PIO Podcast (06/11/26): Firefighter/Paramedic Memo Monreal, Firefighter Paramedic Justin Sparks & Retired Oakland Fire Battalion Chief Lisa Baker

<p>Host Captain Shawn Millerick records live from Station 226, RODECaster on a trash can and all, for a conversation packed with brotherhood across borders, a full circle career story, and a mentor who showed up when it mattered most.</p><p>⸻</p><p><strong>Firefighter Paramedic Memo Monreal: Mexicali Training Exchange</strong></p><p>Firefighter Paramedic Memo Monreal of Station 226 shares the story of County Fire's recent training trip to Mexicali, where a four-person team trained approximately 60 firefighters from seven agencies. For Memo the trip was personal. Both of his parents are from Mexicali, and bringing his expertise back to the city where his family is rooted meant far more than the training itself. He shares the moment his cousin sent video of Mexicali firefighters throwing a 24-foot extension ladder solo after just one day, the story of driving the tiller truck to surprise his grandmother, and what it meant when the Mexicali battalion chiefs told him she was now under their watch. A potential next trip to Mazatlan is already in the works for November.</p><p>⸻</p><p><strong>Firefighter Paramedic Justin Sparks: From Victorville to Station 226</strong></p><p>Firefighter Paramedic Justin Sparks of Station 226 B shift grew up between San Bernardino and Victorville, got into trouble in high school, and was sent by his mother to live with his uncle in the Central Valley his senior year. Basketball became his focus, a scholarship to Simpson University followed, then a business degree from Fresno State, three years at Honda Finance that he describes as absolutely not for him, and eventually a career as a personal trainer. That is where he met his mentor without knowing she was a retired fire chief. He quit his job, drove Lyft full time for a year to afford EMT school, connected through Chief Munsey and Firefighter Dave Colombo to a ride along at Station 224, started at the fire camp in 2021, and came on suppression staff in 2022. His mentor surprised him at graduation and he had no idea she was coming.</p><p>⸻</p><p><strong>Retired Oakland City Battalion Chief Lisa Baker: Women in Fire and the Mentor Who Showed Up</strong></p><p>Shawn calls Lisa Baker, the retired Oakland City Battalion Chief Lisa Baker who mentored Justin at the gym without ever advertising her rank. Lisa spent 28 years with Oakland Fire and has served as the Women in Fire southwest trustee since 2016. She talks about the organization's inclusive mission, hands-on conference training