TRADITIONS ENDURE FOR GENERATIONS
The biographical history of the latest Chief of Department follow a familiar path. He joined his hometown volunteer department at 16. Enlisted in the Marines after he graduated from high school.
Served with distinction. Learned how to lead troops and inspire excellence. Credited his fire/EMT training when receiving a commendation for actions during a firefight.
Met his wife while working in a suburban fire department. It took some time, but he finally obtained an appointment at his dream department in the big city.
Still teased about his “county boy” accent, he worked his way to one of the elite and busy fire companies. He dived into the city college fire science program, getting a bachelor’s degree in six years.
He did well on promotional exams, scoring within the promotional range the first time he took the Lieutenant, Captain and Battalion Chief exams. While working in a batalion chief staff job he completed a master’s degree. He fought to get back out on the streets as a deputy chief.
He became an expert in applying technology to improve fireground operations and firefighter survival.
He talks about getting burned with scalding water as a child and never taking his shirt off until he went to burn camp when he was 12.
Now, at 47, he is the chief of his dream department, appointed by the city on November 7, 2048.
PHYSICS TRUMPS POTENTIAL
On November 7, 2008, a seventeen year old volunteer in Rockingham County, Virginia, was responding to an attic fire a little after 1 am. Driving in his personal vehicle, he ran off the road in the fog. He was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the car while it was flipping.
What could have been is gone.
An avoidable tragedy.
How can we change the tradition of not using seatbelts?
Mike
FossilMedic
