It was 21 years ago that I started writing a monthly column for Firehouse Magazine. If you’re doing the math, that’s over 250 columns. What an honor it has been to express my thoughts and ideas, shape discussion, share information, and be associated with such a notable and outstanding publication in our profession.
A new honor
This past year, I was elected and sworn in as the first vice president with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). With God’s blessing of good health and the vote of the IAFC membership, I will become the president and chair of the Board of Directors in August 2019. What an honor it will be for me to represent the leadership of the fire service. With my current and future position in the IAFC comes an overwhelming responsibility of time and commitment, while still maintaining my primary obligation as fire chief of the Champaign, IL, Fire Department.
Since you cannot burn a candle at both ends, I need to press pause on my writing to focus on serving the IAFC and our members all over the world as we continue to advocate for safety, legislation and other vital interests for the fire service. I press pause with reluctance, of course. I have been honored and humbled to be associated with such a respected publication started by Dennis Smith, and to grace the same pages as so many outstanding, distinguished and esteemed fire service leaders.
Fire-based EMS evolution
I began writing the column in the mid-1990s, when I was a chief fire officer in the St. Louis Fire Department. Back then, fire-based EMS and paramedics were not readily accepted in many fire departments. I got some nasty emails from some readers whom I think wished we would return to the days of horse-drawn steamer engines and pompier ladders. The angriest responses I got came when I would pen sentiments like, “Most fire department are nothing but an EMS agency that sometimes goes to a fire call” or “Most fire departments pump more oxygen than water.” Yes, those were controversial statements that occasionally led people to confront me about them at conferences. This typically fostered good and spirited debates.
I was never diminishing the vital role we play in suppression or prevention but rather trying to emphasize that EMS is an essential and critical service that we also deliver, and it should be valued the same as suppression and prevention. I am certainly, and continue to be, an advocate for the critical mission of an effective firefighting force and our goals of prevention and education.
I am proud of the fire service and the gains that have been made in the acceptance of fire-based EMS over the years. The attitudes are much different today. I do not hear the same rhetoric or discourse from the 1980s or 1990s. I’ve seen many who started as a firefighter-paramedic rise to the level of fire chief and other vital chief officer levels in a fire department. Back in the 1980s (and before), it was virtually unheard of for a fire chief to also have a paramedic license. Today, many fire chiefs hold paramedic licenses and have spent time riding an engine and/or an ambulance early in their career.
Fire-based EMS is well established, here to stay and plays a vital role in almost every community in the United States. When you look at the national data for ambulance and first response services, the fire service is by far the largest provider of EMS in the United States. No other model even comes close.
Looking ahead
I will always be grateful to Harvey Eisner, the late Firehouse Magazine editor-in-chief, for reaching out to me and asking me to write the column. I also enjoyed working with Jeff Barrington for many years. I wish Peter Matthews, the current editor-in-chief, much success going forward. Pete has been with Firehouse for many years, and I know he will continue to do an outstanding job with all the great staff at the magazine.
When I am all done serving my term on the Executive Board for the IAFC, I hope to be back working with Firehouse. Until then, stay safe and I look forward to seeing you in my travels.
