I’ve always enjoyed the technical aspects of firefighting and rescue operations. The thrill of each new challenge was another step toward mastering the craft. But leading up to each new challenge is the hard work necessary to master fundamentals, appropriately apply learned skill sets and properly develop knowledge, skills and abilities. I try to learn something new at every incident, as well as from others who’ve experienced things I have not.
The bottom line: Truly great firefighters and rescuers need to be masters of their craft. This requires well-balanced discipline and creativity so you can pull it all together and make things happen when others can’t.
Schools Burning
In my last column (July 30), I referenced the 50th anniversary of the Our Lady of Angels Elementary School Fire that occurred in Chicago in 1958, killing 92 children and three teachers. I compared this with my own experience at a well-involved school fire in 1997 at the Green Oaks elementary school in East Palo Alto, Calif., where more than 400 students were in session.
In the book “To Sleep with the Angels: The Story of a Fire,” David Cowan and John Kuenster recount not only the horrific details of the fire, but also the firefight and rescue efforts.
One of the most difficult and crucial decisions of the fire occurs when Lt. Stanley Wojnicki, who was in charge of first-in Engine 85, is confronted with the conflicting prioritization of engaging in rescue operations or necessary tactical fire suppression. From page 73 of the book:
“With smoke pouring from the upper windows of the school on his arrival, what Wojnicki saw would haunt him the rest of his life. Horrified parents were running back and forth, screaming as children at the windows were throwing out objects, hanging off the sills, dropping or hurling themselves to the ground. Scores of inert bodies–children who had already jumped or been pushed out windows by classmates–covered the pavement.”
Only firefighters and rescuers can understand the true power of that moment–when we must process not only the horror of what faces us, but also prioritize a response that draws from knowledge, skills and abilities developed over a lifetime. In the face of horror, we must be methodical.
Despite the gruesome scene, Wojnicki knew that as the officer of the first-in engine company, his priority was to put water on the fire, which he did via an interior stairwell. Despite his efforts, the fire had a head start that could never fully be overcome.
Wojnicki was interviewed after the fire by the fire commissioner, who, in the heat of the moment, verbally attacked and questioned Wojnicki’s logic to not engage in rescue operations but rather to establish the fire fight. Although later redeemed, the pain and questions of the day would remain fresh in his mind for many years to come.
Lessons Learned
All of us live with not only the tragic things we see, but the consequences of decisions that are made in seconds or minutes have a way of not only honing our skills but also tempering us as human beings. It’s those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that we don’t forget.
Similar to Wojnicki, I arrived at the Green Oaks Elementary School with the library and two classrooms fully involved, with fire showing through the roof. The magnitude of the fire and its rapid spread seemed almost unbelievable and many of our personnel expected to find injured, burned or deceased children.
But unlike Wojnicki, I found orderly lines of students in the playground all in formation. I was met by the school principal who informed me that all of the students and staff had been accounted for. The decision to move directly into tactical firefighting was greatly simplified and a relief to all of us. It was also a testament to monthly school fire drills.
Conclusion
History is a great teacher for those who choose to pay attention. On the 50th anniversary of the Our Lady of Angels School Fire we should acknowledge that much more still needs to be done to protect children and promote school fire safety.
As the skills required to become masters of our craft have become more complex and more organized, the simple fact is that difficult decisions and their consequences never get any easier. We must all be ready to make difficult decisions that are balanced with good training and experience if we truly hope to consider ourselves masters of our craft.
Think of Lt. Wojnicki and remember: To be prepared, you must never stop learning or attempting to better yourself.
