Homeland security, budgets, fire grants, USAR, staffing, politics. Some things never change. We gain a few yards, then we’re pushed back or stuck in the mud. The only common thread that joins the fire service is that fire will burn you the same wherever you are located.
Every year, we hear from elected officials, you’re going to get this and you’re going to get that. Some fire departments that are growing by leaps and bounds to protect their sprawling communities have the luxury of adding staff, apparatus and stations. Many others, however, must close companies daily, go for years without raises, and battle the local administration for every tooth and nail. For the latest information on what’s occurring on the national level, please see Hal Bruno’s Fire Politics column on page 18.
In some areas of the country, there’s a lot of talk, but no action. Over a year has gone by since the worst firestorms in California history. A blue-ribbon panel made 48 recommendations, but apparently not much has happened. San Diego Fire Chief Jeff Bowman will address these recent wildfire issues as the keynote speaker at the upcoming Firehouse World conference. Further coverage begins on page 64.
We are making final plans to present Firehouse World 2005 in San Diego from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4. If those of you in the Northeast and Midwest would like to get away from snow and ice and enjoy some pleasant weather, make your travel plans now. You can participate in timely hands-on and classroom training to bolster your fire service career. From thermal imaging hands-on training to career advancement, there are numerous courses for you to choose from. We’re looking forward to seeing you there.
Three firefighters were killed and another injured while they were on active military duty fighting in Iraq. A line-of-duty death is a terribly sad event; these deaths even more so, as these firefighters were doing double duty serving their country. Our deepest condolences to the friends and family of Sergeant Christian P. Engeldrum, a member of FDNY Ladder Company 61 in the Bronx, and Specialist Wilfredo Urbino, a member of the Baldwin, NY, Fire Department, who died in the same incident. A speedy recovery to Firefighter Daniel J. Swift of FDNY Ladder Company 43 in Manhattan, who was injured with the above-mentioned firefighters. Firefighter Stephen Benish, a member of the Cranford, NJ, Fire Department, also died while serving in Iraq, in a separate incident.
Recently, seven firefighters were killed in the collapse of the roof of a parking garage in Gretzenbach, Switzerland. Three firefighters were able to free themselves and a fourth was rescued and hospitalized.
In this month’s installment of Emergency Vehicle Operations, Mike Wilbur presents a very different look at the aftermath of a fatal fire apparatus accident. The account of this accident will have a dramatic impact on anyone who reads it, but should have a prolonged effect on anyone who drives an emergency vehicle. See page 44.
In his EMS column, Gary Ludwig reports on the effort that is underway to agree on new titles for those who work in the emergency medical service profession. The new effort is called The National EMS Scope of Practice Model, and it represents an attempt to provide a consistent definition on a national level of titles for EMS providers and what set of skills each provider level can do. Gary tells us that this program “could change the face of EMS with all kinds of different titles and higher levels of care for current EMT and paramedic titles.” See page 20 for the details of this project.
