Issue 4 has arrived and marks the first anniversary of Urban Firefighter Magazine. 2010 was an incredible year for us and we are humbled by the support you have all shown us; Ray and I love discussing 2010 for this very reason; most don’t want to talk about 2010 ever again, however. 2010 also marks the year the recession tangibly caught up with the fire service. People seem to have placed their vilification of greedy bankers and CEOs on frontline firefighters too. The politicians seem to be listening to this rhetoric – and as a result, we now conjure up images of firefighters placing their helmets on the ground in front of headquarters in ceremonious fashion as they turn in their badges for pink slips.
Is all lost? I sure hope not. But what I have yet to see is the citizenry demonizing and vilifying the actual mission we are actually here for. Alas, we have the dependent variable with which to measure against as we begin rebuilding our fire departments from a ruinous deprecession. The conundrum we face is the fact that we all know how many people we need on each apparatus and how to use them to cover every inch of the fire building; however, you might as well write each ones’ budgetary cost on the backs of their coats too along with their fire department’s identifying acronym. Citizens and politicians alike see this cost now as readily as they do our heroics and don’t seem to be admonishing politicians bargaining union contracts in the media these days. So how do we get out of this rut and back into the hearts of the people?
The answer is systemic: we have to first understand and publicly announce that we will only be able to do less with less if that’s what we are dealt. We may not be able to cover every first-due companies’ operations with the first few arriving companies anymore; we may have to carry-up more standpipe folds than usual due to that empty seat next you now and or wait for the second and third engine to start a long stretch; we may have to call in an extra truck on extrications. You get the point. Let the union locals’ elected members, fire chiefs and politicians bargain the polarizing fiscal items in private. This should be decorum and we have to hope that they all have our backs at the table. Similarly, we need to watch our backs – and the citizenry’s – on the fireground. We both depend on it. When all is said and done and we’ve made a few grabs or revived one’s family member during the worst of all this, they will surely thank us. How much is this thanks worth to us when we are losing people, equipment and benefits at the very request of those who need us? I hope everything, because these people will eventually come back to us – and hopefully, will make the politicians do the same.
Hang in there, fire service
Erich Roden
Publisher and Editor, Urban Firefighter Magazine
Urban Firefighter Magazine is a dream-come-true for both Erich and myself. A year of issues that display the qualities of hard work, determination, and pride abound from our pages and we hope our message resonates with you the reader. Urban Firefighter Magazine will be with you during good times and bad. Read, Share and Enjoy UFM!
Plate Spinners
It will take initiative and bravery to reformulate the fire service during this time of deep austerity and economic downturn. Where the fire service ends up will vary dependent upon local severity, funding support and organizational restructuring. Not very fire department is on the brink of fiscal collapse, but some among us have already declared their “Mayday.”
Although most of the problems regarding budget shortfalls did not occur over night, they have come to a head rather quickly – and the mood is right to lance fire department budgets throughout the country. Political stall and lack of revenue, combined with a labor force that is not designed to turn a profit, makes the fire service a great target. The majority of any fire department’s budget is personnel. Personnel numbers and timely response are the backbone of our service delivery model. When the cutting is accomplished through labor reduction, more than just the model suffers. Creative solutions to fire occurrences can be accomplished and expanded; however there are only so many accomplished plate spinners among our ranks. Eventually, some will fall and shatter. Who will be there to pick up the pieces?
The watershed moment is upon the fire service like an open nozzle – and this is no more evident than in the most blighted cities and towns. Fire protection is for all, but as many feel the hair on their neck stand up, who is protecting the protectors? There is a hierarchy of need in the fire service: people first – then property. We will always serve our people; the question is: how effective will we be when we are severely diminished in numbers and capability? It was never about just showing up, anyone can do that. Firefighters take action; their training allows them to go where most of society runs from. The fire sevice of fiscal austerity is going to need even more dedication from its firefighters, not less. Even if demand for our services decreases, the level of on-scene activity and responsibility will rise – and that is the biggest issue austerity hands us to resolve and live with.
Sincerely,
Ray McCormack
Publisher and Editor, Urban Firefighter Magazine
“Keep Fire in Your Life”
