Thanks so much for the response. I better appreciate the tyranny of 950 words or 45 minutes after listening to your longer presentation in Fairfax.

Your ability to put the issue in context, explaining how we got to this rule and looking at the impact of following the practice based on what we have learned was a valuable and thought-provoking experience.

Mike

Thanks so much for the response. I better appreciate the tyranny of 950 words or 45 minutes after listening to your longer presentation in Fairfax.

Your ability to put the issue in context, explaining how we got to this rule and looking at the impact of following the practice based on what we have learned was a valuable and thought-provoking experience.

Mike

It is always difficult to attempt to measure and determine the amount of tension an organization can tolerate in terms of managing risk. Our profession by it very nature must do this daily. The tension between safety and doing our work will always exist, how we manage it, as Art said much more eloquently, is local.

If my comments stirred passions, good, that is my job, if they confused people as to my passion for safety then I failed. I have only one goal in the short time I plan to continue in my career and that is to increase our ability to process the fireground accurately and thereby increase our survivability. I have choosen to call this effort increasing our fireground mental agility.

We can not control how folks may interpret our words, many things color interpretations, education, history, social status, personal experience, health, level of attention, our lack of verbal clarity, composure and the list goes on and on.

But all that not withstanding I am honored to have had the opportunity to share a thought or two with such persons of unassailable character who both have agreed and disagreed with me, but at the end of the day still respect and love me and I still respect and love them. It is that which makes firefighters unlike any others, and that which makes us all feel so unworthy yet so proud to belong.

I can not imagine how horrible it would be to live somewhere where you were not permitted to disagree. Nor would I want to be part of any profession who did not handle disagreements with dignity and consideration of the other person’s good intentions and good character. I thank you all again for your friendship and kindness and I hope to see you all again. May God hold you all safe till then.

I remain your loyal servant and brother

Bobby Halton

It is always difficult to attempt to measure and determine the amount of tension an organization can tolerate in terms of managing risk. Our profession by it very nature must do this daily. The tension between safety and doing our work will always exist, how we manage it, as Art said much more eloquently, is local.

If my comments stirred passions, good, that is my job, if they confused people as to my passion for safety then I failed. I have only one goal in the short time I plan to continue in my career and that is to increase our ability to process the fireground accurately and thereby increase our survivability. I have choosen to call this effort increasing our fireground mental agility.

We can not control how folks may interpret our words, many things color interpretations, education, history, social status, personal experience, health, level of attention, our lack of verbal clarity, composure and the list goes on and on.

But all that not withstanding I am honored to have had the opportunity to share a thought or two with such persons of unassailable character who both have agreed and disagreed with me, but at the end of the day still respect and love me and I still respect and love them. It is that which makes firefighters unlike any others, and that which makes us all feel so unworthy yet so proud to belong.

I can not imagine how horrible it would be to live somewhere where you were not permitted to disagree. Nor would I want to be part of any profession who did not handle disagreements with dignity and consideration of the other person’s good intentions and good character. I thank you all again for your friendship and kindness and I hope to see you all again. May God hold you all safe till then.

I remain your loyal servant and brother

Bobby Halton

i think that the aricles written by Ray Mac Cormack are very interesting and the fact that he shares his experience and knowledges with everyone,simply means that Ray is a Man,with a great wisdom.

i like translating his articles in french,always a great moment for me:no,i’m not a “badge bunny” as you say it in the Fire Service:simply a frenchie who wants to learn more about US fire service tactics.

if Ray reads this article and comments:keep us the good work,Ray.