

Charleston FD

Wisconsin

Appleton FD
La Crosse FD
Wisconsin EMS Association

Organizations (National / Not state-specific)

International Society of Fire Service Instructors

Partner Organizations

Get In Touch With Us

Our passion is helping individuals and organizations grow and succeed!

Why Us

Mission Statement

Our Vision

Why is our work so important?

FDIC Keynote

George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award

Top Qualifications

The Following Organizations Have Hosted Our Training

Partner Organizations

Get In Touch With Us

Testimonials

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