By Christopher Flatley
The headline read, “Anytown Fire Department swears in new officers.” The body of the article went on to say, “The Anytown Fire Department at its annual meeting swore in a new slate of officers for the upcoming year. Their oath was administered by the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Dale Beno. Chief ‘Gunna’ Dolittle then presented his slate of officers, Captain Willy Doless and Lieutenants U.N. Able and U.N. Knowing.”
The article continued, “It was a proud moment for the Dolittle family; the new chief followed in the footsteps of his father ‘Didhe’ Dolittle, an ex-chief and life member of Anytown Fire Department. ‘I always knew he would be a chief someday,’ the elder Dolittle stated. ‘This department is in our blood.’
” ‘It gives me great pleasure to administer the oath to these fine officers,’ stated Chairman Dale Beno. ‘They represent the finest group of leaders this department has to offer.’
” ‘You are our future,’ Beno continued. ‘I know exactly what I will get from each of you.’
“As the group raised their right hands and repeated the words ‘I do solemnly swear U’ a tear could be seen rolling down the elder Dolittle’s face.”
The article concluded, “The officers will assume their new positions immediately and serve a one-year term.”
This sounds like it could have been clipped from any hometown newspaper across the country. Do you know a department that is led by Chief “Dolittle” and Captain “Doless”? Do you know company officers who are “Unknowing” and “Un-able”? In all too many departments, this is the sad state of affairs!
I took a little editorial license with the chief and his father, but I mean no disrespect to the proud father/child tradition of the fire service. This legacy is one of the hallmarks of the fire service, but just as the child should not be held accountable for the sins of the father, neither should the child be rewarded for accomplishments that are not his own.
Let’s look at the new chief. He comes from a fire service upbringing. Do you think there was any added pressure on the young “Dolittle” to become a firefighter? Do you think several people in the department wanted him to follow in the family tradition? Do you think he was “groomed” for the chief’s office? Could the young Dolittle have been rushed to the chief’s rank to fulfill some prophecy? With his family background, does he still lack some training and experience to handle the job and what is expected?
It may be unfair to say the chief does little; he may be the hit of the party at social events, he may get the trucks polished for parades, and the company has always won at field day. Things like this may improve your standing in the company, but what does it do for the community? You have a responsibility to protect the community. Knowing how to spray water in a parking lot does little to prepare you for the house fire at 2 a.m. The shiniest trucks don’t put out fires—people do! If you have not trained your firefighters to stretch a line or force a door, you are not meeting your obligation. As the chief, you will be the one held accountable.
The best intentions in the world do not make a good leader. (We know what road is paved with good intentions.) Simply wanting to do a good job is not enough. Officers who will do less and who are unknowing and unable to handle the commitments of the rank create a recipe for disaster. The way you lead is the way your officers will follow.
Let’s look inside the head of new Chief Dolittle for another moment. While he is repeating the words of his oath, does he realize exactly what he is saying? Does he realize that he is accepting responsibility for the lives of his firefighters and asking them to go into one of the most hostile and unpredictable environments in the world—the fire building? Does he realize he is accepting responsibility for the safe return of every single one of the firefighters he calls to his emergency scene? Does he realize that he will be making these decisions based on what he knows or thinks he knows?
What of Chairman Dale Beno’s leadership? He is accepting those officers when he administers the oath. He and the Board of Commissioners share the responsibility for installing unqualified officers.
“OTHERTOWN”
Now let’s look at the “Othertown” Fire Department. The new chief just took office as well. Chief Douglas “Doright” will be supported by Captain “Goody” and Lieutenants “Ready” and “Willing.”
Chief “Doright” has always encouraged training in all forms and has actively worked to bring his members to realize their full potential. He conducts drills so that everyone will learn something, from the most experienced members to the new ones.
His motto is, “It is ‘I’ who will run or ruin this department.”
Captain “Goody” has reports in on time and is always prepared for a drill or meeting. He has won the department’s administrative award three years running.
Lieutenant “Ready” has experience in engine and truck operations and has been a “go-to guy” for most of his career. Lieutenant “Willing” is a relative newcomer but has a good head on his shoulders and will bring passion and enthusiasm to the job.
YOUR TOWN
Every fire service officer needs to remember that bad things can happen to good people and no one can predict 100 percent how they will act when “it hits the fan,” but with training, experience, and confidence, you can help yourself when faced with a bad situation.
Seeking advice from other chiefs or from people with expertise in a particular area is not a sign of weakness but rather a sign of your ability to use the resources available to you in a meaningful way. Advice may reinforce your own ideas or may cause you to rethink your decision.
The two departments seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum, but I bet many of you see some part of your department in both of the departments described here. It is your decision. What department do you want to be part of, “Anytown” or “Othertown”?
Christopher Flatley has been a volunteer firefighter for 23 years and has twice served as chief of the Blauvelt Volunteer Fire Company in Rockland County, New York. He has been a member of FDNY Ladder 2 in midtown Manhattan for 14 years. He has an associate’s degree in fire prevention technology and presented at FDIC 2003.
