Enhanced Prevention Efforts Could Restore the Fire Service’s Image

On September 11, 2001, one of the most horrific events to occur in our nation was concurrently one of, if not the, worst event to ever impact the U.S. fire service. The brave people who lost their lives trying to save others in the collapse of the Twin Towers included emergency medical workers, police and the 343 firefighters from New York who paid the highest price possible. We collectively said we would never forget their sacrifice.

The attention, and even adulation, that firefighters across our nation received at the time was due in large part to the pain inflicted on the FDNY. It was also related to the courageous response of firefighters to the other attack sites: the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa. And as a result, for a time, members of the fire service were considered America’s heroes.

From Hero to Zero
But gradually, the high regard afforded firefighters in the United States started to fade. A wave of conservatism swept through our nation following the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression. The trickle-down prosperity we were supposed to see from lower taxes never materialized. Instead, a variety of factors combined to create the Great Recession, and government in general became the enemy of those who saw cutting government spending as the solution to our economic woes.

As for the firefighter heroes of today, they were suddenly under a microscope, facing scrutiny and even derision for their pay and benefits. Nowadays, fire engines are pelted with eggs, as front-page stories depict firefighters as overpaid for their “cushy” jobs. Politicians call for reductions in pay, benefits and staffing. Although some communities still respect the role firefighters play in public safety, far too many across the country have begun to question if their tax dollars are being well spent.

When I refer to “going from hero to zero” (in the course of a decade), I overstate for effect, but I’m sure you get the point: Our collective positive image is under attack.
So what does that have to do with fire prevention?

When I was hired as a firefighter in 1976, I heard the stories of how chronically underpaid firefighters had been in the past. We were burdened with a social stigma, because many people thought we sat in the fire station playing cards, waiting for the fire bell to ring. But the advent of emergency medical runs drastically increased our workload. As the community saw that they could benefit from having firefighters trained as medical emergency responders, our pay, the esteem we had in the community and the interactions we had with community members all rose.

I believe that to revive the image of firefighters nationally, we need another boost in our level of interaction with the community. Many fire departments across the nation are experimenting with the concept of actively reaching out to high-risk areas, visiting homes and changing smoke alarms where appropriate. Some are going great guns–in Philadelphia, firefighters installed 7,000 smoke alarms in one month by having every engine and truck company in the city visit high-risk homes.

Sure, firefighters grumble about being too busy for such work. In some cases that’s true; however, there are other ways to form partnerships to reach high-risk families. And the positive relationships developed by these interactions can still benefit the fire department. Example: The Tucson (Ariz.) Fire Department is partnering with a non-profit organization to jointly host events to interact with the public and educate them about fire safety.

I grumbled, too, in the late ’70s when my department was going door-to-door for fire safety visits. But a few positive and appreciative remarks from the community helped me get over my feelings that my superior firefighting talents were being underutilized. Similar positive interactions help firefighters understand the value of these efforts today as well.

Good Reasons
In short, there are two very good reasons for conducting community risk-reduction activities everywhere in the United States. The first, and by far the most important, is that they produce measurable results. In the 12 years that the fire department in Merseyside in the United Kingdom has been conducting home visits, their call volume has decreased by more than 30% and fire death rates have fallen by 50%.

The second reason is also important: In today’s economic and “tough on government” climate, community risk-reduction efforts increase the interactions the fire service has with the community. They provide yet another opportunity for us to demonstrate our value to citizens we may not ever see in an emergency setting. They reflect well on the professionalism of our field and of our firefighters.

Don’t get me wrong: Our primary role is and should continue to be emergency preparedness and response. There are people alive today because of the courage, tenacity and resourcefulness of our firefighters. But more is needed in today’s economic and social environment. I strongly believe that community risk-reduction efforts are a very important part of the next-generation fire service. Just as EMS transformed us in the past, fire prevention holds the capacity to protect our core role while ensuring that we remain relevant in the new economy.

I’m not naà¯ve; I don’t think these efforts will necessarily counter a sustained and well-funded attack on public employee unions and their benefits. But it sure can’t hurt. And in the end, our job is about public safety–whether we get credit for it or not. That, to me, is the true heroism of the fire service.

For more Jim Crawford, visit www.firefighternation.com/author/jim-crawford.

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