Accountability & Expectations

ACCOUNTABILITY

Let’s step back from the street for a second and talk about accountability in the firehouse.

This topic can stretch across a number of administration and operational areas. In fact, the accountability system in the firehouse needs to be more complex than the one hanging in the back of the buggy.

Chief Officers trust the fireman to perform their tasks and functions on the fire scene with no direction in the appropriate scenario. On the opposite end, the fireman trusts the Chief Officers to make the fireground decisions that will best protect the civilian and the property we were dispatched to for the best outcome.

But how do we ensure that accountability in the firehouse is as effective and ever- present as the Accountability Board in the back of the Chief’s Buggy?

We expect the same level of commitment and heart from everyone else that we expect from ourselves. We expect quality training, quality operational directives, a level of mutual respect, and calculated fraternization between the firemen and the bosses.

Training Chief

What do we expect from the Training Chief?

We expect quality training and opportunity to hone our skills. We expect a level of commitment from the Training Chief or other designated person to not only fulfill their job description and requirements but to take an active role in the honing of the fireman’s craft. We expect a level of enthusiasm in developing training opportunities for the men and women of the department to increase their effectiveness.

After all, our main mission in the fire service is to protect and serve the public and the Training Chief has a direct line to that.

Operations Chief

What do we expect from the Ops Chief?

On the admin side, we expect well written and documented Standard Operating Procedures and Guidelines that will assist the firemen and the company officers perform with fluidity on the fireground.

On the operations side, we expect an Ops Chief to allow us to operate off of training and instincts with the GUIDANCE of the Procedures and Guidelines rather than solely by the book.

I highlight the word “guidance” because sometimes the procedure or guideline is out of its realm depending on the situation.

There’s a saying that goes “Doctrine is the last refuge of the unimaginative” and I wholeheartedly believe in this however I do also believe that procedures and guidelines are often written in blood and must be respected.

Fire Chief
What do we expect from the Fire Chief?

We expect the Fire Chief to have as much enthusiasm for a nice fire as the next guy in line. We expect the Fire Chief to want what the firemen and the officers want such as aggressive fire operations. We expect the Fire Chief to pull for progression through aggression when it comes time to update the SOPs and when it comes time to fight for that 4th or 5th man on the Engine or Truck or to reopen the Heavy Rescue.

We want a Fire Chief that gets as excited when his or her guys and girls make a nice stretch on a fire and a quick search of the fire building. We want a Fire Chief that’s a little proud when the other company bitches that they got beat again.

We also want a Fire Chief that isn’t afraid to get in the ass of any fireman or officer when they screw up.

The Firehouse
What do we expect out of the firehouse?

We expect a lot from the firehouse. To many, the firehouse is another home and we have as many miles in the station as we do at our own homes.

We expect a comfortable place to come back to after the morning routine but also a place of business furthering our progression in the fire service. We expect a little bit of leniency once the house chores are done and daily rig checks are completed.

We have an expectation of an environment that makes us want to come back to work every day instead of dreading the fact that we have to sit in the same building with THAT officer who won’t allow you to kick your feet up, or go out for a shake when the duties are complete. We aren’t looking for romper room, but we are adults (most times) that the Fire Chief entrusts to drive half-million to a million-dollar rig across town and enter a stranger’s home with the sole purpose of making someone’s day just a bit easier.

We expect a lot from an inanimate object and it’s the officer’s role to develop that environment, the officer AND the Senior Man.

The Kitchen

What do we expect from the kitchen?

Simply, we expect the main room of the firehouse to serve as a place to sit and enjoy a meal with everyone. We expect the kitchen to act as the primary courtroom when someone needs a ruling. We expect the kitchen to serve as a room for improvement in everything from the fireground to life at home.

The kitchen acts as a stand in for anything you may need. Psychologists office? Check! Home improvement planning center? Check! The kitchen may be dirty and dingy some days but there are few fireman who would rather be anywhere else.

The Senior Man

What do we expect from the unofficial boss of the Company?

We expect a heavy ass chewing if we need it. We need the “subtle” hint when we’re not moving fast enough on a job.

We’re looking for the Senior Man to tell us stories of days gone by of heroic victories and devastating failures. We’re looking for the Officer of the Company to know when the Senior Man has the conn and whatever happens after that is in the best interest of the company.

Overall, we’re looking for the Senior Man to make the guys and girls in the company better than they were the day before. We’re expecting the Senior Man to make everyone else Senior Men at some point in their career.

One might say that the Senior Man has one of the hardest and most important jobs in the department.

The Fireman

Before you freak out, the term fireman in my mind is a rank and is genderless. One becomes a fireman when the company says so (Cue the Senior Man). Now that we’ve gone through a few of the more important titles and responsibilities in the Department, I’d like to work on the Fireman.

What do we expect from the Fireman?

When I say Fireman, I don’t mean the firefighter, I mean the established fireman who has a bit of time and experience on the job.

We expect the fireman to seek out the best training that will complement the company and further their knowledge and ability
to fulfill their oath to protect the public. We expect the fireman to train on the off days when there isn’t a required two- hour course. We expect the fireman to be an expert in stretching and packing the agreed upon handline.

We expect the fireman to be as excited teaching the new guy how to pull that line as he is pulling it himself on game day.

We expect the fireman to know the operational guidelines and procedures set in place to work in concert with their experience so they can operate fluidly on the fireground.

We expect the fireman to back up his officers when it comes to defending your actions on the fireground when the time comes.

We expect the fireman to support the Fire Chief when it comes time to fight for that extra man or reestablishing that out of service piece of apparatus when the time comes.

You may not always like what goes on in the Head Shed but there’s not a council around who wouldn’t feel the weight of a room full of rowdy fireman in their Chief’s corner.

We expect the fireman above all else to have heart and passion for the job. We expect the fireman to continually work toward bettering the Company and the Department.

We expect the fireman to know when to speak up when things feel off. We also expect the fireman to know when to shut his yap when the need arises.

Go do fireman things. Stretch lines, throw ladders, search like it’s your house.

Check your rig, check your pack and your mask.

Be the guy or girl you would want to learn from in the firehouse.

Do your job!