In 1973, before most of us entered this proud profession, the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control published a report entitled America Burning. This report became the catalyst for the creation of the first federal fire agency, the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration, known today as the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).
Over the years, the USFA–which includes the National Fire Academy, National Emergency Training Center and Support Services, and the National Fire Programs Division–has struggled to navigate the treacherous seas imposed by changing political administrations and the financial constraints of a struggling national economy. In fact, in the early 1980s a proposal was actually put forth by the president to abolish the USFA. Fortunately, it never came to fruition, but the severe cuts made then continue to have a lasting impact.
Today, buried more than four layers deep within the bureaucratic behemoth known as the Department of Homeland Security, the USFA is hardly front and center for any administration. Decreased national focus on terrorism in the last few years, coupled with reductions in annual fire losses, make the USFA a prime target for sequestration. Although it’s been operating on a bare bones budget for years, it is once again facing financial cuts, cuts that will ultimately affect all of us.
In May, more than 2,000 firefighters, company officers and fire chiefs will visit our nation’s capital for the 25th annual Congressional Fire Services Institute dinner and seminars. During these two days, fire service leaders will meet with political leaders of both parties to express their individual and organizational needs.
Two days is a start, but it’s not enough. We must all ask ourselves, what have we done to express the importance of properly funding the USFA and its associated programs? The battle for financial security of the USFA might seem far removed from your responsibilities as a firefighter or fire officer. But ask yourself, what role do you play in advancing the fire service and the professional development of the next generation of firefighters?
The proper funding of the USFA should be and must be a priority for all of us, regardless of our position or rank. To allow the importance of the U.S. fire service to be overshadowed by lesser priorities is unconscionable. Yes, we’ve made great strides in reducing our nation’s annual fire loss, yet we continue to record the largest fire loss (both in lives and property) of any industrialized nation. Our expanding roles and responsibilities–which now range from chest pains to the mitigation and control of terrorist attacks–require a prioritized position of importance at the federal level and advanced training and equipment that far exceed local resources.
Anyone who struggles to see the need to express their concerns to political leaders, local to federal, should consider this: Where would you be as a department or an individual without the support of the FIRE Act, SAFER, the NFA or the National Fire Data Center?
Take a minute to venture out into the apparatus bay and look around. What equipment would you be forced to operate without? Who amongst your crew would be unemployed? What would your volunteer recruitment and retention efforts be? What type of executive-level training would your officers lack, and what facts and figures would you be unable to provide your administrators to justify and quantify your budget?
It goes without saying that the USFA, like all federally funded organizations, should be required to review and scrutinize its budget to ensure that it is spending money wisely. But the impending cuts go far beyond frugal spending. Rather, they force the fire service to make do with the same, or less, funding even while the hazards and challenges of our environment are changing exponentially. The struggling economy provides a perfect avenue of opportunity for those who hold the financial purse strings to turn a blind eye to our needs. It’s up to us to bring their focus back to reality.
Take the time in the coming weeks to share the story of the true American fire service. Debunk the myths of the ill-informed; speak with facts, not emotion; and express humility and selflessness.
Ben Franklin’s famous saying rings true: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” As firefighters, we’re ready and willing to go above and beyond in our efforts to protect the lives and property of those we serve. But our efforts are not without limitation; they are not without cost. Our ability to respond requires the proper funding and training–and that requires each of us to be an advocate for the USFA and other fire service organizations, to make our voices heard. It’s time to take action!
