Mutual Aid Fire

Letters / Chronicle-Tribune / Marion, Indiana
Published: Thursday, August 13, 2009 1:06 AM EDT
Keep firefighters at work

Becoming a professional firefighter was a dream come true, as I relentlessly pursued this vision until it manifested itself in reality. When I first interviewed for the job I was told that it wasn’t a lucrative occupation, was physically and psychologically stressful and hard on marriages. The Chief stated that the reward comes from saving a life and serving the community. I was also told that it was the most secure job that I could ever have, as nobody had ever been laid-off in the history of the Marion Fire Department. Six months later I received a lay-off notice from the Assistant Chief and my world came tumbling down. Two other probationary Firefighters ( Larry Emmons and Fred McMullen ) were laid-off also.

I was in shock and disbelief, as I had a wife and three young children to support, in a tough economic climate. One of the happiest days of my life occurred a year later when the firefighters union president called me and advised me I was being called back to service. It is my hope that none of the young men currently on the M.F.D. will lose their jobs, as I would not want them to have to suffer through what I did in 1981.

If cutbacks in manpower are necessary, then perhaps this can be achieved through attrition. Ideally, additional sources of funding would be identified and used for public safety. This may require some thinking outside of the box, but anything is possible if the desire is strong enough.

Firefighters serve the public not only at structure fires, but respond to water related emergencies, medical calls, hazardous materials spills and leaks, vehicular extrications and numerous other calls. Teaching cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and first aid to the public, fire safety to area schools, performing business inspections with pre-fire planning, and conducting fund raising events for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, are just a few of the ways that Firefighters reach out to meet the needs of the community. We can’t turn our backs to these young men as they would gladly give us the shirts off of theirs.

Brian P. Swanner, Gas City

We need to take a stand NOW before the politicians start to cut our staffing and reduce our budgets that PAY us to be ready at a moments notice(it’s already happening state & nation wide). We cannot allow those who make the decisions, to cut our budgets which directly relates to bodies on the trucks who risk it all for that one moment that pays off!

Hats off to the OFD boys they were ready & so should we, but we can’t do it with ANY LESS STAFFING!…OFD Tower 1(and all involved) “good job”

“WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court ruled Monday that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge.
The ruling could alter employment practices nationwide and make it harder to prove discrimination when there is no evidence it was intentional.”

There is the problem.”no evidence it was intentional” fortunately in our small town area it’s not so much of an issue. Not to say that a few “big city” bros that I know did’t tell me about their own experience with “affirmative action”. It would be ignorent to say it doesn’t happen these days. Just like racism it goes both ways.

You know, I didn’t like the title in this story. This is not about “white firefighters” as much as it is about firefighters and promotion process PERIOD. It is likely to think the highest score wins the slot. What’s fair is fair and we need to keep it that way. Black OR white, young OR old…dare I say experienced OR not so experienced!…( I can hear you about the last one!!!)

If your dept. sets out promotion parameters than that parameter is your judge (BTW if the parameters suck then form a commitee and change it!). Sometimes hurt egos go along with the process such as “that kid is not_____ for this position, Chief liked so & so that’s why he’s promoted, His dad/brother/family had something to do with it!” , albeit sometimes true, the score should speak for itself(that is why all scores should be posted dept. wide for all to come to their own conclusion).

The REAL test comes when you hit the street. Prove yourself. I have been told by mentors before RESPECT is everything in the fire service. “Rank don’t mean SH!T if you do not have the respect of your brothers in the firehouse”.

So if there is a problem with your recent promotions(alot of retirements round these parts recently FWBFD included) let the newly promoted have their moment. Let them prove themselves. Only time can produce experience and experience exposes ability and ability determines respect.

If they have been on the job a while, get promoted, and still suck…_________________ (you fill in the blank)

This was lifted from the Fools site check em’ out….
The 4 UPS

In our professional lives, especially for younger F/F’s, I have “borrowed” something from a Brother of mine, Tim Klett of the FDNY. It is called the 4 UPS.

The first is, Listen up: When you are first starting in the Fire Service, there is a lot going on. You are entering a culture that is unlike any other one on this planet. You will hear stories, tales and just plain BS. But listen carefully. That is our past talking. All of the information has value; it is up to you to determine how much value it has to you. Listen to the older, over-the-hill, past-their-prime, malcontents, for the little “pearls of wisdom” that aren’t in any textbooks. A lot of important information that will help keep you safe and alive on the fire ground is not written down. The fire service is very young. We are loosing our experience. The F/F’s that went to fires during the war years are slowly retiring. Talk to them before they leave. We are loosing our history, we are loosing our past. Don’t let this happen.

The second up is, Clean up: The firehouse is your second home. Treat it as such. And if you are the junior F/F working, you are the lowest on the totem pole. You get the dirty work, you get to do the dishes, and you get to mop the floors, and you get to clean the toilets. This is not based on any prejudices of race, sex, or religion. It is based on the fact that all the junior people before you did it, or should have done it. You do it until the next probie is assigned to that company. It is part of belonging, it is doing what you should be doing. And it is always pretty funny, because in my experience, the ones that piss and moan about doing the chores usually end up doing them by themselves for a long time. But the ones that just do it, the ones that are the first to get up to head for the sink after a meal, usually find that they have help. They become excepted into the “family” a little quicker.

The third up is, Step up: this goes hand in hand with the previous “up” but there is more. Be involved in your company and in your department. Attend company functions, help run them if possible. In NYC every company I ever worked in would have a company picnic in the summer, a Christmas party in the fire house in December, and a dinner-dance sometime during the year. Become a productive member of your Company.
Above all, go to funerals and services, especially the line of duty ones. Pay your respects. Become a part of the fire service by deed and not by mouth.

The last up is my favorite; Shut up. This one goes well with listen up, but actually goes a little further. Spend more time listening and doing than talking about it. Show by your actions and your deeds what type of F/F and member of this great Brotherhood you are.

In our personnel lives, DTRT, means take care of our families. Take care of your loved ones. Think before you act. And when all else fails, go with your heart, Do the right thing.
Say as you do; do as you say.
Say what you mean; mean what you say.
Remember, A man is only as good as his word. Talk is cheap; backing your talk up is priceless.

– Bob Pressler