During my 38 years in the active fire service I have become very aware that the Fire Chiefs Badge displayed five crossed bugles forming a circle. I also knew that as you climbed the chain of command in a department, the bugles changed color from silver for a company officer to gold for a chief officer (in most departments).
What also has become clear to me was the higher the rank and the increasing number of bugles meant more responsibility – for fire service history shows that those who carried the bugle were the biggest, strongest and usually the loudest. They bellowed the orders that were heard by all firefighters and which could mean the difference between life and death. Talk about responsibility! But after wearing the Fire Chiefs Badge for 10 years, I have learned that the bugles represented far more than he who could bellow the loudest.
To me, one bugle represented the administration/jurisdiction that had appointed me, and that I worked for. I knew it was paramount that I represented them in a positive, professional manner, building trust. If not, how could we be successful on the more serious issues, let alone the day-to-day issues? Relationships such as these are never a secret, and had a direct impact on my success as the chief.
The second bugle seemed to represent the swirl of politics. The fire service has always been involved in politics and undoubtedly always will. We as chiefs need to accept that, work with integrity inside the framework of our own body politic, and celebrate that we have it. Millions of people in the world want to come here to our country. It’s the best system anywhere. Substitute the word “democracy” for “politics” and you can smile about it.
The third bugle represented to me the public we protected. Who else would speak for them? How could they know the appropriate level of service they required, both fire and EMS? Who would speak for them in matters of public fire policy, ensuring code appliance and enforcement in public/business occupancies? There are a myriad of issues in fire protection to which the public rightfully expects the fire chief’s representation, many of which are unpopular. Banning fireworks, supporting automatic sprinkler ordinances and enforcing outdoor burning prohibition, are just some examples of the issues on which fire chiefs must take a brave stand to protect the public from themselves.
The fourth bugle, and perhaps the most important, represents working each and every day on behalf of the firefighters, officers and staff you represent. Ensuring they have the best equipment, training, staffing and deployment, and an open and honest dialogue with you, is imperative. If at all possible, you also must be with them at major incidents when they’re at their greatest personal risk and danger.
Finally the fifth bugle is your own integrity. Have you stood up for your department and personnel? Have you protected the public from the ravages of fire and disasters both natural and manmade, even when doing so put you at odds with your own governing body? If so, that badge won’t seem heavy at all. In fact it will shine not with polish, but with the pride and humbleness we all share.
Some days we surely feel we fail at one or more of the aforementioned traits and behavior as the fire chief, and find the weight of responsibility overwhelming. Yet, we still strive to give our best efforts each and every day. Then when we look in the mirror, we know we merit the badge we wear. We’ve done our very best. That’s all anyone can ask!
Charlie Dickinson
Deputy Administrator
US Fire Administration
