As I prepare for Wingspread VIII—a gathering of fire service leaders that’s focused on examining trends and challenges in the future of the U.S. fire service—I find myself reflecting on a similar meeting in 2021 in Racine, WI. During that event, one theme rose above all others: When people are in trouble, they call the fire department, and most departments are deemed all-hazards responders.
The fire service has evolved well beyond its traditional role, and the responsibility of being the Swiss Army Knife for your community carries enormous weight. It’s far beyond the fires and medical emergencies for which citizens call 9-1-1; it’s also accidents, drownings and rescues, and that variety of responses is what we proudly highlight in this year’s Firehouse Valor and Community Service Awards, which opens on page 20.
These stories of courage, heroism and determination highlight the extraordinary breadth of the work that you do, which often is overlooked and downplayed because of the belief in the firehouse of “We’re just doing our job.” Although that’s true, it’s a privilege to identify the efforts that are put forth by the American fire service.
For more than two decades, I’ve had the honor of reading these nominations in their raw, unedited form. Some chiefs write a very basic narrative, like a fire report: We arrived, we put water on the fire, and we made a few rescues. Others detail the myriad challenges that only were witnessed by those inside to help our judges to understand the degree of both the danger and the focus that was required of the firefighters to accomplish the mission.
Training and preparedness often are attributed to the outcomes of these incidents, but the degree to which a firefighter must be prepared is massive. I believe that the articles that you read in Firehouse help to prepare you for the “big one,” one page at a time.
Similar to the 2024 awards, I had dinner but a few blocks away from where one of the incidents would unfold within hours. For one of this year’s top Unit Citation awards, daring actions and coordinated teamwork took place in Colonie, NY, just two miles from the hotel where I stayed the night before an early morning flight. I remember hearing the sirens as I wrapped up work before bed, briefly considering pulling up a scanner feed but ultimately turning in for the night. On the 5 a.m. news, I learned that a devastating fire occurred only a couple of blocks from where I had dinner with a friend.
Those neighborhoods were quiet the nights that I was there, but it all changed. I have to wonder, what kind of training or discussions took place the day that I was there that resulted in acts of valor.
Equally important are the efforts that are recognized through the Thomas Carr Community Service Award. They highlight initiatives that are focused on fire and life-safety education and connection. Whether it’s teaching children or workers about fire safety, knowing how to react during an active-shooter scenario or visiting a fire station, these efforts build the trust that allows the fire service to be effective long before an emergency call ever is placed.
There’s an ongoing debate in some circles about whether fire departments must “prove their value” to their community. The answer already is evident in many communities: Fires are down, and fire deaths and injuries also are trending down thanks to those who are involved with community outreach.
As we look ahead to the conversations at Wingspread VIII, these stories set a benchmark for excellence as the fire services continues to adapt and meet the evolving needs of the communities that it serves. No matter what, they trust you enough to call.
