Over the past few weeks, people have taken to the streets for protests large and small across the country. Most have been peaceful, but the general unrest also sparked some high-profile destructive rioting and looting that has turned lives upside down, damaged property and left many communities with a sense of uncertainty about the future.
As we are accustomed to every day, firefighters were called into action to save lives and protect property, and it’s important that the fire service continues to focus on protecting all citizens in their community.
I understand some of the tension, anger and feelings that people are struggling with right now, but it’s critical that we remember that there is no party line or political affiliation when it comes to answering the calls. The oath that was taken is to provide protection, no matter whose human life or property that we are summoned to assist.
As the riots became around-the-clock news, I kept tabs on two areas where I have lived: St. Paul, MN, and Rochester, NY. Both regions sustained significant damage. It was difficult seeing the destruction at the businesses and restaurants that I visited. Listening on the scanner feeds, there were plenty of familiar voices in what seems like days and nights of hellish conditions.
While St. Paul reports hundreds of businesses were damaged from looting and fires, Rochester’s firefighters—both active and fallen—were attacked. As the crew of Engine 1 responded to vehicles burning in a parking lot, now viral videos show individuals jumping on the front bumper of the rig, throwing rocks through cab windows and pulling supply lines off of the rig as it passed a crowd of violent people. As infuriating as it was to watch and listen to the chaos unfold, that night, pictures circulated of the fallen firefighter memorial being desecrated outside of the Rochester Public Safety Building. Days later, here in Fort Worth, the fallen firefighter and police officer memorials were covered with graffiti.
Talking with firefighters in departments big and small, there is a lot of uncertainty and confusion. Some don’t feel safe turning out for calls. Tools and equipment were stolen from rigs. One company commander explained how the city wanted to board up any glass at the station. His concern was that it would send the wrong message to the citizens: He wanted them to know that the firefighters still were there for them, no matter what.
Understandably, firefighters are feeling tension, anger, hurt and sadness right now, but whatever individual opinions are about different political solutions, to fulfill your sworn duties to protect the public requires that we first and foremost continue to earn the public’s trust.
We need to consider the unique role as part of public safety and the responsibility that comes with that before sharing personal thoughts and opinions via social media. In early June, fire chiefs were removed from their posts and firefighters lost their careers when they reacted over social media sharing personal opinions that created doubts that they’d continue to protect all citizens.
There’s a reason why firefighters appear as the most highly respected jobs in surveys, year after year, decade after decade. When someone calls 9-1-1 or pulls the handle of an alarm box, a fire truck shows up with the firefighters who are prepared to remedy the situation. Firefighters have earned and depend on the public trusting them to be effective in their duties. If we lose the trust of the public that their safety and best interests are the core of the work, we won’t be able to serve our communities. It is important now, more than ever, that, with all of the uncertainty, firefighters can’t forget to provide the same service that you offered since you first pinned on the badge that helped you to earn the public’s trust.
Firehouse Expo 2020 update
Although we were supposed to be gathering in Nashville at the end of this month, we made the decision to postpone the conference until the fall to allow Nashville to reopen and to allow travel to resume. Firehouse Expo is now Oct. 30–Nov. 1, and this year’s conference schedule is different than that of years past. Safety is our utmost priority for all attendees, partners and staff, and we continually are updating our plans to ensure that the great experience you are accustomed to with Firehouse Expo continues. Oct. 30, will include new and returning hands-on training and preconference workshops, followed by an evening opening ceremony that features Brian Brush as the keynote speaker. Access to exhibits and conference sessions will be Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The revised schedule (pages 38–39) includes fireground operations, urban water rescue, officer development and volunteer topics. We updated our pricing to reflect the fact that departments have seen changes in operating budgets; new, lower hotel prices are posted online.
Visit FirehouseExpo.com for the program/exhibitors and to register.
Peter Matthews | Editor-in-Chief/Conference Director
Peter Matthews is the conference director and editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department.
