Valley Watch

Captain Richie Robnett joins Valley Watch to discuss the important dates for PFD’s upcoming hiring process, helpful information to help out anyone thinking of starting a career with PFD and tips to maximize the online testing process.

Senior Public Information Officer from the Phoenix Public Works Department Spencer Blake joins Valley Watch to inform listeners about the best way to dispose of your Christmas tree, holiday do’s and don’ts for recycling and the safest way to dispose of lithium ion batteries after the holidays.

Captain Mike Johnson joins Valley Watch. As the newest Public Information Officer to join PFD, Captain Johnson shares his story of how he ended up in PFD, lessons learned from his nearly 20 years on the job and offers helpful holiday safety tips for the holiday season.

Lt. Brian Rimsza from the Phoenix Police Department joins Valley Watch to discuss celebrating safely and legally with fireworks, how it’s never legal to celebrate with gunfire and important resources available to the community to help ensure a safe holiday season.

Captain Rob McDade joins Valley Watch to discuss the Electric Light Parade, the success of the 2025 Relationships by Objectives (RBO) meeting and an invite for the audience to join the PFD at our Holiday Open House and Toy Drive at Station 35 on Friday, December 12^th.

Jerry Brown, the Director of Public Relations for the St. Mary’s Food Bank, joins Valley Watch to discuss the PFD Holiday Food Drive beginning on December 5th and how listeners can join the PFD help families in need this holiday season.

Captain Rob McDade joins Valley Watch to offer all the best Thanksgiving safety tips and the do’s and don’ts of deep frying a turkey. 

PFD Multi-media Specialist Jason Bacon joins Valley Watch for a behind the scenes peak on how he gathers content for live burns at the Phoenix Fire Training Academy, mountain rescue trainings and more.

Captain Rob McDade joins Valley Watch to discuss the recent brick-laying ceremony to celebrate the beginning of construction on the new Fire Station 15 and discuss how new fire stations directly benefit the fire fighters and their communities. Plus, Captain McDade discusses the next Teen Driver Safety Program and why parents and teens should take advantage of the free program.

Civilian Public Information Officer Jody Oehler previews the expansion of the Teen Driver Safety Program.

Captain Cody Brooks, Director of the 493 Fire Fighter Foundation joins Valley Watch to describe the continued fight being waged against fire fighter occupational cancer. Cody also provides details on how listeners can help support this fight by participating in the upcoming 3^rd Annual Firefighters Unite Against Cancer Gala and the Fore 93 Golf Tournament.

Jody Oehler celebrates the huge success of the Battery Drop Off Event, discusses recent accomplishments for Fire Department members who earned promotions and as Halloween approaches, some practical safety advice for choosing costumes.

Spencer Blake, Senior Public Information Officer for the Phoenix Public Works department joins Valley Watch to discuss the City’s household hazardous waste collection program, the do’s and don’ts of battery disposal and whether Phoenix will be offering Christmas Tree recycling this holiday season.

PFD PIO Captain Rob McDade joins Valley Watch to preview what you need to know from a public safety perspective if you will be going to a Phoenix Mercury WNBA Finals game, the biggest do’s and don’ts of driving in rainy conditions and some additional helpful reminders for hiking safety even in cooler temperatures.

Deputy Fire Marshal Coleen Ramos joins Valley Watch to share important safety information about lithium-ion batteries. Find out the best way to keep yourself safe when buying, charging or disposing of lithium-ion batteries ahead of National Fire Prevention Week on October 5^th-11^th.

Nehemias Ponce from the PFD’s Community Risk Education department joins Valley Watch. Nehemias discusses the free Teen Distracted Driver classes offered by the PFD as well as information on a big Car Seat Safety Awareness event happening on September 27^th.

September is National Preparedness Month. Deputy Director of the Office of Emergency Management Kim Gathers joins Valley Watch to tell you the best way to get prepared and stay prepared for an emergency. Plus, find out how you can become an immediate responder by taking a free Trauma Bleeding Control Training.

Vice Mayor Ann O’Brien joins Valley Watch to discuss the successful Lockbox Program and give an update on the latest happenings in District 1.

Mike Spangenberg, co-founder and CEO of State 48 joins Valley Watch to introduce the new partnership between State 48 and the Phoenix Fire Department as well as share the origin story of his company.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona recently made a generous donation to the PFD to support and enhance the ice bag immersion program. During this episode of Valley Watch, Paul Penzone, BCBSAZ’s Chief Community Relations Officer. joins the show to discuss why Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona made this donation and how they want to continue to support life saving measure in partnership with the Fire Department.

Candy Evans and Melanie Perez from the EMS program join Valley Watch to inform listeners about the Baby Shots program and how residents of Phoenix can utilize the Baby Shots program for themselves and their family members.

Member of the AZ Task Force One and part of the AZ Rescue Dogs program Aubrey Klarfeld joins the show to discuss how impactful the search and rescue dog program was in the deployment to Kerr County, Texas as well as provide an overview of how dogs are introduced and trained as search and rescue dogs.

Civilian Public Information Officer Jody Oehler provides an update on the AZ Task Force One return from Kerr County, Texas as well as an update on the success of the ice bag immersion program.

Recruitment Officer Captain Richie Robnett joins the show to discuss the results of the big Police vs. Fire Charity Softball game at Chase Field as well as provide an important update on PFD offering online testing for potential new recruits for the first time in department history.

Public Information Specialist and PFD Public Affairs social media guru Tory Weeks joins Valley Watch to discuss the biggest viral hits of the PFD social media accounts and the strategy behind managing the social media accounts for one of the largest fire departments in the country.