A makeshift warehouse being used for residential and entertainment venues; massive wood-frame multi-family dwelling projects at various stages of construction; high-rise fires in occupied buildings with occupants trapped; strip shopping centers with firefighters trapped; partially protected buildings with entrapments, deaths and firefighter injury; and the daily single-family dwellings with occupants and firefighters injured or dead. All bring vivid images to mind.
Recent tragedies
There have been several recent newsworthy fires—the Marco Polo Apartment high-rise building fire in Honolulu, which left three dead and occupants and firefighters injured; the fire at the senior living facility in Chesapeake, VA; the San Antonio strip center blaze that claimed the life of Firefighter Scott Deem and severely injured Firefighter Brad Phipps—all of which let us all know that we have more work to do and that we can’t rest on the all-too accepted reality that “things happen.” Additionally, the June fire at the Grenfell Tower in London created a heightened sense of awareness around the world to the dangers of fire as well as the capabilities of the fire department.
Let’s hope that the focus of each of these fires remain holistic, considering the many components involved, not just a single contributing factor. This is where we, as fire service leaders, must find the opportunity to enhance our message and create a synergy that focuses on solving the overall problem, not just zeroing in on the single solution of public policy changes.
Revisit history
As I have watched with interest recently the reauthorization of the U.S. Fire Administration and the Fire Act Grants, these reauthorizations are only means to assist and yet they are still inadequately funded, but obviously at the tolerance level of the current political powers. How much are the political powers of Washington willing to tolerate? How much are they willing to give the fire service in contrast to the expected grief of additional cuts?
What can we all do to join forces to not only continually chip away at the fire problem in America, but also to make some significant progress toward truly reducing the impact of fire on human lives and our profession? Are we too disjointed as national organizations and state associations to combine resources for a common cause? Are our politically correct desires holding us back from joining forces? Are our self-interests slowing us to a pace that isn’t keeping up with the political, economical and, most importantly, the modern fire environment?
Perhaps it is time to revisit the history of our profession and review the means by which we made significant progress toward reducing the impact of fire in America. From the Truman Report to America Burning, from Tampa I to Wingspread, each have provided a wide range of incentives and incremental steps in reducing the threat. Yet far too many years have past since the writing of these reports. Maybe it’s time that we come together as a united fire service to create a modern-day report that incentivizes and influences the political powers at all levels (federal, state and local) to take action and put an end to these preventable losses.
Take charge
THE fire will happen again and again. It’s time that we channel national attention to the issues and bring together the leaders who are focused on making a collective difference.
When is the last time all the national fire service organization leaders met in a focused environment to plan for a common cause? I realize that the National Advisory Council meets twice a year and does a great job, and that there are events like Wingspread that bring representatives together—but is this enough?
Is it going to take a president of the United States like Harry S. Truman and an inquiry of Congress to bring everyone to the table? We know the problem and we are the experts at providing solutions in the fire service, so why don’t we create the synergy and tell our political leaders what we need and drive our agenda toward preventing and mitigating THE fire from happening again?
