When a probe becomes assistant chief, firefighters must make some tough demands

Dear Nozzlehead: I have worked for a fire department in North Carolina for quite some time. During my career, the department took great steps to become more professional and provide better service. We have four stations and are located in an area known for rapid growth. A couple of years ago, our assistant chief left to take a job with a larger department; a battalion chief retired within a few months of his departure. The events that followed still leave me in a state of shock.

In order to replace the assistant chief, the department took applications and ran an assessment center. Members of the department applied and went through the process. No battalion chiefs went through it (one removed his application); however, other officers did. To our surprise, the chief promoted a probationary firefighter to assistant chief. A probationary firefighter to assistant chief — you read right!

This guy had previously worked as an executive of a bank, so you know he didn’t know much about our business, and it showed. He immediately told everyone who tried to help him that he was the assistant chief and you would do it his way. He ran fire scenes, even though he had never done so, and his radio traffic embarrassed us all. He has been a disaster for the department and puts each of us in danger daily. He is more interested in college basketball and his golf game with the town mayor than he is in his job — or even learning his job. In the middle of a promotional process, he left to go to his second home at the beach! The list of his irresponsible actions goes on and on.

We have tried to talk to the fire chief and the city manager about these problems, but all that has happened is that we have been threatened, transferred or had other forms of retribution exacted on us. We have lost a dozen employees because of the assistant chief — and you know it is costly to hire and outfit new candidates. It takes away from the budget for tools and equipment.

The fire chief can retire in a few years, and with our luck, Joe College (with no fire degree, only a business degree) will probably become his successor. What in the world do we do?
— Frustrated Firefighter

Dear Frustrated,
I usually try to start off this column with some cynicism or humor, but I can’t do that after reading your letter, at least not right now. Your department is a fire call away from a disaster. A firefighter injured or killed? Totally predictable. Buildings burnt down? Absolutely. Attorneys swarming around city hall and the fire chief, deputy chief, assistant chief and line officers as well? You can count on it as sure as vultures fly around dead meat.

So many city-hall dwellers, such as city managers, mayors and the rest of their siblings and relatives, simply do not get it. Sometimes it’s our fault; sometimes it’s not. It’s our fault when we fail to educate them and the public that a fire department is like an insurance policy: It is rarely used, but when you need it, the quality of the service, the reliability of the agents and what you paid for it will determine the end result. In most cases, you will not need the policy. That’s why some folks buy the cheapest policy they can, thinking they will save money now and balance that with the risk. They think, "We’ll worry about it when we have to — after all, how many times do we really need it?" Odds are, they won’t. But then, one day — when it’s least expected — boom! Something goes wrong and the claim is made, and you find out that what you paid for will barely cover the damage, if at all. Then regret becomes the flavor of the day. Ever heard someone at your city hall say, "We can cut back. After all, how many big fires do we really have, anyway?"

But sometimes when city hall doesn’t get it, it’s not our fault. We do our best to educate those who are allegedly responsible for representing the public interest — and what "public interest" is more important than fire and EMS? We know that; we have to ensure "they" know it as well. In so many cases, we do everything it takes to ensure city managers understand what we need to provide service when citizens call 911. We train every chance we get (that means two to three hours weekly for volunteers and two to three hours each shift for career firefighters — no BS, no whining, just real serious training so we are prepared when the bells ring) and make the most of our resources and time. And even after all that, the politicians and mis-managers may still make stupid, predictable mistakes with lives and property … not to mention our lives.

A friend of mine lives in a city that has endured a half-dozen or so acting or appointed fire chiefs in about as many years. The department has some folks who are very good at what they were hired to do. But due to political game playing and maneuvering, those same folks have been appointed or promoted (with no formal training or advancement process) to some very critical leadership positions. For example, EMS personnel with limited fire experience have ended up commanding battalions. How should firefighters feel as they crawl down the hall of a burning building, knowing their incident commander has little to no fire experience? Nervous, ya think? And how about a chief who went from no experience as a company officer to one day waking up and becoming the chief? And what about changed job descriptions and reduced qualifications that allow buddies to get hired? Sound like a mess? But due to "saving face" by the higher-ups, and "makes ya wanna puke" political connections, the firefighters and the citizens end up holding the bag. And the preventable happened — several fires and rescue-related calls have been disastrous. Why hasn’t anything changed? Well, it may. But some serious intimidation has created an atmosphere where firefighters fear for their jobs, so they shut up. Sound familiar?

In your case, there ought to be a law against stupidity on behalf of those responsible for your community. A firefighter goes from probie to assistant chief? Incredible. And people wonder why so many firefighters and chiefs push for mandatory standards. When I read your letter (about five times to make sure I read it clearly), I thought, "Who does that chief think he is?" I’m sure the arrogance of some chiefs will be lifted when we question "who they are."

Think about it: The fire department should not be the playing field for a chief or a manager who has completely lost touch with the day-to-day realities of firefighting to promote whoever he damn well wants. Sure, there is a comfort factor in promoting a buddy or pal, and if you want to do that, do it in the sanitation department or the parks department — or hell, make the clown the deputy city manager! But a fire command officer? That’s criminal.

Fires may be few and far between, but when they happen, if the most qualified and experienced fire command officers are not running the fire — and I mean in command, with total dictatorial control, knowing what they are doing — the results are well documented. Buildings burn down, civilians die and firefighters get hurt or killed … and any of these tragedies can be a direct result (and responsibility) of those in charge.
So what should you do?

If you’re a union department, put this issue on the negotiation table. Although your normal negotiations may center on important items such as "rest time," comfortable beds, nicer uniforms or more days off, why not negotiate for something that might actually save your life? Ask the department to set requirements and qualifications for those who are (literally) in charge of your life. Put that on the negotiating table!

If you’re a non-union department, get some representation … quickly. This is a classic example of firefighters desperately needing representation. Why? Because the chief, the mayor and the others have totally abandoned the firefighters’ needs, as well as the public’s. Your need for representation was created by those in charge; they could have totally avoided the problem if they weren’t so arrogant as to think the firefighters wouldn’t notice the assistant chief’s lack of qualifications. Firefighters can see this kind of hazard even without a thermal imager!

Other solutions may include:

• Educate the other city council members and make them fully aware of the problem. Make them realize they own the problem, like it or not.
• Educate the city law director/city attorney on their latest liability. If Joe College screws up — and he will — they will have a lot of work to do … and plenty of ’splain’n to do, Lucy.
• Attempt to approach the chief or the mayor again (directly or indirectly) and try again to help them understand why Joe College needs to be back on the tailboard, so to speak.
• Contact your state fire marshal’s office or training standards bureau for information that may back up your argument.

Finally, if none of this works, follow the exodus and go work for another fire department. You are not quitting; you are being forced out. You may be saving your own life … and taking care of your family.

Many cities act and plan on the premise that "we have so few fires," and just don’t worry about the problem. They must worry about the problem. They are responsible for worrying about the problem — and we must educate them regularly and in an organized manner. There are few more basic and critical responsibilities for elected officials than public safety. They forget that. A lot.

Likewise, firefighters and fire chiefs must remember why they are there, as well — and why they have no choice but to hire the most experienced and qualified officers, friends or not. If it pisses off the mayor or your superiors, force the issue anyway. Bravery in this job comes in many forms.