A Sad Commentary...

As I sat down to write this I have only one thought that keeps coming back to me. I was actually prepared to submit another guest commentary but I just needed to make this point.

 

I have been talking about safety and almost consumed by it lately. I actually believe that I can reach some folks and try to make a difference.

 

My thoughts today are pretty short and simple.

 

On Wednesday of this week, we (the American fire service) lost another one of the 90 - 100 we will kill this year. In fact the three or four others who were trapped with him, and those that attempted rescue efforts will never be the same as long as they live.

 

Bret Tarver, an eight year veteran of the Phoenix Fire Department was trapped by debris inside a supermarket and ran out of air. Rescue efforts were begun almost immediately after a report of a FF down, but they proved unsuccessful.

 

FF Tarver has a wife and three daughters. The fire service will support them to the highest level we can, we will raise money, public concern and interest and we might even be there to help raise his daughters.

 

Published reports indicate the FF Tarver "died doing a job he loved". I am sure he was a capable productive member of his extremely proactive and progressive department.

 

He and they did what all of us do and have done right along.

 

It really doesn't matter though does it......He is dead, and another 90 are going to die. His wife's life is forever changed, his daughters, they guys and gals that wre at that fire that night, the in-laws and extended families, close firends, and most of all the people that he might have impacted had he lived.

 

Oh yeah, and one more guy was impacted...a former fire chief and a training professional all the way across the country who can't take it any more! All the nice things we will say, all of the tributes, all of the fund raising and support .....it is all bullshit! A 40 yr old man has been taken from us in the prime of his life. It seems it is easier to do this and arrange funerals, and fund raisers, than to really let each and everyone of us be diligent every time we respond to emergencies, teach or train others.

 

Give your thoughts and prayers to his family and friends and the fellow firefighters from Arizona. Support them by donations and funds and all that you can personally do from a distance.

 

Oh yeah, and after you say the prayers,reflect on your thoughts, and write your check, make it your pledge to your family, friends and co-workers, that you will do everything in your power to be safe and try to stop this from happening again.

 

We have safety standards, better gear and equipment, new technology, now all we have to do is change the way believe and behave.

 

Thanks for listening, and Please take care and be careful!