Up where I live, we had no real spring this year. Last winter lasted about 8 months, seriously. Now I noticed that the leaves that had just started falling last week are almost completely gone from all my trees. Welcome back to winter in Chicagoland. As nature changes her seasons, we enter a new season as well: our busy season.
It’s no accident that our public education kicks into high gear this time of year, either. What we say and do out there in the public makes a tangible difference. Mark my words; we will be hearing a story about what some kindergartner did to save his family after having learned it from a friendly local fireman who stopped by his school this month.
I hear firefighters that originally don’t look forward to school talks come back afterward bubbling about what a great time it actually turned out to be. Not only have they performed a great service, they had a blast interacting with the kids. Kudos to all of you who devote your time and energy to this important aspect of fire service.
To Serve and Reset
One type of call we’ll see more often now are the responses to sprinkler system alarms and activations. In our department, we’re relegating valuable space previously occupied by grass fire brooms and assigning squeegees in their spots for the burst pipe calls. BC Michael Lee posted a great resource called A Response Guide for Sprinkler Systems. It’s a comprehensive step-by-step plan of attack that you can refer to when planning your responses. If you need a starting point for an SOG, or just want your officers and crews to have a quick refresher, take a look!
Your Cheatin’ Heart
Earlier this week, Chief Reason Art addressed cheating. He continues his thoughts in the second verse of “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and reveals just how rampant cheating has become in the fire service. When it makes the press, it is devastating. Art gives numerous links that show just how widespread it has become. He lists several questions that make us look inward to see if our actions (or inactions) actually contribute to the current climate.
The bigger issue involves each of us. Do we accept and condone such activity? If we allow it to continue, we risk losing the public admiration so freely given to us. That would be a heavy penalty to pay. Don’t let it happen.
The Reach of Brotherhood
For 17 years, Greg LaRue was a proud Fort Worth, TX firefighter. “I had my dream job,” he said. But his life unraveled about two years ago. Instead of a firehouse, he found himself waiting in line at shelters, living off free meals, without a penny to his name.
Read the story of his journey back from rock bottom in Monday’s Star-Telegram. You’ll find a perfect example of the “reach of brotherhood” as exemplified by the warm hearts of his brothers at Station 33. Joe Lowrey, an engineer at Station 33, said: “Even though he’s not here, he’s still like one of our own. He’s a good friend to all of us, and we’re all pulling for him.”
Stay stoked!
-J
Also on Fire Daily…
- Fatal Early Morning 5-Alarmer Eerily Similar to Fire There 8 Years Ago – December 10, 2009
- Those Who Are Tardy Do Not Get Fruit Cup – November 5, 2009
- If We Do What We’ve Always Done, We’ll Get What We’ve Always Gotten… – April 28, 2010
- Fully Engulfed Meteor: You Make the Call – April 15, 2010
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