Fire Politics: What Are We Waiting On?

The only time I get to see a television is when I am in a hotel room, but when I am there it’s either the 2016 presidential election or a lot of problems waiting for a solution. The fire service has always been in the business of solving problems and, for the most part, it hasn’t mattered who was president of the United States. However, there have been presidents and even almost-presidents who have helped improve our national fire service presence and capacity.

• President Woodrow Wilson declared the first Fire Prevention Week in 1920 following the Great Chicago Fire.
• President Harry Truman created the President’s Conference on Fire Prevention, which was held in 1947 and established priorities that are still relevant today.
• President Richard Nixon commissioned the America Burning committee in 1971, with the report completed in 1973.
• President Gerald Ford signed into law the National Fire Prevention and Control Act in 1974. It created the U. S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Academy.
• President Jimmy Carter formed the Federal Emergency Management Agency in 1979.
• President Bill Clinton was instrumental in the creation of COPS and Fire Act grants to provide funding for fire departments.

Taking a moment to pause and acknowledge those significant mileposts allows us the opportunity to realize the importance of working with our elected officials to support the delivery of community fire protection. We don’t have to wait for national elections to solve problems or make a difference locally. How can we as fire chiefs, firefighters, fire officers, fire marshals—best serve the citizens and keep our fellow firefighters and fire resources safe? The answer is to make improvements at the local and state level.

I realized this recently when national fire organizations, industry associations, and advocates were on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. promoting the life savings, economical, and environmental benefits of the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act (FSIA). Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) introduced the FSIA S. 2068, along with Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) who introduced companion house legislation H.R. 3591.

While we are all excited about having federal legislation to rally around, it’s a shame we have waited so long to adopt incentives that were offered after the Station Nightclub fire. I listened intently as survivor Rob Feeney said in every meeting with every person we could talk to on Nov. 4, 2015, “One hundred people died, including my two friends and fiancé. This fire left not only 100 people dead and over 200, including myself, required millions of dollars worth of medical care and the bills that come with it. It left 72 children without at least one parent, many losing both parents.”

Think about Rob’s words and the significance of their message. How can we advocate for life-saving legislation that will prevent this from happening to others?  The answer is support the FSIA by reaching out to your senators and congressional leaders asking directly for their support.

What are we waiting on to make advances in fire protection? Responding after the event is a critical part of our service, but preventing the event or mitigating its impact should be a vital part of our role and our number one responsibility. As I have written about in previous columns, it should not take a tragedy to create change.

Recent media reports and blogs have referred to the adoption of the latest codes and standards as “over-reaching government mandates.” Let’s remind those saying that, all who only have one goal, sales and profit, that the codes and standards are a minimum. This should not be a battle of industry versus industry, it should be about service and common sense. Oh wait, that’s what we are waiting on! A culture of service and common sense. Perhaps it is up to us to create this culture that we know is needed.

I’m not waiting on it. I am going to work diligently at the local, state, federal, and international level to promote fire and life safety for all. As the recent event held by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation coined the phrase “Leading Life Safety….Living Life Safety” – I’m all in!

Why do elected officials want to help after a tragedy and where are all the stakeholders who are about profit? Reach out to an educated official and offer to help. Reach out to an adversary and offer to help. Reach out to a fellow fire official and offer to help. What are we waiting on? The “big one,” the tragedy, the economic setback, the environmental insult, and I certainly hope not the next election. Do what’s right today and serve with common sense and controlled passion.