Thursday, February 17, 2011

A Dangerous Job

In today's economy budget cuts are forcing the downsizing of fire departments across the country. I've seen politicians argue that our job as firefighters is mostly sitting around waiting for calls. While this is true, we are paid for what we know and are willing to risk.

Several firefighters in Southern California were injured last night in a ceiling collapse. Here's a video from NBC with the story:


View more videos at: http://www.nbclosangeles.com.

I read a little more on the fire and found this article on Firefighter Nation. The thing that amazes me is just how many firefighters (80) were on scene at this blaze. Now I understand that LAFD and LAcoFD have more resources than most other departments but still. At my department we would have been fighting that same fire with a lot fewer resources. 

There's no real way to tell what would have happened if that were in my jurisdiction. Maybe we would have gone defensive and wouldn't have been inside when the collapse happened although I doubt it. If the owner had still been inside we definitely would have been in there. 

What is certain is that we, as firefighters, are being asked to do more and more with less and less. The danger is real. Train hard and be safe.
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6 comments:

  1. DomFebruary 17, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    that is so sad and scary

    ReplyDelete
  2. Streetlights94February 17, 2011 at 12:22 PM

    Any money spent on our emergency services is money well spent. There are plenty of other areas that budgets can be trimmed, i.e. politicians' salaries, that can make up the differences needed.

    Stay safe.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SilliyakFebruary 17, 2011 at 2:17 PM

    There may come a time when every fire is a surround and drown. This would mean that any time we DID have to enter (life saving) the crews would have less experience and it would become MORE dangerous. I'm sure we're all holding this brother/sister in our thoughts. This was the first I had heard of it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Firefighter/ParamedicFebruary 17, 2011 at 9:26 PM

    Silliyak- I couldn't have said it better myself.

    Christina- I just wish the voters would remember that when they put people in office. Let's trim the FAT off the budget, not the meat.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Firefighter/ParamedicFebruary 18, 2011 at 4:25 PM

    Unfortunately the firefighter in this story died today. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Toyin O.February 19, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    This is so sad, praying for all firefighters, you guys are heroes and should be treated as one:)

    ReplyDelete

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