By Kevin Cole
Omaha World-Herald

OMAHA, Neb. — Capt. Paul "P.J." Driscoll missed out on a lot of family gatherings during a 24-year career as an Omaha firefighter, but he made sure that wouldn't be the case on his last day in uniform.

"When (Fire) Chief (Robert) Dahlquist asked me if there was anything he could do for me on my last day, I said, 'Let my boys work with me on my final shift,'" said Driscoll, whose two sons are firefighters. "The chief said that could be arranged."

Although there are numerous firefighters with family ties in the department, Capt. Driscoll is the only father with children currently on the force.

As Driscoll, 55, works his final shift today at Fire Station No. 5 near 19th and Burdette Streets, he will be joined by his firefighter sons, Pat and Jeff. It's a good bet that P.J.'s wife, Marge, and daughter, Nicole, also will drop by for cake and soft drinks.

"The shifts are 24 hours long, so he's missed a lot of holidays, birthdays and special events," Marge Driscoll said. "I would go with the kids or by myself. I think it bothered (P.J.) a lot more than it did us."

Capt. Driscoll said the new contract being negotiated between the city and fire union was one factor in his decision to retire now, but not the deciding one.

"A lot of the older guys that I came up with 24 years ago are gone," he said. "It's time to move on and let the young guys move up."

More than 70 firefighters have retired or put in their retirement notices this year as the city negotiates a new contract expected to offer less generous pension benefits.

Driscoll said he regrets that his job prevented him from being at home every night "to tuck the kids into bed." But he's glad to have been there to encourage and work with his boys when they wanted to follow in his boot steps.

Jeff, 29, has been with the department eight years. Pat, 32, joined six years ago after a 2 1/2-year stint in professional baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies' organization.

"I never had any doubt that Jeff would be a firefighter because he talked about it from an early age," Capt. Driscoll said. "Pat just left baseball one day and said he wanted to be a firefighter.

"I think it helped them to know how hard a job it is and how much you have to train for it. They worked like dogs to get on."

Driscoll said that when he talks with his sons about the job, he hopes they benefit from some of his years of experience.

"I tell my boys things like, 'never just rush into a building. Look around and see where you are at,'" he said. "Take a look at the whole scene.

"Where is the smoke coming from? If it's pumping out the chimney that could be a sign the fire is in the basement. Stay calm and let your training work for you."

For their part, Jeff and Pat relish the few shifts that they have worked with their dad.

"I hate to see my dad leave the job, but it's been pretty neat," Pat Driscoll said. "It's definitely different working with him as a supervisor than being with him as my dad.

"He's quite the character at the fire station. He's probably one of the best storytellers, and you hear different stories than you would at home."

The Driscolls haven't worked together often because firefighters from the same family are not regularly scheduled together. Chief Dahlquist said separating family members became a protocol in the department long ago to guard against a family suffering the loss of more than one member.

While there is no fire department policy against hiring members of the same family, all candidates must pass a basic aptitude test, as well as a physical fitness test and background check.

Jeff Driscoll said he was attracted to the fire department because of the example his father set. Jeff said he realized early on that the people with whom his dad worked were really a second family.

"I saw how much he enjoyed the work," Jeff said. "He's always told me the job is what you make it. There's no reason to go in with a bad attitude. For one thing, you are going to see your other family."

With a husband and two sons in the fire department, Marge Driscoll said she trusts in God for their safety.

"It can be a lot of worry," she said. "You just say a lot of prayers and hope for the best. This is what they wanted to do, so you just go with it." 

Copyright 2007 The Omaha World-Herald Company