Forge Fire & Company

08/31/2026

08/30/2026

08/30/2026

🔥MTS 2026🔥

The Forge Fire & Co family would like to take a moment to thank everyone who came out for Maximize The Search 2026. We spent 2 days in Central Ohio with top-notch students and instructors from all over the country working together to sharpen skills, execute reps, and forge an impregnable, mission-focused mindset that reinforces why we are here; to give the families we serve nothing short of the best, and to push those core values forward with our peers. This is what the Forge Fire & Co. Cadre was built on.

We would like to extend a special thank you to our training partners for showing up and giving 100% effort to this training opportunity!

More content from MAXIMIZE 2026 dropping this week. 👀🔥

08/27/2026

🔥 INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: BRANDON MORGAN

Brandon Morgan is a firefighter with the **City of Columbus** who began his fire service career at just 18 years old, only days after graduating high school. After spending several years working for smaller departments, he joined CFD in 2022.

For Brandon, training is where the craft comes alive. From something as simple as mask-up drills to complex fireground scenarios, he believes perfection is built through repetition — no matter the skill — because the citizens firefighters serve deserve nothing less.

Assigned to Ladder 1 “Top Gun,” Brandon has the opportunity to sharpen his truck company knowledge every day while working under Captain Sexton Towns.

While search is his greatest passion, Brandon’s experience has also built a deep appreciation for engine, rescue, and EMS operations — giving him a well-rounded perspective on the job.

Brandon will be bringing that mindset and experience to MAXIMIZE THE SEARCH this August.

📅 August 28–29, 2026
📍 Grove City + Hilliard, Ohio

SEE YOU TOMORROW!

08/26/2026

🔥 INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: ERIC

Eric entered the fire service in 1990 and has spent more than three decades building experience across fire company operations, leadership, and firefighter development.

Throughout his career, he has held every rank from firefighter to division chief and spent six years serving as Chief of Training for the Indianapolis Fire Department. During that time, he developed and oversaw department-wide instruction and helped lead recruit academy training for more than 450 new firefighters.

Eric currently serves as a Battalion Chief in the 7th Battalion and continues sharing fire service knowledge as host of the Hooks and Hoses podcast for Fire Engineering.

That depth of operational and instructional experience is coming to MAXIMIZE THE SEARCH.

📅 August 28–29, 2026
📍 Grove City + Hilliard, Ohio

Experience matters. Passing it forward matters more.

08/25/2026

🔥 INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: CHIEF DENNIS REILLY

Fifty years in the fire service. That’s the level of experience Chief Dennis Reilly brings to Maximize The Search.

Dennis is a retired Fire Chief and owner of The First Line Fire Service Training Company, LLC. His career has included service as a Fire Chief in Pittsburg, Kansas and Sunrise Beach, Missouri, assistant chief positions in North Carolina and California, and retirement as a Battalion Chief in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

He was also one of the original members of New Jersey Urban Search & Rescue Task Force 1, deploying on multiple incidents—including to New York City following the September 11 attacks.

Chief Reilly holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Penn State University and has instructed at events including FDIC, Command Officers Boot Camp, Orlando Fire Conference, Atlanta Metro Fire Conference, L.I.F.T., and Culture & Craft.

A U.S. Army veteran of Operation Desert Storm, Dennis also spent several years providing protective services to government clients in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Five decades of service. Leadership at every level. And a lifetime of lessons to bring to MAXIMIZE THE SEARCH.

08/25/2026

One year with Dakota!

Dakota’s growth over the past year has been impossible to miss. His maturity, work ethic, and steady progress have made him a strong part of the assembly team.

Excited to see what’s next!

08/25/2026

One year with Austin.

Speed, skill, and consistency. Austin brings serious value to the weld team every day, helping keep builds moving without sacrificing quality.

Strong year one. Keep it moving!

08/24/2026

🔥 INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: CAPTAIN SEXTON TOWNS

A second-generation firefighter, Captain Sexton Towns has served in the fire service since 2008, spending the majority of his career assigned to ladder companies and developing extensive experience in truck company operations.

Since becoming an instructor in 2013, Sexton has made developing firefighters a major part of his career. He currently serves as a Lead Instructor for Truck Company Operations at the Columbus Fire Training Academy, delivering realistic, hands-on instruction designed to prepare firefighters for the demands of the fireground.

His instructional experience also includes Firehouse Expo and numerous regional conferences, where he has shared his passion for truck work, fireground tactics, and professional development.

Sexton is also a licensed paramedic and remains committed to excellence across every aspect of the fire service.

Catch Captain Towns at MAXIMIZE THE SEARCH.

📅 August 28–29, 2026
📍 Grove City + Hilliard, Ohio