What will we look like by 9/11/2021?

Starting the second decade

Harvard paleontologist Stephen Ray Gould developed the theory of punctuated equilibrium:

… developed with Niles Eldredge in 1972. The theory proposes that most evolution is marked by long periods of evolutionary stability, which is punctuated by rare instances of branching evolution.

The theory was contrasted against phyletic gradualism, the popular idea that evolutionary change is marked by a pattern of smooth and continuous change in the fossil record.  (Wikipedia)

The New York Times May 21, 2002 editorial on his death describes his impact:

The vast majority of the people who know Mr. Gould's name know him as a scientific essayist, not as a paleontologist or evolutionary theorist, let alone an expert on Cerion land snails.

They know him as a man who had an opinion on nearly everything and a way to turn nearly every opinion he had into a tour de force of analogy and historical example. His scientific colleagues found him almost as brilliant as his popular audience did, but considerably more exasperating as well.  (link)

Many of his monthly columns in Natural History magazine, and twenty-some books of "popular science" explored the possible reasons why " … lineages often change very little for millions of years, and then change rather rapidly."

Organizational punctuated equilibrium

As organizations grow in size and complexity, they encounter challenges that force changes in structure and function in order for the organization to continue to thrive. 

In fire departments, growth challenges requiring a rapid change include these four milestones:

• From all volunteer to adding daytime staff
• Expanding to 24 hour career staff
• Career staff larger than active volunteer staff
• Career staff exceeds 250 firefighters

Outside challenges also create the need for rapid change.

As we start the second decade after the September 11 attacks, we are in the throes of a persistent recession, public safety employees identified as the cause of municipal bankruptcy and experiencing significant change in fire company workload.

I liked Ray McCormack's post from Urban Firefighter Magazine:

You can not force someone to remember. You can not force someone to not forget.

What we can try to do is embody the principles of helping those in need.

There was no half hearted climb that day and for that we should always be proud.

For the FDNY family, we miss our friends and family. For the rest of the fire service, your support and remembrance is comfort and is appreciated.

Lt. Ray McCormack
FDNY

Helping those in need

• Jerry Lewis is gone, along with the live 24 hour Las Vegas marathon on television. None the less, IAFF members raised an estimated $28.6 million for muscular dystrophy research and treatment this year. Eight percent higher than last year. 
• In most areas, a responding engine company is on the way to a medical call 70% – 80% of the time.
• Fire stations have become Safe Houses, protected ATM location and where a teen can drop off an unwanted baby.
• Metro cities are seeing a rise in arson with a decline in fire companies and shrinking of the size of surviving crews.
• Metro fire companies are also dealing with a crumbling municipal infrastructure: defective water mains, collapsing buildings, decades of deferred maintenance on city properties – including the fire station.

What will the fire service look like by September 11, 2021?

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

thanks to retired MPD detective (and Burke VFD Assistant Chief) Mike Brooks for the Rescue Operations Battalion picture.

Earlier 9/11 related articles:

2011: Boatlift: 500K Evacuated in 9 hours

2011: Shock … followed by purposeful action

2011: Remembering 41 EMS responders who died at WTC, including a hero from Prince William County, Virginia

2010: A Terrible and Brilliant Blue Sky Morning

2008: Reprint "The Anger Never Dies"  (Dennis Smith's article)

Also on FireGeezer…

• Technician Kyle Wilson and the lessons we can never forget (repost) – April 16, 2013
• Teaching the next generation – October 12, 2012
• Liquid Carbon Dioxide creates 2011 near-miss in Phoenix – August 11, 2012
• Can Emergency Services Lean on a Manufacturing Model? – February 7, 2012