Displays of Heroism

By Jay Lowry   

The debate often rages about money and staffing, and whether or not people need to stop entering burning buildings. Much of the discussion is emotional and it seems only reflection allows for a rational meeting of the minds to take place. However, with the price of fire protection on display daily it's no wonder people become emotional.

The parents of a 3-year-old living in a suburban home will tell you they want well staffed fire apparatus showing up when there is an emergency. Firefighters, making an aggressive attack, find the child in a bedroom and despite the significant danger firefighters make the grab and save a life.

That's a display of heroism.

Firefighters respond to an historic home with fire showing out of the Charley side. Making a quick interior attack, firefighters pull ceilings and stop the horizontal spread of the fire. They could have taken the easy way out but firefighters were prepared and did their job. Family heirlooms are saved and an elderly couple has memories.

That's a display of heroism.

On a cold night, a report of fire comes in at a six-story commercial occupancy. Smoke is visible once firefighters enter the number one stairwell. As they ascend they begin to feel heat, and about the third floor it is so hot firefighters aren't able to make it to the fourth. As they report to command, they hear a desperate radio call from a fellow firefighter who was searching the fifth floor. He is lost and disoriented. The crew in the stairwell hooks into the standpipe system and fighting through extreme heat, push the fire back into the fourth floor and truck company personnel squeeze by to get to the firefighter.

That's a display of heroism.

A company officer steps off a rig with his three firefighters and sees a one-story frame fully involved. His firefighters, trained to be aggressive, are looking at their officer awaiting his words. He swiftly sizes up the situation and orders a 2.5 inch line stretched. Based on his experience on the line, there can be no initial entry. It would be suicide to try to enter a fully involved house. His crew works the deuce and a half to knock down the flames until they can make entry.

That’s a display of heroism.