What does it really mean to be safe from fire?
In this very first episode of the Fire Safety Philosophy Podcast, we begin with a question that every engineer, firefighter, policymaker, safety manager, construction professional, and even family member should ask: What does it mean to be safe?
My name is Pavlo Lapikov. I am a Fire Safety Engineer and Investigator with more than 20 years of experience across multiple industries: municipal fire departments, architectural design, mining operations, nuclear power plants, and international consulting. My work has taken me everywhere from underground potash mines to the tallest high-rise towers, from older apartment blocks to Canada’s most complex nuclear facilities. I have inspected fire alarms and sprinkler systems, reviewed smoke control strategies, and studied fire-resistant materials and assemblies. I have also stood on job sites where a single mistake in firestopping or code compliance could put thousands of lives at risk.
But beyond all professional titles, my understanding of fire safety is shaped by something more personal. Twice in my life, I came face-to-face with fire and nearly did not survive. Those moments left me with a truth I carry everywhere: fire safety is not paperwork, not boxes ticked on an inspection form, not just alarms, sprinklers, or fire drills. Real fire safety is the way we manage risk — and, even more importantly, the way we think about it.
In this first episode, I lay out the foundation of my philosophy: safety is never absolute. Safety is controlled risk. And the way we control risk defines not only how safe we are but also how free we feel, how we work, and how we live.
What you’ll hear in Episode 1:
Why building codes and fire codes are written as minimum standards — and why minimums are never enough to guarantee life safety
How a building can look compliant on paper but still fail when exposed to real fire conditions
My personal survival stories, and the lessons I learned from both fire departments and major industrial sites
Why culture, leadership, and human behavior matter just as much as technical systems like sprinklers, alarms, or smoke exhaust fans
The reason fire safety should be seen as a philosophy of life and culture, not just as an engineering discipline
When people say, “I feel safe,” what they often mean is that risks are invisible, or they believe someone else has managed them. But hope is not safety. Hope does not stop flames, clear stairwells, or close fire doors. Hope does not protect children in schools, patients in hospitals, or workers in factories. Only deliberate design, constant training, and a safety culture that values prevention over shortcuts can protect lives.
Stay with me until the end of this episode, where I leave you with one unsettling but necessary reflection:
"When you say you feel safe — are you measuring the risk you truly control, or are you simply leaning on hope?"
This podcast is not just for engineers or inspectors. It is for:
Firefighters who want to understand how prevention connects to response
Architects, designers, and builders who want to go beyond code compliance and create truly safe buildings
Managers and policymakers who influence safety culture in workplaces and communities
Families and everyday people who want to understand how fire prevention can keep their loved ones safe
If fire safety touches your life — and it touches all of ours — this podcast is for you.
Subscribe and join me every week as we explore fire safety as culture, ethics, leadership, and philosophy. Together we will challenge assumptions, look beyond minimums, and search for smarter, stronger, and more humane ways to protect lives.
Connect with me now!
Fire Heart – Fire Safety Marketing Agency: https://www.fireheartfsma.com
LinkedIn: / pavlo-lapikov-fse
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