When you think of Max Fire Training, what is it that comes to mind? Is it the mustache? Is it the Max Fire Box? Maybe you are not yet familiar with what or who Max Fire Training is. We would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to some of the people who make up the Max Fire Training family. We take great pride in the instructors who travel all over learning, teaching and making the fire service a better place. It is our hope that when you host or attend any Max Fire Training session that you walk away with the knowledge and confidence that will help you be a safer and more effective firefighter. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that everyone goes home safely. It is our goal to give you the knowledge and support to make that happen. In order to do that, we rely on an amazing group of instructors. They come from all over, with different backgrounds and different specialties. What they have in common is a passion for the fire service and for helping others reach their goals and levels of desired training and preparedness. You can be confident, if they come from Max Fire, they are active and knowledgeable. They love sharing that knowledge in a hands-on approach. This assures that you not only understand why you do something, but how to actually do it. It is their passion that makes us stand out in a crowd and will make you the type of firefighter that gets things done!
Shawn Bloemker
Shawn has spent 23 years in the fire service. He has a passion to train and to train others. He believes hard work and dedication can make the fire service a better place. He developed the Illinois Fire Service Institutes Fire Behavior and Smoke Curriculum and served as the coordinator of the Fire Fighting program at LCCC. It was this work that inspired the development of the Max Fire Box. He has worked tirelessly for years to develop a training tool that would be vital in training firefighters. Shawn is currently a career firefighter at Godfrey Fire District in Godfrey, IL. His enthusiasm is contagious and his sincere love of fire behavior will impact the fire service for generations. He makes Max Fire Training what it is!
Shawn has spent 23 years in the fire service. He has a passion to train and to train others. He believes hard work and dedication can make the fire service a better place. He developed the Illinois Fire Service Institutes Fire Behavior and Smoke Curriculum and served as the coordinator of the Fire Fighting program at LCCC. It was this work that inspired the development of the Max Fire Box. He has worked tirelessly for years to develop a training tool that would be vital in training firefighters. Shawn is currently a career firefighter at Godfrey Fire District in Godfrey, IL. His enthusiasm is contagious and his sincere love of fire behavior will impact the fire service for generations. He makes Max Fire Training what it is!
Brandon Helm
Brandon has a passion for learning and teaching that is exciting to be around. He credits his fathers 25 years of fire service as his inspiration to become and excel as a firefighter. He began his career as a volunteer firefighter in 2004 while still in high school and is currently serving as a career firefighter for the Mattoon Fire Department Mattoon, IL. Brandon is a nationally certified paramedic including critical care and flight paramedic. He is certified in many areas of technical rescue, including rope, confined space, trench, and structural collapse. What he enjoys most is teaching fire behavior along with hose handling, movement, and loading. You are going to love Brandon and the passion that he brings to everything he undertakes.
Brandon has a passion for learning and teaching that is exciting to be around. He credits his fathers 25 years of fire service as his inspiration to become and excel as a firefighter. He began his career as a volunteer firefighter in 2004 while still in high school and is currently serving as a career firefighter for the Mattoon Fire Department Mattoon, IL. Brandon is a nationally certified paramedic including critical care and flight paramedic. He is certified in many areas of technical rescue, including rope, confined space, trench, and structural collapse. What he enjoys most is teaching fire behavior along with hose handling, movement, and loading. You are going to love Brandon and the passion that he brings to everything he undertakes.
Cory Ellis
Cory’s passion for firefighting is a family affair that began with his dad, who was a volunteer firefighter. Cory at the age of 14, along with his brother, became an Explorer at the French Village Fire Department. He has served as a volunteer and career firefighter for 30 years. He is currently with the Village of Sauget as his career department and is a volunteer in Smithton, IL. He is the Chief of St. Clair Special Emergency Services, a regional HazMat and Technical rescue team, where he and his wife are both volunteers. He is a Technical Rescue guy but don’t let that fool you he knows a whole lot about everything. He has a hands-on approach to teaching that makes is not only easy to learn but fun and effective.
Cory’s passion for firefighting is a family affair that began with his dad, who was a volunteer firefighter. Cory at the age of 14, along with his brother, became an Explorer at the French Village Fire Department. He has served as a volunteer and career firefighter for 30 years. He is currently with the Village of Sauget as his career department and is a volunteer in Smithton, IL. He is the Chief of St. Clair Special Emergency Services, a regional HazMat and Technical rescue team, where he and his wife are both volunteers. He is a Technical Rescue guy but don’t let that fool you he knows a whole lot about everything. He has a hands-on approach to teaching that makes is not only easy to learn but fun and effective.
Kevin Schott
Kevin spent 37 years serving full time in the fire service. He began as a volunteer firefighter in Carlinville, IL in 1982. He also served his country for 24 years in the IL Air National Guard as a firefighter. After retiring from the IL Air National Guard he went to work for the Office of the State Fire Marshal for several years until he retired there and became the Fire Chief in Litchfield,IL. Having spent time in multiple areas of the fire service, Kevin is well versed and knowledgeable on many topics. These include HazMat, technical rescue, code adoption and consulting. His desire has always been to help people and make the fire service better. He has immense knowledge and is a great asset to Max Fire Training.
Kevin spent 37 years serving full time in the fire service. He began as a volunteer firefighter in Carlinville, IL in 1982. He also served his country for 24 years in the IL Air National Guard as a firefighter. After retiring from the IL Air National Guard he went to work for the Office of the State Fire Marshal for several years until he retired there and became the Fire Chief in Litchfield,IL. Having spent time in multiple areas of the fire service, Kevin is well versed and knowledgeable on many topics. These include HazMat, technical rescue, code adoption and consulting. His desire has always been to help people and make the fire service better. He has immense knowledge and is a great asset to Max Fire Training.
Ian Sasek
Ian began his career in 2006 as a paid on call firefighter in Godfrey, IL. He quickly moved forward and has been a career firefighter for the St. Louis City FD for 11 years. The excitement and adventure of the fire service is why he started and he still finds it to be challenging and rewarding. He enjoys Swift Water Rescue but his all around knowledge of fire emergencies and how to train and be prepared makes him a solid member of our team.
Ian began his career in 2006 as a paid on call firefighter in Godfrey, IL. He quickly moved forward and has been a career firefighter for the St. Louis City FD for 11 years. The excitement and adventure of the fire service is why he started and he still finds it to be challenging and rewarding. He enjoys Swift Water Rescue but his all around knowledge of fire emergencies and how to train and be prepared makes him a solid member of our team.
Jess McKee
John Schott
Monty Hawkins