Letters to the Editor
DEPARTMENTS
Subscription department wasn’t negligent, but it must pay legal costs, courts decide
After years of legal bartering, a Gallatin (Mont.) district court jury decided that neither the Rae Volunteer Fire Co. nor the homeowners and their insurance company were negligent in the fire that destroyed the home of Harry and Rosalie Petroff. Had the jury decided against the fire company, a 40-squaremile area likely would have lost its fire protection.
(Firefighters stopped fighting the February 1979 fire that consumed the Petroffs’ house after the fire company learned the couple weren’t subscribers and determined that lives weren’t in danger.)
The fire company is pursuing the formation of a rural fire protection area under a new state law. This bill sanctions the creation of fire protection areas that base fees on assessed structures rather than conventional property taxes. It is anticipated that the fire protection area will be approved and in place by January 1988, eliminating the need to let homes and property burn.
Although the fire company won on that level, it lost the battle against its own insurance company in Montana State Supreme Court. The insurance company refused to represent the volunteers, claiming that not fighting nonmember fires was not covered under the policy. This decision cleared the insurance company of more than $30,000 in legal expenses. The volunteers will have to pay the costs, money that would have been better spent on equipment and training programs.
William J. Weber
Assistant Chief
Rae Volunteer Fire Co.
Bozeman, Mont.
A chief disputes whether volunteers get equal treatment
I agree with your July editorial, “Where Are You, Chief?” and Chief Ronny Coleman’s September letter, “The value of organization membership applies equally to volunteer chiefs,” about the worth of membership in organizations such as the International Association of Fire Chiefs. I believe it is beneficial for every department, no matter how small, to provide one membership for its chief. It isn’t fair to ask someone who already devotes much time to pay when the entire department benefits.
However, 1 take exception to Chief Coleman’s implication that volunteer and career firefighters are treated equally. Although there has been much improvement in the past few vears, the two still aren’t treated the same. As a National Fire Academy adjunct instructor, 1 have heard derogatory comments about my volunteer status, the insinuations being that only career firefighters should instruct paid personnel.
Until more parity is reached, I believe many volunteer chiefs will surmise that this second-class treatment also exists within the IAFC (although 1 can affirm that it doesn’t). I would rather see equality stressed than have a prorated dues schedule that’s based on the size and the pay of the fire department.
Allen Clark
Chief
Bell Township Volunteer Fire Department
Salina, Pa.
Firefighters should obey their superiors, not question them
Your June editorial is so far off the mark, it’s absurd. If it had been written bv a member of the Russian Armv or an anarchist, then I would have frowned and thrown the magazine aside. However, it was written by someone who will influence opinion in the fire service.
When in combat—whether against troops or the “red devil”—strict obedience of orders has historically been successful. The result generally has been minimal loss of life and maximum attainment of goals.
When the “crap hits the fan,” I want well trained, dedicated, responsive firefighters who, rather than engage in a debate on the fireground, will demonstrate confidence in their officers. They show this by immediately obeying orders with energy and enthusiasm.
I don’t want the “highly intelligent thinking individual” who will seek dialogue, hesitate, ponder, compromise, or modify an order. When lives and property are at stake, we need action, not debate.
Vincent Finnegan
25 Quail Place
St. James, N. Y.
Another rule: Keep a record of obsolete policies
The article “The Rules on Rules” by E. Lee Silvi, Jr., in the September issue presented many valid points. However, I wish to recommend another vital “rule”: Departments should keep a record of all obsolete policies.
Without such information, it is virtually impossible to determine when a policy was first implemented, or who was affected. This practice is particularly important when dealing with personnel-related issues, such as physical standards and overtime policies.
Janice Williams
Administrative Analyst
Arlington Fire Department
Arlington, Texas
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