When Firehouse Magazine was first published in 1976, I was 21 years old and had not yet joined my local volunteer fire department. I did, however, have two college semesters under my belt studying fire science. That sequence was backward to the way most folks evolve in the fire service, but that’s another story that I’d be happy to share another time, one on one.
Back in 1975, the available books for the different fire science courses were very limited in number. Periodicals devoted to firefighting were even scarcer. At the time, WNYF filled the void for many of us who were thirsting for knowledge. Being NYC born and raised, I thought all fire departments were like FDNY. It wasn’t until I moved upstate for college that a harsh reality settled in. Much of what I was reading in WNYF did not directly apply to my small volunteer fire company. I was missing articles that were relevant to the reality of the volunteer fire service.
I’m not sure what Dennis Smith had in mind when he created Firehouse, but he certainly accomplished what I needed and wanted. He produced a magazine that offered me articles on big city and small community issues. He brought in fire service leaders who were willing to share their experiences through words and photos. These authors knew that their audience was as diverse as the country, and the monthly articles reflected this. The magazine was a smorgasbord of information that allowed everyone to try different things they may not otherwise taste.
Fast forward 20 years, and I found myself still a student. It was 1996, and I was a volunteer fire chief and a career captain. I was teaching at the state fire academy where I met similar individuals who were “into” the fire service. Salka, Lombardo, Conboy, Wilbur and Melfi were those people who are still “into” the fire service today. They each encouraged me to submit articles for the magazine to then-Editor-in-Chief Harvey Eisner.
My first article appeared in the January 1997 issue of Firehouse Magazine. Little did I know how that seemingly simple accomplishment would lead me down a path of continued learning and professional development. Within one month of that article, I received from the magazine a copy of a letter they received from a subscriber (see photo). It was at that moment that I realized that many people were students such as myself. I also saw firsthand how the written word can impact an individual’s life.
As the editor of the magazine, Eisner encouraged me to share my stories. What I felt were everyday occurrences became the subject of many an article for the magazine. Having peers and friends who themselves were authors helped me to continue to submit pieces for printing. I gained a tremendous appreciation for the works created by so many others. The magazine was a fertile environment where ideas, often controversial, were openly shared with the entire readership. Tens of thousands of subscribers benefitted from authors who each had unique offerings. Countless others also read those same articles when issues of the magazine were left lying around the fire station for all to read.
I am so proud to have been a part of the Firehouse family. Congratulations on 40 years of recording the fire service and its continual evolution. I am confident that the next 40 years will show that Firehouse Magazine continues as the leader in its field of educating the fire service. Indeed, they help to keep us all safe.
