40 Years of Firehouse—what an accomplishment! When I think of all the fire service leaders who I know because of this … isn’t it funny how we struggle with the descriptor sometimes? Firehouse is more than a magazine or Expo or World. Firehouse is part of who we are as a fire service, and I am very grateful for the differences it has made in my career and my life.
I was blessed to be part of the first hands-on-training training at Firehouse Expo in Baltimore as well as the first Firehouse World On-The-Road Show. Yes, I have been blessed with Firehouse my entire career.
I am not sure exactly which year I started my subscription, but I know that no one could have mailed in more reader service cards than me. My mom would ask, “Son, you would think you are the fire chief with all this mail that comes to the house!” To which I would reply, “Someday I will be.” This is a great example of the reality of what you set your goals for and how you gain information to achieve them. I’ve shared that with my daughter many times, and I hope that she will find her passion in life as I did mine. Firehouse helped me develop and strengthen that passion for public service within me.
I started getting Firehouse when I was in middle school. I can recall at a very young age writing a check for my subscription, and I was so happy to do it. Why? Because it was my access to the icons of the nation’s fire service, and I could learn about current and historical fires. I looked so forward to the columns from Dr. Harry Carter, Hal Bruno and Chief James Smith, as well as the Hot Shots and Rekindles. But most of all, I would look at the classified ads and dream of the day I could be a career firefighter.
During my firefighting career, I have served as a career and volunteer firefighter. Firehouse helped me every step of the way with information, resources and inspiration/motivation to reach for the next level.
From my first subscription to attending my first Firehouse Expo, which was in St. Louis at the time, to the parades at Firehouse Expo in Baltimore, to my first Firehouse World in San Diego, Firehouse and all of the writers who make it almost a living and breathing being have made a difference in my career.
I was blessed to have met Dennis Smith, to be able to call Harvey Eisner a friend, and to now to see my friend Tim Sendelbach as the current editor-in-chief, remembering our college days at Eastern Kentucky University. It has been a pleasure to watch Firehouse grow and what an honor it is to be able to share the Fire Politics column with Kevin O’Conner, following a leader and contributor like Chief Dennis Compton.
Thank you, Firehouse! Happy 40th! You have been with me all 32 years of my fire service career, and I look forward to many more.
Shane Ray
SHANE RAY has been a volunteer firefighter since 1984 and a career firefighter since 1994. He has also served as a mayor for six years and the Tennessee Fire Chief’s Legislative Chairman for 12 years. Ray’s love for politics started as fire chief of the Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department in Tennessee, where he served 13 years. He then served under Governor Nikki Haley in South Carolina as superintendent and state fire marshal. He currently serves as the president of the National Fire Sprinkler Association and is a lifetime member of the Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department. Throughout his career, he has been committed to public service with a “Do It Different” mentality and that all stakeholders are important.
