In the fire service, accountability is usually thought of as a system incorporated into fire ground operations that keeps track of personnel on scene. While this is certainly important, it is only just one aspect of it.
Accountability encompasses a lot more than just keeping track of people. Let’s consider how the fire service is accountable to the general public.
The fire service is funded primarily by taxpayers. Tax-supported services will be found in large, small urban settings as well as rural settings. There are fire departments that are supported only by donations raised each year and perhaps some money from insurance companies and relief associations.
Regardless of where the money comes from, there is a factor of accountability from the fire service to their financial supporters. We are there to serve their best interests with fire protection and emergency service response. In essence, we are an insurance policy for that specific area and to the people who live there.
Crossing the line
The general public supports their local fire department on a whole, but there are times when they become outraged at what firefighters may be doing. I am referring to what is being released on social media outlets by way of video.
This video certainly has an element of humor to it, and in the fire station, it is understood as part of the culture of being a firefighter. Broadcasting this video and many others like it on social media outlets is where the fire service does itself an injustice.
Firefighters have some idle time in the fire station that will allow for some recreational activities to take place such as fitness, cooking and perhaps a few pranks. While the topic of pranks in the fire station can be debated, they still exist and do add value to the camaraderie of the crew working together.
However, those pranks do not need to be broadcasted to the world to see. By doing so, it allows the general public to start questioning what exactly they are paying for if we are producing pranks during our idle or down time.
The consequences
The more negative attention the fire department receives translates into rescinded funds.
It also leads the general public to mistrust us. If we are constantly producing videos or pictures of pranks in the fire station, the trust factor of our service delivery will be questioned.
So how does this handicap a fire department?
The small dominos that are being lined up are in the form of financial aid and policy creation. The less money given to the fire department, the less we can do in terms of maintenance, replacing old equipment, and even perhaps personnel.
The more policies we have to create in reaction to our idle or down time only reduces the ability to enjoy our job and build moral among the crew.
Keep what happens in the fire station in the fire station and this way we can still be accountable to the general public in a positive way.
