Fire Service of the Future

The fire service we know of today will not be the same in the coming years. I see a technology-based fire service with an emphasis on fire prevention, EMS, alternative funding for service and response to terrorism events. Technology in the fire service is in its infancy; automatic vehicle locators, mobile data terminals, and IPads will seem like child’s play in the future. Technology discovered by NASA, such as unmanned vehicles and drones with infrared capabilities that can transmit to a base station, will become commonplace in our future. The ability for responding companies to log into traffic cameras and other such technology to get an accurate picture of the incident will reduce needless responses and allow the responder to get a picture of what they might be dealing with upon arrival. This will greatly increase the responder’s situational awareness of the incident.

Mandatory fire sprinkler systems in new buildings is an example of the future of fire prevention programs. Programs like this need to explored and adopted in the future. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By requiring home based sprinkler systems (as described in NFPA 13R) we can limit the fire growth and dramatically change the fire growth tables. Along with this effort there should be mandatory fire safety/ prevention programs in our schools. Instructing the youth our nation in fire prevention activities will also reduce the occurrences of fires. This was explained in the groundbreaking book “America Burning” (1973) and “America Burning Revisited” (1987) where fire prevention programs to review injuries and death were examined. One of the many outcomes was the practice of architects and engineers including fire safety in the design of buildings with pre-fire systems and early notification systems.

Understanding that the demand for EMS service will continue to increase, it will come with the changes to our healthcare system. These changes will include reimbursements from Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance companies which may be less. We need to develop programs for high risk populations; injury prevention programs and targeted interventions can reduce the amount of emergency responses for our EMS system.

Alternative funding for the fire service is going to have to be a priority in the future. Whether it is from unfunded mandates like NFPA 1710 or the diminishing valuation of homes etc, we need to explore out-of-the-box funding sources. Some examples are the SAFER Act and the FIRE Act (both of which we will continue to work with the politicians and the Congressional Fire Service Caucasus for continued funding). Additionally, we need to consider user fees, plan review fees, and working with insurance companies for funding, among additional aspects.

Finally, we must prepare our responders and community for the potential event of a terrorist act. So far we have been lucky and not have had the amount of terrorism that has plagued Great Britain, Nigeria, and other foreign countries. But eventually there may be more attacks on our homeland. By working with Homeland Security, FEMA, and other organizations, by following the information shared which is researched by Fusion Centers we can stay abreast of trends and threats. Additionally, we need to educate our community of the threats and the appropriate actions they can take to protect themselves until help arrives.

9/11/2001 Trihttp://en.wordpress.com/my-blogs/bute

9/11/2001 Tribute

                        On September 11, 2001, 19 terrorist’s from al-Qaeda hijacked four airliners and carried out the most deadly Terrorist attack on U.S. soil.  As we all know, two of the planes struck the Twin Towers in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and finally the fourth plane crashed into a fields in Pennsylvania when the heroic passengers overpowered the terrorist’s in the cockpit. .

Ultimately the Twin Towers in NYC collapsed instantly killing 343 firefighters, 23 police officers and 37 Port Authority officers plus over 2000 civilians.  This was truly, as President Roosevelt said about the attack on Pearl Harbor, HI, “A Day of Infamy”.

Those 403 public safety heroes’ ran into those building and saved thousands of civilians, making this the most successful rescue in the history of the fire service.  Their bravery, their sacrifice must never be forgotten. The New York City Fire Department lost hundreds of years of experience that fateful day.  This included the Chief of Department, Peter J. Ganci, Jr., First Deputy Commissioner, Chief William Feehan the FDNY Chaplain, Father Mychal Judge, two Assistant Chiefs, seventeen Battalion Chiefs and 320 Captains, Lieutenants, and Firefighters.  On that day the FDNY, NYPD and PAPD flooded heaven with angels.

We must never forget the hero’s of that day, whether in New York City, the Pentagon or in Shanksville, PA.  They all risked or lost their lives for us, for our country and our way of life.   Since then thousands of soldiers have lost their lives or have been injures to assure our freedom and to prevent another terrorist attack

At 7 p.m., on September 11, 2001 President George W. Bush, who had spent the day in the air at various military facilities because of security concerns, returned to the White House. At 9 p.m., he delivered a televised address from the Oval Office, stating, “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.” He further boldly declared that “We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them” in reference to the eventual U.S. military response.

There was a TV commercial produced shortly after 9/11 that being it all home.  It showed a street in Anytown, U.S.A and the narrator says “On September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacked Our Country Trying to Change Our Way of Life”, then the picture changes to the same street but with an American Flag in the yard of each house, the Announcer the stated “They Succeeded”.  This was a powerful depiction of how we responded to the tragedy of that day.

My God Bless the heroes of that day, our brave soldiers and our great country

 

New Fire Service Related Blog Site

I have started a new fire service related blog site.  It will contain all fire service related issues, programs and announcements.

@chiefweiss33

Saying Good-bye: The Hostile Takeover

// The below article is being reproduced with the permission of the author Chief Dennis Rubin.

Dennis L. Rubin is the principal partner in the fire protection-consulting firm D.L.
Rubin & Associates. His experience in the fire and rescue service spans
more than 35 years. He has served as a company officer,
command level officer, or fire chief in several major cities, including Dothan,
Alabama; Norfolk, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; and Washington, D.C. He served on
several committees with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, including
a two-year term as the Health and
Safety Committee chair. He is a graduate of University of Maryland

Chief Rubin contact info is as follows:

ChiefRubin@me.com

On Facebook at “DC Fire”

On Twitter- @ChiefRubin

 

Saying Good-bye: The Hostile Takeover

By Dennis L. Rubin

“All good things must come to an end”; this well-worn anonymous saying dates all the way back to the year 1374, and it certainly describes my career. The conclusion of one’s chosen career is often a “good ending.” The end of most “watches” is well planned and greatly anticipated. However, in some cases, the ending could be a surprise and abrupt. Regardless of how “the last day of work” arrives, it will happen, and it will be time to hang up the fire helmet and move on to the next station in life.

Fire Service Mentor

Part 1

This will be the first post of a series of mentoring programs that a Fire Chief can establish within his/her fire department.  It must be understood that every firefighter is a mentor.  For example, probationary firefighters rely on the senior man to impart his knowledge of “the job”.   Likewise company officers need to mentor the senior members; chief officers mentor junior officers all the way up the ladder.

Passing of a Friend-Retired Driver Engineer Tim Monahan

Earlier this month Driver Engineer Tim Monahan a retired member from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue lost his battle with cancer. Tim was a good friend, and an excellent firefighter. All who had the privilege to know and work with Tim feel this loss.

Tim was not only a excellent firefighter, but he also was an instructor for Minimum Standards for Firefighter. Tim imparted a wealth of knowledge, skills and abilities to hundreds of firefighters he trained. His legacy will not only be of being a firefighter, but his legacy will be in the knowledge of firefighting he gave to his students by making them safer, well training brother firefighters.

Tim-it was an honor to know and work with you-Rest in Peace brother.

How to Foster Change-The Change Agent

When a new Fire Chief is sworn in, the buzz around the fire station is what he/she is going to change. If the new Chief is coming from outside the organization the rumor and questions increase exponentially. So as the new Chief are you a change agent; do you understand the organizational implication of change?

Every Day is a Training Day

Company Officer’s throughout our nation are continually looking for ways to provide company level training that is current, interesting and innovative.  Essentially they (the Company Officer) are making every day a training day.  This positive approach to training develops well trained and engaged firefighters. The firefighter can develop a higher level of situational awareness and can operate in a more systematic way providing the highest level of service to the citizens.

What’s In Your Pocket

Example of a hopemade multi-purpose tool

Throughout my career I have always been amazed in the “stuff” that firefighter carry in the pockets of their bunker gear.  I have seen everything from a complete set of screw driver, to a metric size tool kit.  I remember one firefighter had what appeared to be an entire tool box in his coat.

New Fire Chief? New Advice

Earning the fifth bugle is a great accomplishment for a fire service professional. Now as the Chief, you are the final decision maker, the buck stops at your desk.