Following is advice I shared with a recent graduating class of firefighters.
The first topic I’d like to address is the brotherhood/sisterhood. The brotherhood/sisterhood is a commitment that every firefighter makes to one another. It is the commitment to always be there for each other, to always watch out for each other, and to take care of each other, always! This commitment goes beyond the firefighters and the firehouse. It extends to family members and can be required any time of the day or night. I’ve seen some dramatic examples of this recently that I’d like to mention.
Recently, a friend of mine, an FDNY Lieutenant, passed away after a short but difficult battle with cancer. This story is not what happened at his funeral, but instead what has been happening since his diagnosis. His brothers and sisters from the firehouses where he previously served got together on several occasions to help their brother. On one occasion, they worked for several days doing yard work and home maintenance. On another occasion, they gathered at a nearby park for a fundraising BBQ to help his family cover some of their many expenses.
For the next topic, I’d like to start by asking a question: What exactly is the purpose or mission of the American fire service? Service! Some folks have jobs where they make lots of money. Others have careers that involve lots of travel and interesting activities. But we in the fire service have been selected for a higher purpose—service! Of course we fight fires. But we also handle water and gas leaks, flooding conditions, car crashes, trees down and many, many more types of incidents. The caller, the citizen or the driver called us! Treat every citizen, every caller, every patient as if it were your mom.
You are going to respond to some of the most interesting and dramatic situations during your career. Some will seem almost silly, like the woman who calls because her cat is caught between her house and her garage and it’s been there for two days. Others will be more dramatic, like a multi-vehicle accident where several people need to be extricated from their vehicles. Some of these situations will be solved and you will return to the firehouse feeling good about what you were able to accomplish. Some will not. You are going to operate at fires and emergencies that you will remember and talk about for years. And you will operate at incidents that you will never talk about again. Remember, no matter what we think the incident is, silly or not a real emergency, the person who called us thinks and believes it is—and we should treat it as such!
The next topic is training. Yes, some firefighters enter our service and go through only the training that the department provides. Others do some reading and studying on their own because they are interested in the work and always trying to improve their skills and broaden their horizons. Still others attend local and national conferences to listen to and learn from instructors from around the country. Many of these firefighters do this on their own time at their own expense. Issues, tactics, tools and techniques are constantly changing and being modified. If you want to be at the top of your game every day, every shift, keep your nose in the books and magazines and websites. Remember, you don’t have to get ready if you stay ready!
Lastly, I have a request: Step up. To step up is to jump in. When something needs to be handled, handle it! When a compartment on your company apparatus looks like it needs to be emptied, cleaned and organized, do it! When one of your fellow firefighters is carrying a piece of heavy equipment across the apparatus floor, help them! When your officer asks how many lengths of rolled hose are on the apparatus, run out there and find out! The firefighters who always stepped up were my favorite people to work with.
You have taken the first step in what will hopefully be a long journey in the American fire service. So, remember: Service, Study and Step up!
