A Couple of Issues...

 

I have two issues to discuss this week. The first involves something that on the surface would appear very positive and has many positive points, but also has an underlying issue that I think gets lost on many of us.

I love the fire service, it's honor and traditions among the greatest in the world but there is just something that we as an American Fire Service don't get.

 

I was reading a newspaper account of a fire department that had an acquired structure for training and invited members of the media to visit, view and participate.

 

These are some of the good points I mentioned....actual hands on training, a department that has enough interest and dedication and purpose to want to train. To work hand in hand with the news media to promote your department's activities is an excellent thing.

 

As I kept reading it seemed (according to the newspaper) that there was an absolute minimal number of personnel on the scene of the training. It also indicated that furniture was brought in an added to the structure to promote realism. It also indicates that the female civilian news reporter would be the "victim" under supervision of other firefighters "while the fire was being lit in the other room".

 

Now maybe it really didn't happen that way, but some of those things are a tad disturbing. No, nothing went wrong, no one was hurt, and the department got some great PR so why don't I just leave it alone.

 

I have made many mistakes doing live burn training in the past . I have used live victims in the past. I have served as a victim in the past. I have used flammable liquids in training. I have been pretty damn lucky too!

 

The NFPA live burn standard would say that you remove contents as much as possible and prevent obstructions, that you have a sufficient number of personnel on scene ( 11-15) that you never use live victims when you have real fire, (not Roscoe theatrical smoke).

 

I am under the belief that when we will cut corners on a planned known event, (when we know what we should do) what is happening on the fireground. What is the real message we send? Hey we don't have to meet this "minimal consensus standard"? Think about that....we don't even meet the minimal standard?

 

Let's look at our actions, try to comply with national standards as completely as possible and be as professional as we can be. This standard is written with the blood of our members who have died in training. Let us not have them died in vain.

 

Your sense of professionalism is what you do when no one is looking. Make sure we are doing the right thing.

 

The other issue.........

 

This second issue is completely unrelated to the first but is of a national concern. There has been much debate and discussion about the proposed statue of the three firefighters raising the flag at the World Trade Center.

 

There was some discussion to make one of the person an African American, and One of Hispanic descent to show a sense of equality and a symbolism that everyone was involved and affected.

 

My view is pretty simple and may not be all that popular, but I think we missed something....

 

Those three firefighters should be depicted as they are the persons who actually raised the flag. It was an event that happened and we should record it as that.

 

The men are all wearing a very distinctive fire helmet. A piece of equipment designed like no other and symbolizes the fire service. The three helmets on those men, represent every man, women, of every race color and creed whether they are paid, on call or volunteer. Those are firefighters.....We are firefighters.

 

There is also one small detail that these persons involved in the statue debate have forgotten...those men are raising the American Flag...the greatest symbol that represents this vast melting pot of America itself.

 

With that flag waving....I don't think we left anyone out!

What do you think?