Let’s begin by discussing what pride and ownership represent in the first place. Often, you’ll hear people throughout the fire service refer to a couple of words as bad for the business. An example is the word tradition; there are those who don’t like the word. They feel that it represents those who are unsafe and those who refuse to embrace a progressive attitude. Again, they believe that the word is bad for business, bad for the fire service. And, we all agree with that view when it comes to doing things that get our people hurt or killed. That is bad for business. But for me, I like the word tradition when it is associated with those who have dedicated themselves to lives of selflessness. To lives of serving others. I like that version, very much so.
The Lake Cities (TX) Fire Department takes great pride in the tools of the trade, as seen here with Quint 592. (Photo by Curtis Birt.)
The other word is pride. I’m not referring to the pride associated with arrogance or ego but rather to the pride associated with ownership and with those who love the job. Those who use the word “my” to describe what it is they are passionate about, like being part of the fire service.
I once had a fire chief tell me that he didn’t like the word “my” and that the fire service was a team sport and not an individual sport. The problem that can present itself with that way of thinking is when you have a team consisting of those who don’t care about the job, our profession, or each other–those who don’t own it–you end up with a losing team. And yes, the successful fire department is a team. Just look at those who are, and it shines through. But you also notice that it’s a team made up of those who love the job and who truly own it. Those who truly want to make a difference in the lives of others.
So, what is pride? The following is a definition that has served me well and is one that I think many can wrap their heads around when it comes to defining what pride means to them. “You can’t understand it from the outside looking in, and you can’t explain it from the inside looking out. Pride is a personal commitment. It is an attitude that separates excellence from mediocrity. It is that ingredient which inspires us not to get ahead others but rather to get ahead of ourselves.”–Unknown
Personal Commitment
The majority of the fire service is made up of people who truly do love the job, truly do love serving others, and know that being a firefighter is a noble calling. It is this majority that creates the positive image that the public sees, the one that children see, emulate, respect, and love. This majority not only works extremely hard to paint that positive image but works even harder to live it as well. It reflects not just on the fireground or at an emergency medical incident but in members’ day-to-day operations and in how they treat the public. It’s in how they treat each other, how they wear their uniform, how well they train, and how much enthusiasm they show helping those who need them most. They truly own it!
Then we have those who make up the rest of the equation. Though these are fewer in number, those who are the opposite of those above can create a draft on the organization that makes pushing forward and being the best fire department possible just that much more difficult to achieve. All the naysayers, the bad apples, the problem children, those with bad or negative attitudes, I tend to just refer to these people as the “renters.” Those who don’t own the job but rent it and just wear the T-shirt. Trying to move the team forward with them is like trying to run up a down escalator. Every time we stop or pause for a moment, we lose two or three steps and have to cover that ground all over again.
DeSoto (TX) Fire Rescue Firefighters Jesse Gowdy and Tye Baudin with strong work making Quint 261 look its best. (Photo by Jerry Duffield.)
Owning vs. Renting
The difference between owning and renting is seen in our day-to-day lives. Whether it be with those who rent a house or apartment, a rental car, or even tools for a job or project, people can often not treat those items the same as if they owned them. It’s a fact of life that if you own that car, or whatever, you treat it better. Just ask anyone who owns a rental property or any of the rental car agencies. They’ll tell you the same thing.
So, let’s take a look at those who own the job and those who rent it:
– Positive attitude: Those who own the job have a positive attitude. Even during the toughest of times, they find a way to stay positive and keep those around them fired up and engaged. You look forward to seeing them on drill night or when they show up for their shift. And so many of us feed off that positive energy. The renters are always complaining about something. Whether it be the pay, the chief, their company officer, their firefighters, the city or town they work for, whether it’s raining or too sunny, too hot or too cold, they always find a way to stay negative and try to drag everybody down.
– The firehouse: Those who own the job treat their firehouse as if it were their own home. They know that it says “Fire Station” on the marquee outside but to them it’s a firehouse, their home, something that has represented what is right in the community for decades. It may not be the newest or most modern, but it’s theirs. The renters never take care of the firehouse, allowing it to fall into disrepair, and then are the first to complain that the city doesn’t provide them with a good place to work.
– The apparatus: Those who own the job treat their apparatus as an investment, an investment that the public made in an effort to allow us to protect them. Whether the apparatus is older, newer, or a little worn out, owners do the best they can with what they can when they can. The renters never take care of the rigs and are the first to complain about them when something doesn’t work right. Their personal vehicles look great, but their fire apparatus are not looked after and are dirty. Look, no one has a problem with you taking care of your personal vehicle, but how about spending a little bit of time on that half-million-dollar pumper or million-dollar ladder truck?
– The tools: Those who own their tools make sure that they’re in good shape with no rust, plaster, or dirt on them. That they’re marked, stenciled, and wrapped properly. That they look good. The renters don’t care. Their tools are always rusted and dirty and stick out like a sore thumb among those that are cared for and taken care of.
– Training: Those who are into the job, those who own it, train every opportunity they can. To them, training is one of the best parts of the day. They train as if their life depends on it–because it does. Those who rent never train, or they try to do everything they can to get out of it. And it shows in their poor performance at a fire or an accident.
– The uniform: Those who own the job take care of and respect our uniform. They understand that it represents something bigger than any of us and represents those who went before us. The renters call it a costume. Their uniform is dirty and wrinkled and has holes in it. Plain and simple, people who disrespect the uniform disrespect the fire service!
– The Brotherhood/Sisterhood: Those who own the job truly understand what it means to be a brother or sister in the fire service. They fiercely believe in the brotherhood, remembering there is a “her” in the word brotherhood, and truly do look out for each other, both in and out of the firehouse. The renters use it as a facade, a phony front, and to them it’s just a sticker on their car or a word they throw around like loose change.
– The public: Those who own the job treat the public with respect and remind each other that we are public servants and that we work for the public. That we owe the public for the privilege of serving as their firefighter. The renters treat the public with rudeness and arrogance and like they are a nuisance.
– Our heritage: Those who own the job take the time to understand our heritage as well as the history of their own fire department. The renters couldn’t tell you who Ben Franklin was and what influence he had on the fire service.
Those who respect the uniform realize that it represents something very special, witnessed in this photo as the Lewisville (TX) Fire Department honors one of its member’s retirement. (Photo by Brandon Thetford.)
– Doing what’s right: Those who own the job always do what is right, always do their best, and show up on time. The renters waste time, hide from the work, are always late, and are in a constant struggle between what is right and what is wrong.
– Trash talk: Those who own the job work hard to control the gossip, rumor, and character assassination mill and not contribute to it. They stay away from trash talk. The renters trash talk all the time.
– Marketing the department: Those who own the job brag about and market their fire department. They defend our profession and always work hard to put it in a positive light. The renters tear it down with both their words and actions.
Every now and then you need to ask yourself, Do I own the job or am I just renting it? Do I try to make a difference in the lives of those I work for, the public, and in the lives of those I work with? Do I have the passion and the heart required to be a great firefighter? Hopefully, the answer to all these questions is YES!
Rick Lasky is a 37-year veteran of the fire service, has served in career and volunteer departments, and was chief of the Lewisville (TX) Fire Department for 12 years. Most recently, he was interim chief for the Trophy Club (TX) Fire Department. Lasky began his firefighting career on the southwest side of Chicago, following in the footsteps of his father. He received the 1996 ISFSI “Innovator of the Year” award for his part in developing the “Saving Our Own” program. Lasky was the co-lead instructor for the H.O.T. Firefighter Survival program at FDIC for more than 10 years and is a member of the editorial advisory board for Fire Engineering and the FDIC. He is the author of Pride and Ownership: A Firefighters Love of the Job and coauthor of Five-Alarm Leadership: From the Firehouse to the Fireground (Fire Engineering) and is the cohost for the radio show “The Command Post” heard on Fire Engineering Talk Radio. In 2017, he was the recipient of the Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award.
