Fire Chief

Since Alan Brunacini wrote the Essentials of Fire Department Customer Service in 1996, fire and emergency services agencies have engaged in vigorous discussions about ways to add value to their service by focusing on “Mrs. Smith.”

When my father and brothers were firefighters in the 1970s, I listened for calls about an injured firefighter on our scanner, hearing the chief called for the chaplain and the chief’s wife to pick up the injured firefighter’s wife.

My mom and I would freeze at each call. With three family members at a fire scene, the risk factor is higher. Thankfully, the department never lost a firefighter, and my two brothers since are retired safely.

Has the fire service become just another vocal, disaffected self-interest group? Are we signaling the community that we not only deserve their respect but also demand rewards for our service beyond reasonable compensation for our labor and expenses? What does our behavior say about our values?

In a recent issue of the Building Safety Journal International Code Council CEO Richard Weiland talks about the fire service’s increased participation in the building-code process. I think it’s important to note that ICC recognizes this shift and its importance to the code industry.

I realize the FIRE Grants are a touchy subject, especially because the funds are fought for every year. Still, early this year I wrote to one of the leaders at the U.S. Fire Administration and asked if it might be beneficial to limit how frequently a fire department could receive a FIRE Grant — for example, if a department receives a FIRE Grant one year, then it would have to wait one year before it could apply again. This would help spread the money a little further.

The fire service could learn a lot from modernist architects, who deconstructed and renewed architecture by focusing on its essential purpose: making buildings work for people. How could we make the fire service work better for our communities?

Get a group of firefighters together in any setting and ask them what they like about being a firefighter. It won’t be long before someone talks about the “fellowship.” I’d like to share a story about a firefighter who does more than talk about it — he lives it.

Last week while I was at FAMA/FEMSA meetings in Monterey, Calif., I saw two fire trucks stopped at a traffic light. I couldn’t see if the driver of the old tiller truck was wearing a seatbelt, so I asked him if he was. He replied that the old truck didn’t have a shoulder strap, but that we was wearing the lapbelt.

The second apparatus was a newer model, however, and I didn’t see a shoulder strap on that navy-shirted driver either.

The AFG program is constantly looking to document success stories. These success stories help illustrate and reinforce the value of the program and how it has made a difference in our ability as the fire service to handle both routine and extraordinary emergencies.

Remember that the term for fuel (the structure) in the fire tetrahedron is “reducing agent.” If structural members are being reduced (consumed), why are we surprised when the building falls down?