Where firefighters come to talk training

Meet in the middle!

Many things are being discussed in our service today. My take on things is a mix I suppose you could say between sides of the fence that the Fire Service has created. We have the "Safety Sallies" in the blue corner and the "Aggressives" in the red corner. I did the groups in specific corners for a reason, if you figure it out wonderful, if not, sorry. Many issues are in the front of our minds right now. Searching of insert name of building type here, proper size hose lines, ventilation, etc. We seem to split down party lines and to me this about the worst thing we could possibly do.

Here's a novel idea, break down the fence and meet in the middle! Many outstanding and far more intellegent folks tha I, occupy both "camps," so how about instead of "flinging poo" as Chief Goodrich has elluded to in his post and "Sir Lancelot etc" by Dave LeBlanc, both on this sight. If you haven't read them, please do before you finish this. These two gentlemen, who, Dave I know personnally and Art I know through his writing and chatting with, represent the corners. These two guys don't share the same beliefs on some of the issues, yet they are friends, and meet in the middle, in the battleground that has become of Safety vs Aggressiveness.

We all came on this job to be a fireman, to my knowledge no one forced you to get on that engine, truck, or rescue, if someone was forced to come on the job, stop reading now. Being a fireman, is a tough demanding and dangerous job, period! We've come a long way from hanging on the tailboard, trying to pull our boots up, to enclosed cabs, with Seatbelts! Wow, are we good are what? Spare me the butt slapping and back patting we all do, before the job is done. Our job is never going to be done, fires happen, fact and people die, if not for us! Real quick, if you don't like being referred to as a fireman and would prefer Fighfighter, the touchy feely PC way, just pretend. We have some of the smartest folks in the world working in our profession. IAFF, NFPA, NIOSH, EGH, IAFC,etc, these folks are giving us tools to put in our paperwork toolbox everyday and as firemen and bosses, we need to use them to help keep our members safe. We have hands on training like Brotherhood of Instructors, Vulcan training groups and many other teaching the apparatus toolbox things to make us better firemen, everyday folks!

Novel idea time! Lets use the skills we honed in our apparatus tool box, get the saw, irons, hooks, axes, etc, to take apart this fence and instead having party lines, like the politicians we all agree we don't like. Let's look together and have civil disscussions and conversations on how to make both toolboxes work together, to better enhance the Fire Service. Leave the fingerpointing and second guessing outside of our circle. We truely as Firemen are better than that. Be mindful of the families of the lost or injured Brothers the next time you feel you need to point a finger at any Brother or Department, it could be you tomorrow.

We are in the greatest Profession in the world, the bond we have with each other has no borders, nor should our professionalism to our citizens, towns, districts, and our country! Be Safe, but all buildings get searched, we say when and if that building is unoccupied.

< Previous Post

Comment

You need to be a member of Fire Engineering Training Community to add comments!

Join Fire Engineering Training Community

Comment by Nick Morgan on July 26, 2011 at 11:32am: Great post Jeff and excellent and thought provoking discussion among the brothers here. I find I'm often caught in the middle, as I work for a very aggressinve fire department, though I share many of the concerns with the "safety-sallys". I'm convinced more and more that the greatest key to safety is to check my ego at the door and try to learn as much as I can about fire behavior, building construction, and sound firefighting tactics based on the modern fire environment. And then as a company officer, to try to impress upon my crew how important these subjects are to safer and more efficient firefighting, and try to train them and encourage them to learn more on there own as well.

Comment by Joe McClelland on February 6, 2011 at 10:07am: Very well put Jeff. It is senseless to have the two sides not get along and work together.

Comment by Jeff Schwering on January 26, 2011 at 4:57pm: Eddie , thanks for getting in on this and the name drop is nice on hooks and irons Brother thanks. While we all, we'll most of us know it's not the 70's and 80's, we all should understand we need to catch up to the times. We have folks that to use the title of your blog, have no idea what a hook is or irons for that matter. I believe in the common sense approach. Use our books, experience, and all the knowledge,we have to stop acting like we can use cookie cutter philosophy on any fire we get. Your response was great Brother, not to long at all. Hopefully, mine gets the message across, if not let my know, I'm typing handicapped. Thanks to all.

Comment by Mike Camelo Sr. on January 23, 2011 at 1:31pm: Jeff: well put brother....it is a tough enough job as it is but the different philosophies cause conflicting aspects towards reaching the same goal......the most important goal regardless IMO......safety and safe operations are paramount at all times.....thanks....LT.MC.

Comment by P.J. Norwood on January 23, 2011 at 10:32am: Jeff, VERY well said. We can't work together toward the same goal from opposite corners! Great job!

P.J.

Comment by Ben Fleagle on January 22, 2011 at 10:35am: Jeff, heal up, brother. But in the meantime, this'll give you more time to plink away on your blog!

Comment by Jeff Schwering on January 21, 2011 at 3:12pm: Okay, let me try this again. A broken leg is no fun, but, losing replies is a different animal. Jon, I used the vacant building due to that being the hot button issue of today, that's all. Art, I was inspired by you guys because my first few drafts would have gotten me in trouble. Neither Jason or art are innocent, IMHO, nor innocently get caught in the middle. Chief Walker, You Sir ROCK! I can always count on you jumping in. Paul, thanks for the imput, you are so correct, this sight has intelligence and good spirited debate vs some who as Bobby pointed out hide behind false names to critize. More to come later, meds kicking in..lol stay Safe!

Comment by Jason Hoevelmann on January 21, 2011 at 9:29am: Art, that is exactly what I thought. Always the innocent bystander. Hey, stay warm over there in IL, it is about 3 degrees here in east central MO.

Comment by Art "Chief Reason" Goodrich on January 21, 2011 at 9:24am: Jason:

I'm not.

Some of the topics that I choose are.

And I innocently get caught in the middle!

Comment by Jason Hoevelmann on January 21, 2011 at 9:01am: Art, I have never known you to be controversial. : )

‹ Previous
1
2
3
Next ›

RSS

Welcome to
Fire Engineering Training Community

Sign Up
or Sign In

Or sign in with:

Policy Page

PLEASE NOTE

The login above DOES NOT provide access to Fire Engineering magazine archives. Please go here for our archives.

CONTRIBUTORS NOTE

Our contributors' posts are not vetted by the Fire Engineering technical board, and reflect the views and opinions of the individual authors. Anyone is welcome to participate.

For vetted content, please go to www.fireengineering.com/issues.

We are excited to have you participate in our discussions and interactive forums. Before you begin posting, please take a moment to read our community policy page.

Be Alert for Spam
We actively monitor the community for spam, however some does slip through. Please use common sense and caution when clicking links. If you suspect you've been hit by spam, e-mail peter.prochilo@clarionevents.com.