A theme of personal safety for firefighters opened Firehouse Expo 2006 in Baltimore Thursday and throughout the five days of hands-on and conference training.
"Who's in charge of your personal safety?" Keynote speaker Mike Wilbur -- a FDNY Lieutenant and Firehouse Contributing Editor -- asked while pausing for the crowd. "You are!" he replied.
The 23rd annual Firehouse Expo began with Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Harvey Eisner, welcoming attendees once again to the Baltimore Convention Center. Thanks were given to the Maryland fire departments of Baltimore, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County and Montgomery County for providing facilities for the hands-on training prior to opening of the floor show.
Executive Director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), Ron Siarnicki, addressed the crowd touting the "Everyone Goes Home" program created in 2004, which established sixteen life safety initiatives aimed at reducing firefighter fatalities.
The NFFF Seals of Excellence awardes were presented to Firehouse Magazine publisher Larry Greenberger and associate publisher Jeff Barrington, Associate Publisher Chris Hebert of Firehouse.com, and Firehouse Expositions show manager Mary Velline.
"On behalf of the whole magazine, I say thank you," Greenberger stated. "Everything we do is aimed to get firefighters home safely," added Barrington. "We appreciate the recognition."
Superintendent of the National Fire Academy, Denis Onieal, also welcomed those in the crowded ballroom recalling how in his early days one person helped him get a start after returning from military service. Onieal said his life changed for the better because of that turn of events, and he encouraged all the attendees to take back with them to their departments all they can to help others in the same way. There were so many great instructors at the Expo that all departments should appreciate the learning opportunity they could get at the expo.
The Firehouse Magazine Heroism Award was given to John Dooley for his actions in the face of danger. Former Phoenix Chief Alan Brunacini told the harrowing tale of Dooley's efforts to help rescue a victim buried in debris at a structure fire, despite rapidly worsening conditions and no working extinguishers to buy him time.
Wilbur credited the NFFF's initiatives for lowering firefighter fatalities in 2005 to double digits for the first time in awhile, but amended that the total is still "unacceptably high". He derided the perceptions he argued some had in the past that a firefighter's life is worth less than the homeowner's goldfish. "It wasn't true then, and it isn't true now!" he stated to applause.
He vigorously derided the practice of placing firefighters who die on-duty for health reasons or driving mishaps in the same boat as those who lost their lives at the scene of an incident. Unlike a pair of his own firefighters who lost their lives jumping from the fourth floor of a building fire, he quipped that being shot out of a fire truck does not make one a hero; eating three dozen doughnuts does not make one a hero, and pushing the accelerator of an engine too hard does not make one a hero. He added that the work is dangerous, and those who are obese or have undergone heart surgery should not be fighting fires.
To conclude, he encouraged his audience to attend exhibits. "These are all people you can learn from. They are ready and able to share their expertise," he lauded.
Late Thursday, a packed crowed listended intently for over two hours as the four survivors of 'FDNY's Black Sunday,' in which six firefighters were forced to bail out of upper floors of a blazing inferno. Two firefighters perished in the fall, and a third died the same day in Queens fire.
Editor's Note: On Monday, Firehouse.com will have a full report on the inspiring, emotional discussion by the four survivors on the harrowing moments before their leap, and the road to recovery and brotherhood of the fire service since.
