Becoming a fire officer is an incredibly significant step in a firefighter’s life. Whether it’s studying hard for a test or working hard to qualify and become eligible, becoming an officer is a step that you decide to take—not something that comes automatically. To put yourself in a position where the buck stops with you takes a degree of courage. While stressful, it is a very gratifying and inspiring position. To use a somewhat comical analogy, you become the mother duck looking out for her ducklings.
The problem is, unlike ducklings, firefighters aren’t apt to respond so readily all the time. Getting everyone home on your watch safely is the single most important responsibility you have, and it requires constant and focused attention.
The good news is that it is accomplished every day. Our job is inherent with danger; we knew that going in. There are also going to be times when things are simply and clearly out of your control. But if you are confident that your team is properly trained and prepared to fight the fight, you are almost home.
Unfortunately, there are factors that will work against you from the outset. Too many fire officers do not take the job seriously; complacency and apathy are infectious diseases in the fire service. Like life, it always happens to someone else. Did you teach the troops to clear the window all the way? Did we make sure that the push bar on the door to the store is removed so, if a hasty exit is necessary, it does not become a firefighter trap? Did we get a second line stretched, is the building laddered?
Those are some of the tactical questions officers must keep top of mind, but there are equally important ones that concern the personal dynamics of your crew. What are your firefighters’ capabilities - both physical and mental? Do you have seasoned veterans who are out of shape, physically fit probies with no experience, or a mixture of both? Sometimes the decision is not ours who is working or responding. Can we do anything to change this as fire officers? Of course we can.
Our egos do not like being told that we are out of shape or in poor physical health, but we all know that it is a recognized problem plaguing the fire service. A physical fitness program can be as extensive as having a personal trainer or as simple as regularly doing exercises in the firehouse.
One thing you must do is have a strong emphasis on training. Basics need to be reinforced so that you make sure that everyone is on their game. An evolution as simple as getting a line in place is extremely important. It is a key to saving lives—the civilians, your firefighters and your own.
A thorough knowledge about your equipment and its use under unusual circumstances is also important. Two dear friends who were premier FDNY Officers—Chief Ed Geraghty and Captain Terry Hatton, both killed on 9/11—had a reputation for waking up their firefighters in the middle of the night to perform various evolutions. They made sure that their firefighters were the best trained and able to execute at any time.
Applying what you know and leading by example is an essential trait for a fire officer. You should never expect your firefighters to do anything you wouldn’t do yourself. Being there with encouragement is very important. Too many times you hear that as firefighters “climb the ladder,” they forget where they came from. That is the biggest mistake you can make. In order to gain the respect of your troops, you must not only earn it but give it.
Although you’ve earned your spot, it is still a privilege to be where you are. Being a true leader means taking the heat, standing up for your firefighters, and knowing when and how to separate work from play. You don’t have to be a drill sergeant, but you must observe the delicate balance between the two and ensure everyone is ready to go at the moment they need to be.