Editor's Note: Yesterday, Firehouse.com reported that funding for the AFG and SAFER grants, plus funding to the U.S. Fire Administration has stalled in the Senate. This comes after President Obama unveiled his proposed budget, which includes major cuts to all three firefighting efforts.
In many of my articles and presentations I have talked incessantly about the need for the fire service to remain relevant in today’s over stimulated, need to have it now, “flavor of the moment,” society. I caution against resting on our past laurels to keep us in the hearts and minds of our citizens, and the need for us to do all we can daily to remain high enough on city halls’ budget sheet to not only survive certain cuts, but maybe even have a plus sign next to Fire Department because we are seen and valued as a top community service. Key word here – service.
Unfortunately it is more than apparent that we are failing in this endeavor, and we need to start taking heed of the headlines which continue to flash us warning signs. Recently after one very public event in Ferguson, Miss. and the follow up scrutiny of law enforcement, the public attention and outcry is driving the government wheel to a full grind in finding funding for, and to pass bills requiring, police officers to carry body cameras. The President himself set aside a whopping $75 million for the undertaking.
To put this in perspective: How many citizen contacts do police officers across our nation make every day? Yet one tragic encounter in Ferguson has prompted a public wave of inquires, interest, and demands so high that politicians are flocking to find TV cameras to pledge change and support, and cash strapped governments have magically located available funds, to prevent another such occurrence. Yet how many understaffed fire departments have lost firefighters beneath truss roofs in buildings without sprinkler systems in fires caused by fire code violations? How many victims were lost that could have been saved if manpower, station location, or modern technology such as thermal imaging, were available?
Anyone hear a public outcry?
Have any of us heard anything further on the national battle to keep the minimum fire code requirement for sprinkler systems in new construction even in light of the fact that there has never been a multiple fatality in a building with a properly working sprinkler system? Even though most fire departments are grossly understaffed and ill equipped, and the fire service has become tasked with everything from fire suppression to USAR operations, why is it that every year the fire service has to fight to maintain funding levels for the FIRE Act Grant? Have any bills been passed to generate support for, or the President earmarking funding for: bunker gear, thermal imaging, rescue rope, staffing, training facilities, or any equipment that protects firefighters and helps us serve our citizens since the 9/11 tidal wave of funding for all emergency responders?
With all we are expected to do in the fire service, with all the risk we are exposed to, when was the last time your politicians spent hours in their office and on TV drumming up support and finding funds to provide you with what you need to meet these demands and return home safely to your family? Where is the public outcry for better staffing and equipment when we lose a firefighter? Exactly!
Years of our stating “just routine” concerning the incidents we respond to, years of being standoffish with the media, years of minimizing the dangers of fire by our glorifying it, years of taking on additional responsibilities without funding support and without complaint, years of portraying ourselves as the heroes who will save the day no matter the odds, have resulted in our community's complacency to our value and needs. Centuries of being the quiet and humble heroes are coming around to bite us where it hurts the most.
Like it or not I think we all can agree that today’s society and its values have changed just a bit over the years, and things once respected and cherished years ago have become yesterday’s news. Heck even Mother Teresa’s legacy has come under fire so why should we expect the fire service and our prior accomplishments’ to fare any better? Today’s society is the WIFM generation – what’s in it for me. This is the generation who seeks and expects immediate gratification and then quickly moves on to the next need of the moment – “gee thanks for putting out that house fire last week but what are you doing for me today?” In this continuous recession our governmental managers have been able to successfully and openly question the value of their local fire department; thus when “Mrs. Smith,” who believes a fire or another such emergency will never happen to her, but she does worry about how she will pay her electric bill, these managers are finding a receptive audience to their challenges of “why do we pay firefighters to sleep?” “Why do they need such big fire trucks?”
We need to stop this madness. The days of humble hero and “shucks ma’am just doin my job” need to be over! We need to start a “grassroots” movement because that’s where the change starts – the largest tsunami starts with the smallest wave. While the fire service has lobbyists in Washington bringing our needs to the attention of those in the capital, until their constituents back home raise concern in a manner that threatens their political survival we are attacking this at the wrong end.
Can the fire service be so devalued within our communities that it goes out of business? Can another entity step in and provide more services that are valued by our citizens? Can the valued services we should be providing get stripped away to other agencies willing to provide them along with the funding that goes with it? Can we find ourselves slipping down the financial priority list? Well….
There are fire departments in our country that have been forced to close their doors, some have been contracted out to private companies, some have been absorbed into larger emergency agencies, many have had to reduce staffing, close stations, cut back on services, forced to purchase smaller vehicles in contrast to NFPA standards, and almost all have had to justify every penny each year in budget fights that are becoming harder and harder to win.
While the fire service in general will never go away nor will it ever go out of business the fact is that there is a big difference between a valued public service which citizens believe provides a daily value to their quality of life; and that of a public service that is perceived only as a necessity and not thought about until it’s needed – if ever. One is funded, supported, and defended; while the other is provided only minimal funding, support, and given only enough to put the check in the box.
It’s time to stop being taken for granted and the quiet humble heroes who fade into the night. We need to start communicating with our citizens on who we are, what we are up against, and what we need to provide stability and quality to our communities. We need to articulate our value in terms the public understands and appreciates. It’s not about thumping our chests and getting pats on the back, it’s about ensuring we can continue to provide needed services. Just as surely as we would run into a burning inferno to save another, we need to start getting face to face and knee to knee with our public to ensure we can provide the level of support our citizens need and deserve.
So can we lose value in our community? Can our department or the services we provide be contracted out or picked up by another entity also struggling to survive yet who is thinking outside the box and willing to perform nontraditional services that the public wants in order remain relevant and valued?
Google search “Red Cross and smoke detector installation.”
Yes the largest tsunami starts with the smallest wave…. It’s time to start rocking that boat.
DANIEL BYRNE, a Firehouse.com contributing editor, is a firefighter/paramedic, with the Burton, SC, Fire District. A 20-year veteran of the emergency services, he holds both an associate and bachelors degree in fire science, is a National Fire Academy Alumni, and a veteran of the Desert Shield/Storm war with the U.S. Marine Corps. Daniel is the recipient of local and state awards for public educations and relations. Daniel is moderator of the Fire Prevention and Life Safety forums on Firehouse.com. You can reach Daniel by e-mail at [email protected].
