There Would Only Be One Man
DEPARTMENTS
EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK
Being asked to put in a resume for the position of editor of Fire Engineering was compliment enough for a person who has put more than half his life into the study and practice of fire suppression and fire prevention. To be selected to fill the post was awesome.
I had to think, reflect. What could I bring to this position? What would I be leaving?
I had already fulfilled my educational dream — B.S. in the field of fire science. My career dream was months away—appointment from the battalion chief’s list in the City of New York. My 21 years as a career fire fighter in some of the nation’s busiest companies as well as my 14 years as a volunteer fire fighter in a suburban department made me comfortable in my fire fighting decisions and leadership abilities. I had moved into the teaching field with the Suffolk County Fire School and was receiving speaking engagements both locally and nationally. I was thoroughly satisfied.
All this experience seemed momentarily insignificant as I considered whether to accept or reject the offer of becoming Fire Engineering’s editor. What could I bring to a publication known nationally for its source/reference framework within the fire service?
I decided that trying to uphold the 107-year tradition, meaning and purpose of Fire Engineering’s goals would be a challenge I would take on. To help fire fighters cope with the tremendous decisions confronting them as they battle our national disease— fire; to bring the experiences, decisions, results and lessons of our fire fighters and officers throughout the country to the fore; to lay these lessons before our interested and aware fire fighters so that they may benefit from this shared knowledge . . . this is what Fire Engineering strives for.
No fire fighters has to ask how such a task can be accomplished, because no fire fighter has ever reached out to his brothers without receiving cooperation 200 fold.
I’m reaching out to all of you, for all your expertise, your knowledge, your lessons, so other fire fighters may be helped. Together, we can’t lose; we can only gain!
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. The more we learn about our job, the more we learn how really little we know.
I hope I will be hearing from you all soon.
In my own motto of life, if one man knew everything, there would only be one man.
