By Jay Lowry
Those who fashion themselves the conscience of the fire service were howling mad over the Frank Ricci speech at FDIC back in April. For many it was another Ray McCormack-type speech and one has to start wondering if the memo warriors are getting a little worried.
Having successfully avoided the rigors of the fire service many of the mavens of safety are staff officers or people who can write a great memo but who don’t understand the line firefighter. Some firefighters believe the ratio of memo warriors to good, veteran firefighters is about four to one.
The facts are simple. Firefighting is dangerous and duty is paramount. You don’t have a duty to die but you do have a duty that may result in death. Those opposed to doing their duty should look elsewhere for a career.
So many talk about managing the department or their firefighters. Nothing can be said worse about a person than “he’s a good manager” of people. You manage stock, you lead people.
The difference is substantial and has resulted in far too many political appointees as Fire Chief. They don’t carry the respect of the men and women on the floor.
Out on the line one must do the job. This involves putting oneself in hazardous situations without a 100 percent chance of survival. Much of the “zero injury/death” argument is pure myth anyway.
One cannot be safe all the time anymore than one can avoid aging. Life offers danger at every turn.
Firefighting is not done in a sterile environment. All due respect to IFSTA and other great teachers aside, most firefighters admit they do things differently on the fireground because they have to get the job done.
This is the same in every high risk profession. One shouldn’t avoid safety. It’s important.
Duty, however, is at least as important and should be more important to those who go in harm’s way.