As the fire service remains unfairly under attack in so many areas and arenas, so much of it has become "personal" against departments, against unions, against firefighters and FD leadership, and very often by personal agenda driven city hall dwellers and politicians.
When these issues become so deep and personal, those elected or appointed officials often get "high on the moment" or caught up in the "cut no matter what" euphoria – often forgetting or ignoring the publics need.
It can happen because "the need" is perceived as not that often-and the public is very distracted these days. But when the need exists, we are needed right now. And we will be needed, it’s just a matter of time.
On the other hand, some Firefighters and FD’s have re-defined what their FD is needed for.
LOOK WHO SHOWED UP AT THIS FD’s BUDGET HEARINGS:
Here is a video that shows how a community has NOT forgotten the "need" for their fire department:
It also shows a FD and their Firefighters who clearly understand the importance of their role, diversifying their role and the "need to be needed" in their community for a multitude of reasons.
My only objective when joining the FD almost 40 years ago, was to go to fires. Not too much has changed but I also quickly realized that there is much more we do, and can do. Ask most firefighters what they would "rather" do, and that is probably something similar to what I wrote. But today, the better answer is that we help people in trouble. People having that really "bad" day-no matter what the issue.
EMS run? Sure.
Rescue call? Absolutely.
Mrs Smith stuff? Why not.
Hydrant Testing? Without a doubt.
Pub Ed ? With a smile.
Another EMS run? Welcome to the FIRE/EMS Service.
The more we do, the more we are needed and they then cannot live without us, and that makes politicians and city hall dwellers think twice about their futures, and perhaps less screwing with ours.
Commentary by Billy Goldfeder, www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
