History

This week the training bulletin and the commentary are tied together with just a slight twist. I think we should let our troops understand their history of this profession and how it has impacted them and how they do their jobs.

It is a sincere hope of mine that while we teach younger people the history of the fire service they will understand where our passion comes from and they too will take some of the passion and have pride in their personal performance.

In order to do this training, the training officer will have to do a lot of research and work. There are several approaches that a person could take to provide a history training.

* History of your own department *

Take the time and look through old log books old pictures, news clippings, the local library and compile the local history of your own department. This would include how many chiefs and who they were, the types of apparatus, stations, locations, boundaries and response areas, and large local significant incidents. In the process you will learn a lot of local history as well and you can compile this with slides, photos, photocopies, and PowerPoint starting in chronological order.

* Fire Service World & National History *

The fire service can go back as far as the ancient roman times with the Corps of Vigiles (do you recognize the origin of any other words here?) and through various periods in history to the great fires in London in 1666, to the history of early America, famous statesman, the civil war, the politics of Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed, throughout until current times. This history will encompass many of the symbols and traditions such as the Maltese cross, the fire pole, horses, mascots and all of the above. There are many great texts that were available, some of which may be out of print now, but Fire in America, Distant Fire, and even the new Delmar Essentials textbook has a chapter on history. IFSTA also has a book on orientation that had historical data in it. Captain Jim Blanchard of the Saugus Massachusetts Fire Department has been gracious enough to write some history links on this site and you could certainly reference those for some help. ( Captain Blanchard does go out to different departments to give a three hour presentation on this and if there is enough interest generated maybe we can bring him in and do a group session. Let me know if you are interested by dropping a note below.) Lots of research to do here but tremendous learning and motivational potential.

* Review of Significant Fires *

This other method for reviewing history is more like what I am referencing in this week's commentary so click over there and you will see where I am headed. An area that I am not going to touch in that segment fits here as well. Review many significant historical fires and compare them to your local fire codes and fire regulations. Tell the troops how those codes were written. They were written in blood of victims and the history that has gone before us.

As fire instructors I feel that it is imperative that we know our history. On some rainy drill night maybe around Memorial Day, you can let the troops know about those who have traveled before them.

If you would be interested in attending a history presentation by Captain Blanchard drop me a note below.