The American Fire Service
Where We Stand – What We Stand For

The Fire Service has always been looked upon as the pinnacle of service to society. In this country it began when Ben Franklin set the fire service in motion after a huge fire in Philadelphia in 1736, Ben created a fire brigade called The Union Fire Company with 30 volunteers.

Some famous Americans who served as volunteer firefighters were: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere, Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Benedict Arnold, James Buchanan, Millard Fillmore and yes, Doctor Kirby Kiefer. Accordingly, the fire service has been and continues to be held in very high regard by our citizens.

Firefighter Ben Franklin

However, in the aftermath of the events of September 11, 2001 and in the recent economic downturn, the fire service faces pressures that could not have been imagined in years past.  "Well the fire chief said he needs it, so we better provide it for him," just doesn’t work today.  In today’s environment, what we do, what we are comfortable doing, and everything we say we need, is questioned by political leaders, budget staff and the citizens we serve.

But we have great leverage. Our business address is located in our customers’ neighborhood. No other public service enjoys such a unique opportunity to become a part of the fabric of the community.  No other public sector service has a better opportunity to garner citizen support than the local fire station.

Local fire and EMS personnel are always among the first to respond to events and the last to leave. Occasionally they are asked to perform during a period when they and their families are also victims of the disasters. We consider it a failure if we arrive 6 minutes after we receive the call for help. No other government service offers this unique line of business and high performance standard.  We are, in fact, critical infrastructure and the tip of the spear for homeland security.

The Fire Service is, and will continue to be, on the front line and depended upon every day by our citizens. We are depended upon when citizen’s lives or their personal property are in peril from fire, accidents, life threatening health conditions or major disasters. Firefighters must perform at maximum efficiency at these critical times. We know they cannot afford to fail. Honestly, citizens have no one else to turn to in these circumstances.  "Please hurry my house is on fire," is a call that no other agency -local, state or Federal – can answer; not in the way we do.

I am reminded of the grandfather providing some sound advice to his granddaughter. It goes something like this: "Listen honey, if you are ever lost or need help in a strange place, go to a firehouse, the firefighters well help you."  We cannot allow that respect, that confidence, that trust to erode. It is our responsibility to protect our good standing. We do indeed stand on the shoulders of the giants of our profession. If nothing else we owe it to them to continue to insist on high professional, ethical and moral standards. And maintain zero tolerance for those who violate these values.

Youngest Witnesses

But under these economic times, the Fire Service will be asked to operate with reduced resources while maintaining the same high level of service. A daunting undertaking.  We should not, however, believe that citizens will expect less from us because we have less to protect them. It is up to us, as a profession, to find ways to ensure our safety and the safety of our citizens now and into the future.

There is an old axiom that seems to be especially appropriate for today’s business and public service leaders. "Ask for what you need, but do the best with what you have."  I would add that we must identify, quantify, justify and communicate the true impact of reductions in financial, human and material resources on our communities so that our political leaders can make informed decisions based on sound, rational facts.  It is also incumbent upon the American fire service to enhance our efforts as advocates for life, health, fire prevention and mitigation with public outreach and code enforcement every day.

It is right to be out front in selling the value of preventing tragedies that may befall families. It is the purest demonstration that we care for our citizens as a profession and we have simple solutions to ensure their health and safety. It is in fact good business to demonstrate a proactive approach to fire and life safety.  We must think more critically, work more efficiently and demonstrate that we are indeed partners in seeking opportunities to reduce the cost of public sector services, while maintaining a high degree of care and service.

So I encourage you to continue your desire to:

· Learn something you do not know;
· Seek out big problems, for that is where big opportunities live;
· Do something good that has never been done before; and
· Do something good successfully no one else has been successful in doing.

May God bless the American Firefighters and keep you safe. And May God bless the United States of America.

Glenn A. Gaines
Deputy U. S. Fire Administrator

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