When I think of St. Patrick’s Day and the fire service, many things come to mind. One of those thoughts bubbling up to the surface brings a smile to my face every time. Indulge me with a re-post recognizing the value an experienced veteran with the right approach can bring to all of us, young and old.
With that perspective, I offer up a special note to third-generation firefighter retired Chicago Fire Department Deputy District Chief Eddie Enright who has over 38 years of duty having been assigned to engine, truck, and squad companies after serving his country in Vietnam. As he would say:
“Only 0 more days til St. Patrick’s Day”
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Over the years, I’ve attended a boatload of fire training classes which emphasized leadership, training, and safety. Most were team-taught. A primary instructor would be there periodically, accompanied by a great group of “assisting instructors” who would each bring a certain level of expertise to the specific topic at hand.
There were lesson plans to be followed, objectives to be addressed and met, and the test to prove that learning had occurred. It’s a method of learning quite familiar with firefighters worldwide.
But sometimes, the Fire Gods might truly smile down upon you and bless you.
As you’re sitting in the classroom waiting for the course to begin, you wonder where all the instructors went. Just then, you hear guffaws of laughter just out of sight (probably damn near the coffee and doughnuts). What’s going on?
“Da Chief” is in the building.
Not necessarily the current department chief, but certainly a chief nonetheless.
He’s been around for decades and he’s seen it all. He rose up through the ranks and gained the respect from his peers the old-fashioned way. “Da Chief” earned it.
He knows how to handle the pick-head ax just as well as how to handle the politicians. He knows BS when he sees it and he doesn’t hesitate to call it out.
Just like Underdog, he is humble and loveable. He listens to everyone’s views and becomes E.F. Hutton: When “Da Chief” begins to speak- everyone listens.
Down to earth. Real.
When you are blessed with the presence of this special guy, drop everything you are doing and be near him. Hear what he has to say. Drink it all in.
Not only do you learn from his experience and wisdom, but, more importantly, from the way he relates to those around him. He does not condescend to the rookies; he gives no guff to those with whom he may disagree. He is compassionate and concerned. His smile is contagious and his love of the fire service is completely evident. He fills you with motivation and oozes tradition.
While reading this, do I have you thinking about someone you know that could be like “Da Chief”? If so, make it a point to get him to engage with you and your group. Buy him a beer after class.
It will be the best time you can spend in any fire service training session.
WordPress Tags: IFSI,Enright,leadership,wisdom,motivation,tradition,Chicago,Eddie
You know, I really enjoy the dance that occurs between the top and the bottom in the fire service organization. At the top, the vision and direction of the group are put into play. Those at the bottom need to accept, or buy into that vision in order for the group to move forward in a unified and cohesive manner.
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Stupidity, Buttons, and Balls- Oh, my!
Whilst whistling Mr. Postman, I sit down and open my email, clicking through things to flush into my deleted items folder in a great attempt to stay ahead of the email pile that will surely accumulate. Items that catch my eye are temporarily pardoned for future perusal.
“Fundamentally, I believe that all members of the Saint Paul Fire Department’s uniformed division must share a common bond – a common culture – and a shared base of experience and perspective. We all must be confident in each member’s ability to operate safely and effectively on an incident scene or when representing our department to the public. It shouldn’t matter if we’re assigned to a hazardous materials team, an Advanced Life Support medic rig, or the Chief’s office – all of us should share the core competency and the shared experience of being first – and foremost – a firefighter.” -Chief Tim Butler
Caliber of posts relating to the Fire and/or EMS fields 
As if the American English language hasn’t been assaulted enough by the Brits already, Mark Glencourse (
The number of posts 
“This is just wrong,” Bruce said ripping off the lid and spooning a huge chunk into his mouth. “Wha-eva havven to buvverhood?” he mouthed, chowing down on the mint chocolate chip.
11. Church/Temple/House of Worship you attend:
My friends are state troopers, local cops, paramedics, dispatchers or firefighters. WE ARE 911. If you make me mad, who do you think you’re going to call for help?
“I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family,” Jeremy Black told a hastily created press conference early this afternoon. “I’m proud of my involvement in the genesis of FireDaily, and will always look back with fond memories of my short time here”,” he told the completely empty room.
“How many times did we have to tell him to ‘step away from the comma’? He had become a comma-holic, dropping them everywhere and anywhere,” Mitchell related, rolling his beautiful blue eyes in disgust as he sprayed the last of a Costco 3-pack of Fabreze into the area around the executive desk.
Essentially, a list is just a grouping of Twitter users, all of whom may be followed in one click. They may be created by any user, although Twitter is currently limiting a user to 20 lists and capping the number of tweeters on a list at 500. So, if I create a list called “Best Firefighters on Twitter,” I could group a few players into a list, and blam-o, if anyone wants to follow that entire list located on my Twitter page, he or she may do so.
So the boys were shopping and had finished grabbing the food items for the day. With a heavy day of training ahead, we were looking for something quick and easy. We found ourselves a pot roast to throw into the crock part with a big jar giardiniera peppers (set it and forget it and it makes the best Italian beef sandwiches).
Candy corn- ahh, the ‘Fruitcake of Halloween.’ First, we used to nibble off the white tip, then decap the yellow part before finishing off the orange section. Then we used to just scarf down handfuls of them. Then we headed straight into the bathroom….
Raisins- First, we tossed the wrinkles nuggets, then used the box as an improvised kazoo!
Pennies- my kids won’t even stop to pick a penny up off the street!
Chuckles- many of you might not remember those sugar-coated jelly wedges that looked like slices of lemon, lime, or orange. After tasting one, you would never forget it.
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