It’s Burning. What Did You Expect?
Firefighters spend a lot of time talking about fire. An old story, a recent fire or fires they've heard about all lead the professional to discuss their chosen field. It's much the same in the profession of arms. Those who may have to use a firearm are likely to talk about it a great deal. It helps sharpen the edge when the crap hits the fan.
Why is it firefighters are caught off guard when they turn a corner and see a fire. In most cases we have been properly warned (The call went out) and the training is there to deal with it. So why the surprise?
At least some part of it is that adrenaline rush but other professions dealing with adrenaline surges aren't surprised when they arrive at something they prepare for a lot. Of course maybe it is a lack of real world preparation. Sitting around can soften the instincts and dull the edge if you aren't running calls. That's why training exists.
What the profession needs to move away from is expressing surprise when a fire actually happens. That's fine for the public but not for the professional. Even if you ride up on something without warning you are a firefighter. That means you*fight*the*fire.
How many shake their heads when they hear someone say their serial killer neighbor was just a regular guy? Professionals know the type but the public doesn't. It's the same in the fire service. Know your job and expect to encounter fire.
Should you be surprised?
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Advocates For Firefighters
January 10th, 2010 - 14:07
Good topic. Hello from El Paso.
January 10th, 2010 - 14:13
Never let anyone see you caught off-guard as a fire fighter. It is what we all train for every tour.
January 10th, 2010 - 14:13
Had a guy was on our rig right out of proby school. We run up a street and see the fire on the next street over so we take the block. When the wheel guy stopped at the corner to check for traffic this young cherry steps off the rig and heads back to the house. He quit just like that.
January 10th, 2010 - 14:14
Halligan and Hose is a great name for the blog. This will enter my favorites with VES. Keep up the good work brothers.
January 10th, 2010 - 14:15
Amen!!
January 10th, 2010 - 14:18
Forgot to end my story. So we get back and they send us another guy, also a cherry. We are worried because the first guy walked off. Two tours later we get a job, smoky but not bad, and this kid is stellar. Turns out the guy who ran off was the top grad in the proby class but this kid finished last. Go figure. Anyway we taught all our pups to always expect a fire. Miss the job terrible. Retired with 32 years. Keep the water flowing!
January 10th, 2010 - 16:30
try not to be surprise but sometime it happens.
January 10th, 2010 - 16:32
Adrenaline can be an enemy but if we learn to accept it we can use it to our advantage. Controlling the emotional state is vital because if you don’t all of the adrenaline will spill out leaving you with nothing to fight the fire with physically. Staying in good shape and staying calm benefit firefighters.
January 10th, 2010 - 16:32
Can you guys do some stuff on ladder compnay stuff. VES does but the more the merrier
January 10th, 2010 - 16:33
You can’t anticipate everything.
January 10th, 2010 - 16:41
AZ is right about anticipating everything. But that is not the point. no one should be surprised to find a house burning if you get sent to a house burning. Now if you get sent to a mobile home fire and a Navy Destroyer is burning that is surprising.
January 11th, 2010 - 08:39
Doc put it best. Staying calm allows things to play out well.
January 11th, 2010 - 12:09
-I use a similar analogy with over excited firefighters. “When the garbage man drives around the corner and sees full trash cans on the street he doesn’t get excited or freak out… he knew or highly suspected that there would be garbage to collect.”
-This get back to the heart of “veterans” telling rookies about the vast amount of experience, yet they tend to be the ones with the blank stares or are screaming to the point of tears. Instead of telling the new guy that you have ten years on the job you may want to tell the truth by stating that you actually have one year experience ten times over.
-Its all in the learning curve.