In this powerful and deeply personal message, Battalion Chief Curt Isakson, Escambia Co. (Ret.)—founder of County Fire Tactics (CFT)—breaks his silence and sets the record straight. After more than 15 years of sustained suppression, workplace retaliation, and targeted attacks, Curt shares what so many firefighters have only whispered about behind closed doors. (00:32–01:20)
From his removal from teaching the internal Escambia County Fire Rescue “Beyond Minimum Standards” class (00:32) to repeated efforts to block free fire training for Escambia County firefighters (03:03–03:49), this video pulls back the curtain on what it means to be into the job in the American fire service—and the cost some pay for caring too much.
🎙 𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗕𝗘𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗗:
🔸 Why free CFT training was repeatedly denied or obstructed by fire admin (03:49–04:24)
🔸 The longstanding pattern of retaliation he experienced as an instructor and fire officer (01:02–02:29, 05:26–06:03)
🔸 How offering free access to leadership programs like CFT-ODP was labeled an “ethics violation” (04:24)
🔸 Why County Fire Tactics continues to offer over 200 free passes to events like Water on the Fire (08:28–09:02)
🔸 The emotional toll of being forced back to work before FMLA clearance (06:03–06:24)
🔸 Why he’s finally speaking up now after leaving Escambia County Fire Rescue (04:48, 06:57–07:27)
🚨 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗦𝗡’𝗧 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗦. 𝗜𝗧’𝗦 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟.
This video is not an attack on a union or fire department—it’s about the suppression of a person who has dedicated his life to training, mentoring, and raising the standard across the fire service. (06:43–07:27)
👨🚒 𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗧 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗦 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛, being harassed by leadership, and how his family and children stood by him while he navigated a broken system. (02:29–03:03) He talks about the true cost of making a difference—from accusations to suspensions, and the emotional weight of staying silent for years. (05:44–06:03)
💥 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨’𝗟𝗟 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗧:
🔸 Why being proactive in the fire service—writing books, teaching classes, creating videos—makes you a target (07:27–07:59)
🔸 Why giving back to the fire community shouldn’t come with consequences (08:28–09:02)
🔸 The passion behind CFT’s mission to raise the standard of fireground leadership and tactics (09:42–10:10)
🌊 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘 𝗡𝗢 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥:
CFT’s Water on the Fire brings together 500+ firefighters for elite training, with over 200 attendees attending completely FREE thanks to partnerships with benevolent funds, fundraisers, and sponsors. (08:28) Curt explains how this kind of access to real-world, street-smart training is not only possible—it’s essential.
🧨 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗛? (09:02) 𝗜𝗧 𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗭𝗬 that Curt can say YES to helping others without needing a board of directors, a budget meeting, or bureaucratic approval. But that independence—earned through sacrifice, hustle, and support from incredible fire service leaders—is what built County Fire Tactics into a national force for good. (09:42–10:10)
✊ 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗩𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗢 𝗜𝗦 𝗔 𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗛𝗢’𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗗 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞, 𝗧𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗬 𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗘𝗧, 𝗢𝗥 𝗣𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚. It’s for the instructors, leaders, and students who’ve been discouraged from doing more than just “punching the clock.”
🎯 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗜𝗧. 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗜𝗧. 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨’𝗩𝗘 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗘𝗟𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗬, 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨’𝗥𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗘.
🔗 Visit chiefike.com & countyfiretactics.com to learn more about CFT events, including Water on the Fire, High Rise Operations Conference, Fire Officer Development Programs, and more.
🙏 Thank you to everyone who continues to support the CFT mission. We will not be silenced.
