I was recently reminded by a friend that “nothing is forever.” There is a lot of truth in that statement in that very few things in life are true absolutes. One big exception: the dates on your tombstone. While those dates are certainly absolute, your impact on earth will be defined not by those dates but rather by the years in between – your “dash.”
As I contemplated my friend’s reminder, plus the concept of dashes and absolutes, I also reflected on New Year’s resolutions (or revolutions, as I prefer to think of them). And while the fire service found its way into the equation, as it often does, I found myself thinking more about the progress that could have been made than progress that was actually made. Resolutions should be about the future, not “what could have been.” That said, it is important to reflect upon our 2024 accomplishments and what we can learn to improve ourselves and the fire service in general as we move further into 2025.
A fire service full of dashes
Every dash tells a story. Some firefighters keep a low profile and skate through the fire service unnoticed. While they form part of the public safety fabric, their impact is very local. On the flip side, some firefighters seem larger than life, often on the forefront of national conversations. Most firefighters fall somewhere in between.
I think of Chief Alan Brunacini, who introduced us to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, along with the simple fire service customer service “Be nice” mantra. Chief Harry Carter introduced me to applying critical-thinking skills to my writing, inspired by his 2,500-plus articles and the 14 textbooks that he authored or co-authored.
Many fire service leaders were responsible for landmark improvements during their careers. Jim Estepp, the chief who hired me in Prince George’s County, Maryland, comes to mind. Estepp currently serves as president of the board of directors of the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and is also chairman of the board of the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board®). Estepp developed the first countywide residential sprinkler legislation in the United States and helped get it enacted in 1992. Additionally, Chiefs Ernie Mitchell and Denis Onieal both encouraged my writing. Mitchell would go on to serve as the U.S. fire administrator, and Onieal as the deputy fire administrator. Mitchell continues to serve on the board of directors and advisory committee for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), and Onieal continues to deliver seminars and encourages lifelong learning in the fire service. Theirs are just a few of the many fire services dashes that have intersected with my own.
How does your dash fit in with these heavyweights?
Reflections on my own dash
As I reflect on my 43 years of fire service contributions, there are several distinct chapters, including one that started nearly seven years ago – one that intersects with you – which is when I started working with and writing for FireRescue1. During those seven years, I’ve met or communicated with thousands of readers and fire service members around the world.
During the first 3½ years of this stretch, my day job was building a countywide fire department from the ground up in Highlands County, Florida. Post-retirement, I stayed connected to the fire service through the various FireRescue1 channels. I have been honored to author hundreds of articles, produce multiple video series, host a podcast, represent the brand at various events, and serve on the CFSI National Advisory Committee. Communicating and interacting with every one of you has been a significant part of my dash.
But the connection goes beyond the website. I’ve also I’ve also delivered “Could YOU Rescue YOU?” seminars around the country, and I’m working on a book with the same title.
On the non-fire front, in those same seven years, I laid my mother to rest, moved into a new home, dived into acting and modeling, competed in a fitness competition, and survived a collapsed lung. It’s been a busy yet meaningful seven years.
I trust you will agree that the examination of one chapter of my dash demonstrates a microcosm of many of the fire service dashes I’ve intersected with, including yours. Through talking about my own dash, I hope to encourage you to live your dash. My personal mission statement embodies my mission in this article: to inspire transformation by helping others achieve their maximum potential.
How are you living your dash?
Many of you have undoubtedly filled your dash in ways different, perhaps more meaningful ways than mine – that’s great. But it’s not a race. Don’t look at your dash as a competition with anyone but yourself. Your dash is 100% rooted in today. Your goal should be to make sure your today is as good or better than your yesterday. Quit worrying about tomorrow. Your legacy is developed daily, in the present, not the past or the future. While some things that happen in the future will contribute to your legacy, it is the decisions you make today that set those paths in motion.
Furthermore, remember that none of us can afford to live alone in the fire service. We depend on each other, and our dashes are inextricably linked from the moment we show up to the moment we leave every day. Our fire service family comes together at the beginning of a shift or on a call, and when we leave, we expect to come back to the same family tomorrow. But the reality is that our dashes are impacted by much more than the fire service, and many factors are out of our control. That means we cannot assume there will be a “tomorrow.” To help others achieve their maximum potential, we need to make the most of our interactions today.
The political part of your dash
It’s also important to remember that many of the things you accomplish during your dash are rooted in politics. I’m speaking of true politics here, not proverbial politics like relationship-building and strategic compromise. Fire service-related legislative processes unfold at various levels daily, many of which can be traced back to one or more of our dashes. No matter the situation, some of our goals will require sustained effort, as change can be a slow-moving process.
As 2025 begins, two legislative successes (one federal, one statewide) that come to mind are the recently approved Social Security Fairness Act and the Florida First Responder Interference law (also known as the “Halo Law”).
The Social Security Fairness Act ensures that paid firefighters who contributed to Social Security during their careers are not penalized in Social Security payouts. Many members of the fire service, along with other public safety entities, have been working on this for decades – a significant contribution to their dash.
The Halo Law, modeled after various similar laws around the country, creates a 25-foot virtual buffer around first responders engaged in their duties. The law makes it a misdemeanor (following a verbal warning) to move within 25 feet of a first responder who is on the job. This is another great example of how we can work together to create meaningful change, contributing to a dash that makes us, and others, proud.
The last piece on politics here involves the recent proposed changes to OSHA standards. Many people, from both inside and outside the fire service, have spent time improving the safety of firefighters globally, and I believe that is the intent of these changes. However, I find it difficult to separate paid and volunteer firefighters in standards intended to keep firefighters safe. If we’re all doing the same things, the standards should apply regardless of our pay status. If a longer implementation is necessary to bring volunteers on board, I could live with that. What are your thoughts? Did you share your feedback during the public comment period? Did you use your voice as part of this chapter of your life’s dash?
Learn more about the changes to OSHA standards from FireRescue1 columnists:
Resolutions for your future dash contributions
The patchwork of our interconnected dashes is complex. It is easy to find fault in others – that’s human nature. It is far more challenging to accept personal responsibility and find positive paths forward despite our own challenges. This is the whole concept behind annual resolutions. Whether you make resolutions or not, I ask you to consider these six goals for 2025:
- Build a better you all the way around – physically, morally and mentally.
- Build a better family relationship at home and at work.
- Complete at least one online and one in-person training program every month.
- Write an article for FireRescue1.
- Build a better fire service by training and becoming an advocate.
- Train your successor.
We all need to remember that the fire service is bigger than us as individuals. We all make unique contributions to our fire service dashes, but at the end of the day, we’re in this together. Pay status, gender, ethnicity, skin color – none of those things matter when Grandma Jones (or Mr. and Mrs. Smith) calls 9-1-1. Well-trained firefighters who are physically, morally and mentally fit and ready to serve matter.
My friend was correct – there are no absolutes. That said, none of us will be here forever. Will your actions rise above your excuses? What will your legacy look like? What fire service contributions will be part of your dash?
