The English dramatist and novelist W. Somerset Maugham once said, “Tradition should be a guide and not a jailer!” This axiom is particularly true of the U.S. fire service. Many traditions influence our decision making and embody who we are as members of this proud and noble profession. However, they should not keep us from constantly evolving into the dynamic, needs-meeting organizations that our communities expect of us.
No longer can we subscribe to the thought process that we have more than 200 years of service unimpeded by progress.
The question then becomes what is impeding this evolutionary process? Obviously, there can be many factors. One of these is the mixture of different generations within our workforce. Fire departments now have a few traditionalists, baby boomers, mixed with generations X and Y. This not only makes for a very diverse workplace but brings many different perspectives to how we conduct ourselves and work as teams on emergency scenes and within the station.
This column will examine where the differences in perspective originate, how to best understand them, and to integrate these dissimilarities so that crews and departments can operate more effectively. By sharing our own experiences, thoughts and opinions we hope to help you, the reader, coexist with and lead your personnel with more understanding, empathy and knowledge.
Mike Nelms’ View
Soon after “joining” the fire department back in 1970, I had my first second alarm fire. I was riding the tailboard and caught the hydrant at 7 miles per hour. I never rode in the cab until promoted to Lieutenant. Every firefighter had a Red Cross first aid card. You put your SCBA on after the second-in crew relieved you. We had no protection on our hands or face when on a first aid call. We had a nozzle stack and chose the tip we wanted and, of course, brass couplings.
Our means of communication on the fireground was runners and hand signals. Away from the fireground, it was by telephone and a typewriter. Many accidents and deaths occurred because of slow and ineffective communications. Safety was lacking, big time.
When I came on the job, we worked 24-hour shifts, every other day, with one Kelly day a month. When we went to a three-platoon system, I felt the closeness of the firefighters and their families slowly fade. The type of people being hired as firefighters over the years changed drastically. I had served in the Navy on a submarine (The USS Grenadier 525); I had not gone to college to become a firefighter. I knew many trades and was skilled with both hand and power tools. There was no OSHA., there was no EMS and there were no females.
I am in the generation known by today’s firefighters as the dinosaurs. Many of my peers might be offended by that analogy. It does not bother me at all because I know the dinosaurs are the fuel of the future! Without the giants of the past, there will be no progress of the future!
Mike Stanley’s View 
Since I have been a firefighter, we have always rode inside the cab. You put your protective hood on after your SCBA face piece. There has always been paramedics on fire engines. Latex gloves had to be worn because of AIDS. Automatic Fog Nozzles have been on the end of the hose, which has couplings that are not brass.
My generation always had computers that fit on a desk. We had portable radios that could fit in your pocket. Technology and other advancements had rapidly made the profession safer, more efficient and sometimes more cost effective.
When I “came on the job,” it had changed dramatically during the careers of the senior firefighters. Not only had the job changed but so had the people who worked it. I was part of the new breed of the fire service. I hadn’t been in the military; I went to college to get a degree in fire science technology. I did not know a trade, I was not a craftsperson. Chainsaws and sledgehammers were foreign to me but I could tell you about OSHA and Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs.” EMS was what you did, not some new fad that would never last in the fire service.
As a captain in a large metropolitan fire department, I am faced with many challenges. I am now tasked with leading and managing many members of the older generation that I thought “just didn’t get it.” Not only do I have to relate to them, but I have to struggle to keep up with the new changes. If I don’t I could be viewed as one of the closed minded old guys by the whole new crop of fresh faced, bright and talented firefighters we are hiring.
During my time in emergency services, I have discovered many truths. One of those is that when Jules Pfeiffer said, “imagination continually frustrates tradition, that is its function” he could have been speaking about the fire service. It is the imagination and creativity of our people that vexes the traditionalists but drives the changes which continue to make us better.
Closing thoughts
As you can see, both of us have had very different experiences throughout our lives. Despite this, we have been able to overcome our differences in perspectives to work toward a common goal — the advancement of the fire service. Much like we have this shared vision, we would wager that the members of your department also share in this idea. Together we can bridge the gap that exists between our generations. In the coming months, we will discuss different topic that will help to achieve this purpose. We welcome input, feedback and suggestions from all of you. See you next month when we will talk about the importance of mentoring. Be careful out there!