ex-commish

I remember a time when you thought people were mad at you if your balls were not being broken. Now you have to worry about saying something to someone and next thing you know you are the target of a lawsuit or charges wether internal or external

I remember ears and eyes open....mouth shut unless you had a question...at least that's the way it was 34 years ago.....say this know you could end up with harassment charges.

I know the question was specifically what ONE thing rookies should know. Unfortunately it is not that simple. When I teach I try to emphasize they need to learn to follow the Marine Corps philosophy of "adapt, improvise, and overcome." In addition, whenever I teach a probie class, I hand out something I got from Lt. Tim Klett of FDNY many year ago he refers to as "The Four Ups" which all firefighters, career or volunteer, should take to heart and live by.
“Listen Up”
“When you are first starting in the fire service, there is a lot going on. You are entering a culture that is unlike any other one on this planet. You will hear stories, tales and just plain B.S. But listen carefully. That is our past talking. All of the information has value….Listen to the older, over-the-hill, past-their-prime, malcontents, for the little ‘pearls of wisdom’ that aren’t in any textbooks. A lot of important information that will help keep you safe and alive on the fire ground is not written down. The fire service is very young. We are losing our experience. The firefighters that went to fires during the war years are slowly retiring. Talk to them before they leave. We are losing our history, we are losing our past. Don’t let this happen.”
“Clean Up”
“The firehouse is your second home. Treat it as such. And if you are the junior firefighter working, you are the lowest on the totem pole. You get the dirty work….This is based on the fact that all the junior people before you did it, or should have done it. You do it until the next probie (comes along). It is part of belonging, it is doing what you should be doing. And it is always pretty funny, because in my experience, the ones that piss and moan about doing the chores usually end up doing them by themselves for a long time. But the ones that just do it…usually find that they have help. They become accepted into the “family” a little quicker.”
“Step Up”
“Be involved in your company and in your department. Attend company functions, help run them if possible….Become a productive member of your Company. Above all, go to funerals and services, especially the line of duty ones. Pay your respects. Become a part of the fire service by deed and not by mouth.”
“Shut Up”
“Spend more time listening and doing than talking about it. Show by your actions and your deeds what type of firefighter and member of this great Brotherhood you are.”

Non-issue. Sounds politically motivated to me. I have seen worse. Good luck to the couple.

Non-issue. Sounds politically motivated to me. I have seen worse. Good luck to the couple.

I hope the community understands the real issue, they and 4 neighboring communities can not get an ambulance out to save a 4 y/o.
It really is time to regionalize and insure coverage.

While employer sponsored or "official" help is a good thing and I'm not saying that avenue should be rejected, sometimes a more grass roots approach can make all the difference. By that I mean something more along the lines of AA or other "A" for anonymous group. An ear and a bit of advice from a group of people in your shoes often times provides just what's needed more so than what a PhD can offer. They have never seen what you've seen or done what you've done and thus cannot relate in real terms to the life of someone in public safety and the pressures that life can exert on every other aspect of our lives...only we know that. Often times just knowing you're not alone can have a healing effect in it's own right and lift the haze of hopelessness and depression as people not only get the help they need but help others. Besides in today's world of therapy it seems to me it's more about prescribing this or that pill to solve a problem rather than learning the skills to cope and face it squarely.

There is nothing more valueable than having that senior guy there. I am 50 and been in the fire service for 33 years and I still look to my senior guys for advice and guidance

There is nothing more valueable than having that senior guy there. I am 50 and been in the fire service for 33 years and I still look to my senior guys for advice and guidance

While I understand the context of your question most elected officials are not charged with making immediate life and death decisions like fire officers are and those that maybe usually rely on the advice and expertise of someone who has the training and experience to do so.

Commish, in my opinion we already have them. They're our Senior Men. A good Senior Man should have the same attitude and provide the same type of leadership and guidance an NCO would.

Show me palm trees and tiki bars than we talk

What is the feeling on fire district commissioners serving as fire company officers ( captain, president, etc). Although not illegal I think it is wrong and is a conflict of interest especially if you have a power hungry person who wants to run everything.

I agree with most of what you are saying. My point, however, is that before even starting to worry about special operations, etc. we need to get our line firefighters better trained, better drilled, and better prepared. FAST training is very important but too many FDs are cutting corners and not spending enough time on the fundamentals.

I agree Syd and Andy, but with the inclusion of Firefighter II also.The bottom line is that FF I is not adequate on its own for combat-ready interior firefighters. There should be no difference in training for career and volunteer, nor requirements to operate as interior or on a FAST unit. FF I, FF II, Survival, and FAST should all be minimum requirements here as they are in other jurisdictions.

FAST / RIT is not supposed to be a special op's resource or a special team, county team, select group of folks who are trained differently or to a higher level than other firefighters, etc. FAST / RIT skills are necessary for EVERY firefighter every bit as much as any other firefighting essential functions are. When a MAYDAY is transmitted, IMMEDIATE action by knowledgeable, skilled firefighters is required. FAST / RIT operations are often required very early on during an incident, obviously we all need to be ready to perform appropriately and immediately when a firefighter requires assistance due to entrapment or medical condition while in a hazardous location. FAST / RIT training absolutely needs to be a requirement for new firefighters prior to certification. Currently certified firefighters who are not FAST / RIT certified should be required to attend the course and become certified. Firefighting is not a game, a passtime or a hobby, it's about life and death. Those who don't see it that way need to find a different calling.

Good argument for FAST being part of FF1

I wish it was not the case. Sadly, too many FDs spend more time and energy on looking good vs. operating safely and training on these mission critical skills.

Not to diminish the original question as to who is in charge if an aircraft crash lands the bigger question is who is prepared?

Not to diminish the original question as to who is in charge if an aircraft crash lands the bigger question is who is prepared?

Unified command?

Not to diminish the original question as to who is in charge if an aircraft crash lands the bigger question is who is prepared?

Not to diminish the original question as to who is in charge if an aircraft crash lands the bigger question is who is prepared?

Legally, in CT the senior Fire Officer has command of any emergency. The exception being if there is a terrorism nexus, in which the FBI runs the show.
That being said, if the initial IC doesn't set up a Unified Command, he or she is setting themselves up for failure.

Unified command?