As Firehouse Sees It: Looking Back with 20/20 Hindsight
As we wrap up a year for the record books, and a year many would like to remove from the memory bank, it is important that we don’t overlook some of the positive things that came out of 2020.
We certainly saw some bad times, but the focus really should be placed on all of the good that came from this year. The ability of fire departments and their members to be innovative and think outside of the box was phenomenal.
The bad
The fire service was met with myriad new challenges and record-breaking incidents this year that caused devastation to the ranks of fire departments and many communities across the country. As we went to press, the U.S. Fire Administration reported 22 on-duty firefighter deaths from COVID-19, and numerous firefighters were hospitalized following life-threatening complications after they contracted the virus.
In addition to closing fire stations to the public for tours and visits, many fire departments were forced to shutter stations, to hold rolling brownouts and to short-staff in-service companies because of the number of members who were unavailable after they contracted or were exposed to COVID. The effect on volunteer departments will be felt for years, as they were unable to host the fundraisers that they needed to provide money for the very basics of their operations.
Last month, I made a quick visit to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul and saw the destruction that resulted from the civil unrest that occurred in the spring. Although some businesses were almost rebuilt, others still were burned out debris piles. I talked with several firefighters who responded to a dozen-plus structure fires in one night, and they all shared how the teamwork between fire departments, police and the military were key to keeping their crews safe.
When it comes to wildfires, California suffered five fires this year that made the top 10 list for total acres burned in state history, with those fires consuming almost 2.5 million acres alone. The August Complex fire itself consumed 1.03 million acres. Although many of the fires involved wildland/urban interface areas, the death toll and number of structures that were involved were less than that of the record fires in 2017 and 2018.
Colorado also saw its largest wildfire in history, with the Cameron Peak Fire, which started near the Roosevelt National Forest, consuming more than 208,000 acres and damaging more than 400 structures.
The good
Despite the number of bad situations that we all faced this year, the U.S. fire service really shined and showed its level of dedication and commitment to the communities that it serves.
Recently, the U.S. Fire Administration released a report that indicated that 2019’s on-duty deaths were the fewest since it started tracking deaths in 1977. The collaborative efforts of fire departments and organizations shined bright with that report.
The number of firefighters who were struck on roadways saw a steep decline this year, after a horrendous 2019. I’m sure that the decrease in road traffic helped bring down that number, but I hope that the effort to make the focus for 2020 Firefighter Safety Stand Down about firefighter safety on the roadways was a key contributing factor.
With academies shutting down, firefighters found new and innovative ways to create training, when many other professions (I also am talking to the volunteer departments) scrapped education for the year. Social media and blogs were filled with drills that got firefighters outside to hone their skills. Make sure that you keep that up.
Collaboration between fire departments, police departments, and other local organizations and facilities was off the scale this year. Between planning for pandemic patient treatment and transports and establishing incident-action plans during times of civil unrest, departments dusted off their books and developed rapports with new counterparts. That synergy needs to be carried into next year.
With departments facing budget and staffing challenges, so many agencies stood up resources to provide staffing, to cover calls and to share resources, including stations, apparatus and decontamination supplies. Those borders and barriers need to stay down in 2021.
As we close in on 2021, it is important that we all use our 20/20 hindsight personally and in regard to your role in the fire service. According to Merriam-Webster, 20/20 hindsight is defined as: the full knowledge and complete understanding that one has about an event only after it has happened.
Much like any after-action report from a fire or rescue incident, an honest review of this year’s operations is critical for every agency. There is plenty to look back on, and the lessons to add to your training guides and operating policies are many.
From the entire staff of Firehouse, we wish you and your families safe, healthy and happy holidays.
Peter Matthews | Editor-in-Chief/Conference Director
Peter Matthews is the conference director and editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department and currently is a photographer for the Fort Worth, TX, Fire Department.
