Thinking Backwards...
This week I was in conversation with a close friend when the term "thinking Backwards" was used. I smiled a bit because it was so unique and it tied perfectly into what I was going to write about anyway this week.
On Thursday of this week it was the anniversary of the Vendome Hotel Fire in Boston that took the life of nine firefighters. I took some time on Thursday and again on Friday to share a training session with the troops on this fire, even though it was some 32 years ago. The way in which I did it was what drew me to this week's title.
Firefighters often say we will never forget. Firefighters often look back and reflect on things that have happened. But do we really ever think backwards?
Here is what I think this term might mean in the future:
When we think backwards about something like the Vendome, think about the manpower and conditions of the fire service and it's culture actually the way it was in 1972 or whatever case history we are looking at.
Think backwards about the facts as they were reported. (These may not be the actual facts of the incident but in many cases we only know what was reported and we should know the accuracy may not be 100%) Could that same fact pattern be in existence today and lead us to the same type of fire or result today?
Think backwards to the tools and technology of the fire service at that time, the lack of thermal imaging, limited use of breathing apparatus, and many other issues including apparatus and even the on duty staffing.
Think backwards about the working conditions, the pay, the discipline, the available training and all of the issues.
Think backwards and research about the families of the firefighters and that effect some 34 years later.
Think backwards to how family members must have felt when a brand new building was replaced and they have no replacement fathers, and husbands.
You see, just reflecting that the Vendome occurred some 34 years ago on Thursday doesn't quite get you the same effect as thinking backwards.
When we in the fire service are sitting around the kitchen table telling war stories and perpetrating falsities as firefighters can often do, take a few minutes and think backwards about all of the folks who were in your department before you. Think of the concessions they made to labor contracts to get you the benefits you enjoy today. Think backwards about the old apparatus you had and the modern stuff you now have.
The fire service today needs a great deal of forward thinkers for the planning and the challenges that are before us, but every once in a while even a forward thinker should sit in a chair, and start thinking backwards!
I leave you with these thoughts.....
If we do not think backwards, we will never know where we have been.
History does in fact repeat itself in many ways.
The next time you put on a memorial tee shirt or say the words we will never forget, then take a few
minutes and not just ponder or reflect, but force yourself to think backwards!