Kameron Buchanan has over 14 years in the fire service, including the last 8 years riding Hook & Ladder 1 with the City of Asheville Fire Department. Assigned to a busy truck company, he has built extensive experience in primary and oriented search, victim removal, ventilation, and coordinated truck company operations on both residential and commercial fires.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Emergency and Disaster Management from Western Carolina University and is a graduate of the UNC Charlotte Fire Rescue Management Institute.

With a strong passion for truck work and search, Buchanan teaches aggressive but disciplined tactics built around firefighter accountability, victim survivability, and getting the job done under pressure. Backed by real fireground experience, he brings a no nonsense approach focused on skills that work when it matters most.

Dewayne Tiemeyer is a 24 year career firefighter with the Indianapolis Fire Department, currently assigned to Ladder 10 in the Brightwood district—one of the city’s most active and demanding areas.  His experience has been built through real world fire ground duty, in high risk environments, and in the moments where decisions matter most.

For the past 10 years, Dewayne has served as an instructor with FDTN, specializing in search under fire conditions.  His instruction is rooted in reality—not theory—focusing on aggressive search, discipline, accountability, and performing under pressure when visibility is zero and conditions are at their worst.

He brings a no-nonsense, experience-driven approach to the fire service.  Dewayne is committed to preparing firefighters for the job as it truly is—unpredictable, unforgiving, and demanding excellence when it counts.

Cortney Brooks is a firefighter with the South Bend (IN) Fire Department, where he is assigned to a truck company and serves as the Lead Truck Operations Instructor for the SBFD Recruit Academy. Since beginning his fire service career in 2013, he has worked in combination, part-time, and live-in roles before being hired full-time in South Bend.

Cortney has built his career around truck company operations and training, instructing firefighters in forcible entry, search, ventilation, and coordinated fireground operations. He is passionate about truck work, training, and mentorship, and regularly assists with truck company training programs and classes across multiple departments and training organizations.

Jimmy Mengel is currently a Firefighter assigned to Ladder Company 45 with the City of Charlotte, North Carolina Fire Department. With 16 years in the fire service, Jimmy has built a diverse and well-rounded career serving communities of every size–from small towns to mid-sized municipalities and large metropolitan departments. 

Throughout his career, Jimmy has played an active role in developing the next generation of firefighters by assisting with multiple fire academies as an instructor. He has also attended specialty schools such as the Northern Virginia Fire Rescue Leadership Development Institute and North Carolina Breathing Equipment School. 

Jimmy believes that first-hand experience, realistic training, and mastering the basics are the best way to build a solid foundation for passionate and exceptional firefighters. He hopes to pass on the knowledge he has learned from the many influential instructors, mentors, and firefighters he has had the opportunity to work with throughout the years.