Fire Chief

moved? Have you ever thought about going back for a degree or earning an advanced degree and wondered if that move was compatible with your career goals?

Previously, I looked at how clusters of homes on smaller plots of land increase fire hazards. In some cases, these homes are less than 10 feet apart. Fire chiefs also must view the challenges associated with the narrow streets in cluster developments from yet another angle — the actual fireground operations and tactics. Apparatus placement is significant in fireground operations. The narrow streets and long dead ends present major challenges to response and further delay rescue and suppression efforts.

This month Wyoming, Ohio, held its annual disaster exercise, which brings together key personnel from all city departments. Most of the department heads were fresh from NIMS training, so there was more enthusiasm. This was especially true of the directors of the public works and building departments, who recently completed NIMS 300 and 400.

I hope you find a quiet moment tomorrow to count the blessings in your life. Family and friends are as important as the air we breathe and the food we eat — life would be difficult without them. We should be thankful for each person in our life’s circle.

In some ways, stories are like Russian dolls; each contains a smaller story inside. Often, these smaller stories go untold.

Concord (Mass.) Fire Chief Ken Willette sent me a reminder this week to again request and post online the names of firefighters serving in the military overseas. Willette must have ESP, because I had planned to do just that this week.

If you know of a firefighter/soldier serving overseas who might enjoy a holiday greeting card or note of appreciation, send his or her mailing address and it will be posted on FireChief.com. If you know of a firefighter/soldier in the hospital, send his or her contact info along, also.

Take a look at the article about hidden war costs on CNN’s Web site. Based on a report from the House Joint Economic Committee, “the total economic impact of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is estimated at $1.6 trillion by 2009.” This article also says that “the committee calculated the average cost of both wars for a family of four would be $20,900 from 2002 to 2008.”

Recent increases in interest rates have had an adverse effect on the housing market, and new-home construction has slowed significantly nationwide. This current valley follows nearly 10 years of peaks for the housing industry that resulted in a significant surge in land prices and new home costs.

Recently, I spoke at the Peoria Regional Battalion Chief Academy in Arizona, which is designed to examine the many roles and responsibilities required of a chief officer. The academy was run in conjunction with the Maricopa County Community College District and participation is worth three credit hours toward an associate’s degree.

Make no mistake, fire and emergency medical service is physically demanding work — always has been and always will be. Despite the technology that has made the job safer and less punishing, fighting fires still involves people lugging hose into burning buildings and carrying Mrs. Smith down two flights of stairs at 3 a.m. Over the course of a 25- or 30-year career, the small aches and pains can accumulate into larger health issues.