There is an ongoing flurry of backpedaling in Baltimore this weekend as the Mayor’s office is trying to dish out some damage control following a fire death nearby a “browned-out” fire station. Dave Statter has been staying on top of this story since it occurred on Wednesday and has a good summary along with Baltimore’s persistence in practicing “firehouse roulette” POSTED HERE. To his credit, Baltimore Fire Chief Jim Clack has consistently told the citizens that this policy, promulgated by the Mayor’s office, will affect response times throughout the city.
While there are many fire chiefs that are willing to let the public know what kind of risk their elected leaders are imposing on them, there are many more who are unable to tell these truths without being summarily fired by the politicians who don’t want their citizens to know that they are being placed in less-safe coverage. Usually this is done in order to preserve a pet program of the mayor’s or a popular department that generates more votes for the incumbency of the city council. This is why I don’t understand why the firefighters themselves don’t get more vocal and visible in order to let the clueless citizenry know what’s going on. In the case of the paid departments, there is always a union local that can put the voice of the rank-and-file out there. And in the volunteer departments there is always a friendly news outlet or community group that are willing to spread the word. But first you have to have “the word” ready to share. We’ve talked about this before, haven’t we?
The other day, the inner-prankster in me started thinking up some counter-attack strategy that I would use if I was in charge of getting the message out for a department that was practicing the rotating closures or shut-downs. First, I’d take the video camera out and do some pre-shoots of the scenes that I’ll be using, and then I’d get the brownout schedule and be all set to show these to the affected neighborhoods:
- Open with a view of the firehouse that is closed that day with a voice-over identifying which station it is and its location while announcing that it is closed that day. Then a shot of the “hours of operation” posted on the door of the neighborhood library. Then the advice: Your firehouse is closed today, but the good news is that the library is still open. If you have a fire or medical emergency today, call your library and ask them to send somebody over with a box of books to throw at it.
- Scene opens with view of shuttered firehouse. If you have a fire in your house today, nobody from your nearby firehouse will be coming to help you. That’s because there is nobody here to drive the fire engine or put out your fire. Then show the pre-recorded scene of the parks employee operating a riding lawnmower (preferrably one of those easily found views of three other city workers standing around watching him work) while the voice-over continues: But the good news is, the lawnmower still has a driver. If you have a fire, give them a call and maybe they’ll come by and cut your grass while your house burns.
Sure, all that seems extreme and a big silly. But the point is, we need to get the taxpayers attention and point out to them what the priorities in their local government are. If they’re happy with putting lawnmower drivers ahead of firetruck drivers on the list of priorities, so be it. But at least make them think about it and decide for themselves. They’re the ones who choose their office-holders.
Ok, it’s Saturday, so we’re allowed to have some fun today. First though, let’s get this equipment checked out. I’ll get the coffee started. We’ll meet back in the day room and come up with some more strategy.
