Fire Politics: Reflecting & Projecting

On Sept. 11, 2018, a group of fire service representatives met in Washington, D.C., as they do each month. It’s the Fireside Chat for those who missed my last article, “What Is Your Legacy” (firehouse.com/21014605), which talked about the importance of the fire service associations we should all support. As the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) works diligently to coordinate with all of the national and international organizations for federal legislation, what is in store for the next Congress—a Congress that we can’t know yet what its makeup will look like.

I could not be there for the Fireside Chat, unfortunately. My connections shared with me that the group started with where they all were on 9/11. I hate that I missed learning about the roles everyone played on that day, and the difference they are all making now in my life and your lives. I hope the exercise is repeated in both that group and other groups across the country in the future.

Establishing priorities

As our fire service and fire protection organizations prepare for the 116^th Congress, what are the priorities? Certainly, maintaining the Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) grants is always a priority, as is defending funding for FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration, but what’s new? Legislative strategy seems to always be maintaining, defending and introducing.

What can and should we introduce that will save civilian and firefighters’ lives, preserve properties and history, and maintain business continuity, the economy, the environment, quality of life, and all the things that our country holds dear and near? We missed an opportunity because of a technical glitch and politics to provide incentives to make high-rise buildings and residential properties safer. These properties are the higher risk for loss of life for citizens and firefighters.

As I have written about before, Chief Randy Parr (Texas) is committed to the need for residential fire sprinkler incentives, and Chief Charles Hood (Texas), Chief Manuel Neves (Hawaii), Chief Darryl Jones (Pennsylvania) and many others fight for high-rise fire and life safety. Chief Russ Sanders, Chief John Corso, Chief Chris Connealy, Chief Luther Fincher and so many others led these efforts successfully many years ago. Whose names will be added to this list? Whose name did I miss because I have never heard their story? What federal incentive can we add with special legislation or with incentives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Veterans Affairs, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), etc.? The fire service is the group that must advocate and politic for the improvements in fire and life safety for at-risk populations and properties. If not us, who? If not now, when?

Showing thanks

This group of leaders met in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2018, and reflected on where they were and what they were doing 17 years ago, but what will they be doing on Sept. 11, 2035? That's a hard question because all may not be here in 17 years, like those who gave all on that day in 2001. The real question is for those who are here: Will you build on their legacy? Will you engage to make a difference as they did? Will you remember and honor those who served before you? What action can we take today that in 2035 they will say “thank you” for, or more likely, they won’t even realize when or how it happened, which seems more the norm today.

With that in mind, let's pay tribute to all those who have given their lives to make the lives of others better. As we reflect on the past 17 years, what will you give and how? The group that met on Sept. 11, 2018, will have priorities for the 116^th Congress, and I know you will support that and prepare the pushes at your state and local level.