Apparatus Supplement a Home Run
Bill Peters did it again! The August 2023 Apparatus Supplement was a home run! Every year, I look forward to the supplement, and this year’s was no exception. Great “executive summary” of the changes to NFPA apparatus standards. I thoroughly enjoyed the coverage of the exhibit hall. Between teaching and attending classes, I have very little time to spend looking at the exhibits, so the coverage gives me an idea of what was there.
Bill Gustin
Captain
Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue
FDIC: An Experience Like No Other
I am sitting in a hotel room in Indianapolis, Indiana. I am EXHAUSTED. I am here to tell you that the exhaustion has been completely worth it. I have just finished my attendance at FDIC 2023. While I attended the conference last year, this year was different for me. I am not entirely sure why, but I will be leaving tomorrow a changed human being.
Initially, I was feeling a bit apprehensive about coming. I wanted to come again after attending last year, but I had let a comment made by someone a few months ago creep in and question my value to the fire service. My husband talked me out of a hasty decision, and I am so glad that he did. I experienced some great things that I would love to share in case you may be on the fence about attending in 2024.
- If you are even remotely considering going, then you deserve to be there. The halls that you will walk at FDIC are filled to the brim with like-minded individuals who are craving education and training. They may have all felt the same way. But you all decided to make your way to the great city of Indianapolis for the common good of the fire service.
- There are so many great instructors to choose from. When you decide to attend, look at all the instructors and their classes. Read the descriptions and bios so that you can best find the classes that will fit into what you are hoping to learn. Sometimes who you want to see will overlap. That’s okay; you’ll be back next year to catch the ones you missed.
- Take time to stop by the bookstore. Not only do they have prices that are lower than the normal suggested price, but you can also come back at certain times to get autographs and visit with some of the book authors. I had the honor of meeting a few this year.
- Visit the local booths. These are small businesses, often started either by firefighters or people who want to give support to those in the fire service.
- Visit the exhibit halls. Now, if you are like me, you have zero purchasing power within your department. However, even as someone who has no authority to purchase some of the bigger ticket items, it is still an opportunity to learn. I stood and watched several of the demonstrations. Plus, you can often take back what you saw and share with those who DO have purchasing power.
- Attend the F.O.O.L.S. bash. This year, I visited with a lot of interesting people. I met new folks and got to renew friendships with folks I hadn’t had the opportunity to socialize with in quite some time. Plus, the Pipes & Drums demonstrations are some of the best around.
- Make sure you go to the stair climb even if you aren’t going to be climbing. It is a great experience both for attendees and for the climbers to see all the support.
- Take a ton of photos. Take photos with your buddies. Ask to take photos with instructors who inspire you. Take photos with the authors at the bookstore. Take photos of the beautiful city.
- Eat all the great food in the restaurants around the city. There are some great places to eat that you probably won’t be able to find at home.
- When you get back home, make sure you put in a request to go again next year.
While this isn’t an all-inclusive list, they are some of the highlights. FDIC 2023 was such a great experience, and it is amazing to see all the things that go on to make sure that you, as an attendee, have a good time and an even better educational experience. I, for one, have already put in my request to be in Indy in 2024. Have you?
Ariana Davis
Fire & Rescue Coordinator/EMT
Derby (KS) Fire & Rescue Department
Inclusivity
Inclusivity: What does that mean to you? It is extremely important in today’s fire service. You may be thinking, “Oh, here we go again.” Just hear me out. People come from unique life experiences; some may look different or have different values. Diversity is about having people from different social and ethnic backgrounds, allowing varied levels of perspective, knowledge, and abilities.
Let’s compare the fire service to professional football. Imagine an offensive line with all guards. How is that going to work out? You need a center, guards, and tackle to make the magic happen. The fire service is similar; it takes different levels of talent to make the team succeed.
Picture the classic image about equality: three kids looking over the fence during a baseball game. The kids are on boxes of different heights, enabling them all a view of the field. The boxes signify the contrast of equity vs. equality. There are a number of accommodations, from adding boxes to using a chain-link fence. The goal is to remove the barriers.
Should this be a fair comparison for the fire service? A well-respected chief officer said about this image: “I want players who are all going to hit home runs.” Makes sense, right?
We are in the business of life and death. Do we give special accommodations or lower standards to make our team? Absolutely, unequivocally not! What we can do is give them the resources to build an all-star team. Level the playing field by offering everyone the same tools.
This may sound simple; it is not. Different levels of experience, drive, and commitment can make that challenging. Providing an atmosphere where each employee understands what it takes, with the right resources, is crucial—instilling in everyone that it takes more than being average. To be an “all-star,” you need passion, perseverance, and the support to push past the obstacles holding you back.
As a fire lieutenant, I had the opportunity to adjunct during a probationary firefighter class. The group consisted of people with no experience, athletes, and some with volunteer experience. They represented many levels of diversity. What I found interesting was the difference between those experienced and the athletes in the group. The playing field was not level at all; in fact, the athletes had to work hard to develop their skills. It was a new world to them, yet they had grit. Some of the recruits succeeded as a team, others failed as individuals, and a few “all-stars” prevailed.
Steve Robbins said it best: “Diversity is sometimes about counting people … inclusion is about making people count,” making people count or feel valued. As a past president of Women in Fire, I see being inclusive as a two-way street. We all are entitled to the same level of support and opportunities. Nothing is equal in the workforce. You will have people who are smarter, people who are stronger. It is up to each of us to take the opportunities and be successful. It is frustrating for me personally when diversity is used as a reason to be included. I would much rather be chosen because of what I have to offer, not to check a box.
Seeing the world through someone else’s eyes is virtually impossible. Advocacy groups have a strong presence in the fire service. With respect to being inclusive, everyone should feel welcomed, especially in these settings. Having a diverse group of people will continue to be important. Embracing inclusivity will foster a positive dialogue while providing value for everyone.
Look at this from a recruitment/retention perspective. When your employees are happy, they are going to share it. Compare this to your favorite restaurant. Let’s say you have a phenomenal meal or exceptional customer service. What do you do? You check in on social media, share pictures, and tell your friends. A department with poor morale can be compared to a bad restaurant experience. More often, you will hear about a bad experience rather than a positive one. This analogy is used to share something very important. When people have a good experience, they will share it. This can be the cheapest form of advertising or the most costly, especially to a diverse candidate pool.
Often I questioned why I was invited to be among the most trusted fire service leaders of the FDIC/Fire Engineering Advisory Board. While I did not feel worthy, I was grateful for the opportunity. The late Chief Bobby Halton often told me I was brave—not because of an action on a fireground but brave for standing up for what was right. I was fortunate that both Chief Halton and Clarion Executive Vice President Eric Schlett embraced the mission of Women in Fire. With open arms, they welcomed the organization to FDIC. Together, we worked with the goal of making the fire service better. The mutual respect and love for one another made us family. We valued each other, respecting what we each brought to the table. Bobby wrote about “belongingness” in his article “The Best Damn Job We’ve Ever Had” (Editor’s Opinion, Fire Engineering, May 2019). So eloquently he shared that even though we gripe about things, we stay because we belong. Everyone is entitled to have that sense of belongingness.
During the Opening Ceremony at FDIC 2023, FDIC Conference Director/Fire Engineering Editor in Chief David Rhodes referred to himself as a “loyal disobedient.” This spoke to me; maybe that was the quality Chief Halton saw in me. While I support diversity, I find inclusion should be the most important value. One should not be valued because of their differences but respected for the difference they make. Read that again. Be respected for the difference you make. The world would be a better place if everyone worked to earn respect rather than feeling they are entitled to it. After all, it wouldn’t be any fun watching professional football if the team was made up of people who all thought they deserved to be there.
Angie Hughes
Past President
Women in Fire
