Fire Chief

Since the first of the year, Ohio has suffered several serious fires that have raised media attention. In just this state, there have been 14 to 16 fire fatalities, depending on the coroners’ final determinations. Two of the fires, which appear to be arsons, have claimed 11 of those lives.

Designing a fire station or facility can be both exciting and daunting. Whether it’s your first station or your 20th, each project breeds new challenges and marks a significant investment in the future. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be alone on the journey.

We’re less than a week away from the beginning of the much-anticipated auction of 700-MHz spectrum, but we still have no indication whether a wireless operator will bid on the 10 MHz of commercial D Block airwaves, which is supposed to be paired with public safety’s 10 MHz to provide the foundation for a nationwide wireless broadband network for emergency responders.

The organization Women in the Fire Service started in 1982 with a focus on female firefighters and officers. Years later, during a Fire-Rescue International in Kansas City, five women fire chiefs took me to lunch to talk about promoting a new organization for female chiefs, one that would address leadership skills, networking and other concerns of women chiefs. That was the impetus for the Women Chief Fire Officers Association, which started in 1997.

By Joan Buzzard
On Nov. 1, 2004, the Effingham (Ill.) Fire Department experienced a change in leadership that forever changed operations in this small southern department. The newly appointed chief was from the north and believed that teaching his firefighters ownership responsibilities was just as important as other training and quickly implemented these beliefs into action. While ownership and in-house accountability aren’t new concepts in the fire service, success stories such as Effingham’s are deserve attention, as they reinforce these principals and prove they work.

This week, a Missouri volunteer firefighter was sentenced to three years in prison for voluntary manslaughter for a fatal crash that killed a 17-year-old boy. In November 2006, the volunteer was responding to a brush fire in his private vehicle — no lights or sirens — at an estimated 84 mph. While passing one car on a blind hill, he hit another car head-on, killing the high-school junior.

The Jan. 7 edition of U.S. News and World Report offered “50 Ways to Improve Your Life in 2008.” The collection of articles suggests New Year resolutions that will help improve both individuals and their communities. My wife, Diana, who is a classically trained dance teacher, was immediately drawn to the article on learning to ballroom dance for both fitness and recreation. I was drawn to the article urging folks to join their local volunteer fire departments and serve their communities in an organized and time-honored fashion.

With the 700-MHz auction less than three weeks away, speculation is rampant regarding which operators will secure valuable spectrum, particularly for the 10-MHz D Block that will be paired with public safety’s 10-MHz in the band to provide the foundation for a nationwide broadband wireless network.

A fresh snowfall and a new calendar have a lot in common — both are clean and waiting for your input. Hopefully, you’re enjoying the 2008 Station Style Calendar that was mailed with FIRE CHIEF’s December issue. If you haven’t received one, let me know.