The reality of the times

With the changing face of the American fire service it is no wonder we don't have as many old salts to sit around the table in the beanery and spin the great tails of old. The reality is that the adventures are still out there and happening every day, some of us have just forgotten to update our stories. As with all things we as a profession are changing and what our customers expect of us is changing as well. Many would say that Johnnie and Roy ruined it for all of us by planting the seed of change. Most of our organizations are no longer fire departments we are medical assistance providers. Much of our fire department time is spent teaching fire prevention and inspecting businesses to help reduce potential fire starts. We have lost money, favor, status, people and community position yet we scratch our heads and ask why our young techno-gens don't get it. I submit to you that it's high time for those of us from the cotton duct generation to admit the sacred cow has been slaughtered and stop baiting our crews with visions of what was and start preaching what is.