Anyone who has had the privilege of working on a 24-hour rotation knows that there are tours where you are constantly on the move. Alternately, there are times when you don’t turn a wheel for an entire shift. In the fire service, that is the nature of the beast.
We are expected to rise to the occasion at a moment’s notice. That time can come at the start of shift or as soon as our heads hit the pillows at night. Regardless of when the tones drop, we have an obligation to the public and our partners to be ready to perform, which requires us to ensure that our equipment and apparatus are always in operable condition.
There seems to be a generational gap regarding station priorities at the start of shift that reflects the influence and internal interests of those on the floor. There are myriad tasks and responsibilities that need to be completed during a tour at the firehouse, but how you prioritize and complete those tasks is what will ultimately set your firehouse up to function successfully.
Without a doubt, our external customers—the taxpayer and residents—are our primary concern. However, we must prioritize ourselves at the start of the shift to provide for them the absolute best service. The theory here is to take care of ourselves initially so that we are ready to take care of our own should an emergency warrant assisting a brother or sister firefighter. We must make the interest of our community a priority over the implementation of chores.
The first thing that needs to be completed upon relieving the shift prior to yours is to ensure that all gear and equipment associated with your specific riding assignment is checked and staged for optimal response. This creates an opportunity for you to provide the needed service to the public or your partner when a call for service comes in at shift change or at chow time.
At a minimum, the battery on your portable radio should be changed out, your gear should be checked and stored for rapid donning, your self-contained breathing apparatus needs to be checked for proficient operability, and whatever tools/equipment (water can, EMS bag, etc.)that are associated with your riding assignment must be inspected and inventoried.
Arriving on a respiratory distress call at shift change ahead of the transporting ambulance with an empty oxygen tank and a dead radio battery will set you up for failure—and, worse yet, bodes ill for our patient’s prospects. We must make medical supplies a priority over mopping and sweeping.
Along with the above, it is imperative that you tag in appropriately, whether it be clipping an ID tag on your rig or adding your name in chalk on the assignment board. Understanding who is assigned to the piece of apparatus and where they are riding at the start of the tour will help lead your crew to success as the rig begins to roll out onto the apron for a run.
Sadly, I can recall numerous times when filling in on another shift where I would find the turnout gear of a chauffeur or nozzleman still lined up in their gear cubby a good hour or so into the tour and after most of the morning “priorities” such as coffee and vacuuming were underway. We must make checking our tools a priority over cleaning toilets.
As the engine chauffeur or truck operator, after the check of gear and equipment, the next priority with ensuring that your firehouse is functioning is to check
the fire apparatus in which you are responsible for over the next shift, tour, or platoon. Without apparatus being in optimal condition, we can’t deliver our personnel to the scene, apply water with the hoselines, or stick the aerial device to the roof. We must make ladders a priority over lawn care at the start of every day.
Getting water into the fire pump and raising the ladder from the bed at the start of your shift is the best way to find out if there are impairments with your apparatus. Correcting any issues prior to a call is easier than trying to mitigate them once on scene and finding yourself out of the game. Critical steps include topping off both the tank water and fuel levels, testing the audible and visual warning devices, and giving all of your powered equipment (battery, electric, and fuel driven). All of these need to performed daily to ensure your firehouse will function accordingly and minimize the risk of failure.
Having pride in your firehouse is vital for achieving success as a functioning crew; however, the trash, carpets, and laundry can hold off as the next set of priorities during the tour. At the end of the day, the public doesn’t care how spotless the rug is in the dayroom. What they do expect, though, is a half-million dollar screaming engine to come wheeling down the road with an amped up band of brothers ready to correct the caller’s worst day. Prioritize the aspects of our job function that matter the most to safety and success on the fireground and the rest will ultimately fall into place—with coffee table talks and camaraderie with each “in and off” transmitted following a call for service.
AB Turenne is a 25-year veteran of the fire service and is currently the captain of training and safety with a career department in Middlesex County, Connecticut. He is a Certified Level III Fire Service Instructor, a graduate from the Master of Public Administration program at Anna Maria College, and a contributor to Fire Engineering. He has published his first book, “Coffee Table Quick Tips,” which came out in September of 2024.
