Rules to Live By in the Fire Service
by Mark Wesseldine, FDNY
From Fire Engineering, February 1999

1. You have begun a career in the greatest job in the world. You will find no other job where you will "look forward" to going to work every tour for the next 20 to 30 years.

   You have also become a member of the "greatest family" on earth. Anywhere you may be, you have brothers and sisters nearby, never be shy to ask for help.

2. Train - Excellence through training. Don't say your training let you down. "I didn't know" doesn't count. When you stop learning, it's time to retire, you can always learn something. Have an open mind.
3. This is a "team sport". If you're not a team player then don't try out for the team.
4. Always wear your mask when possible, even during overhaul, statistics speak for themselves. Think of your family, dead at 50 is not macho.
5. You are not going to get rich in this career, but you will live comfortably. You will have the respect of all...
6. God has given you two ears and one mouth. So listen twice as much as you speak.
7. Step up. When others are busy at a task, Don't be the last one to join in.
8. Friends are easy to make, you have to work at making enemies.
9. Think! Look when getting off the truck. Look when crossing the street at calls. Never run on a roof.
10. Treat others the way you would want them to treat you.
11. Don't be a whiner or complainer.
12. Remember where you came from.
13. Rusty tools and unattended equipment leads to no company pride.

    ---

    More Stuff That You Never Do
    Tom Brennan, FDNY Retired

Leaving tools uncared for.  A sure sign that a firefighting unit is in "trouble."  If it is not a poorly operating piece of equipment now, it is sure on its way to becoming one.  There are a few "nevers" here.  First, never leave hand tool maintenance for the next crew - unless they are relieving you at the scene.  I have seen hooks, halligans, axes, and there handles still "suffering" from firefighters operations that no one on the unit remembers.  To instructors, that should be a sure sign that lots more doesn't work in this unit or department in general.  Dirty handles Slip!  Filthy ax blades don't cut!  Struck burrs cause eye injuries! Second, never put any power equipment back (considering yourself ready for the next operation) without checking/changing/shaprening the blades; cleaning thoroughly; replacing parts that are meant to be replaced; wiping all hoselines; and of course, fueling - both the tool's gas tank and the gas tank you are using to refill the tool.  Never give yourself the chance to respond with an uncharged extinguisher (if your poilicy is to use one why not?) Pressurized water extinguishers are so valuable for primary search efforts at structure fires that they should be charged on the fire ground right before or after the "critique" (the what?) Cleaning hand tools not only makes the apparatus look good; it improves spirit; encourages conversation and critique; and also gets you closely notice the burrs, splits, dullness, and more!

Extending sufficient ladder to the roof.   The ladder to the roof (any roof) should be _____  feet above the highest roofline.  Fill in the blank for the promotional test.  No operating procedure has the number large enough to be effective on the fireground.  Forget the "how many rungs kid?" or the "feet of ladder."  Never leave a ladder raised to the roof without sufficient ladder above the roofline for the users to see when the routine becomes the obscene.

Make sure you have adequate staffing on the FIRST ALARM before you realize you need it....forget "false" pride, put enough equipment and manpower on the road IMMEDIATELY and AUTOMATICALLY even if you have to count on neighboring FD's.

You cannot properly and safely respond to a reported structural fire with 4-5 people as your first alarm assignment.

NEVER get off the apparatus without at least ONE tool in your hand plus a light.

Stay low, even the best bunker gear will not protect you when you are

STANDING UP in a fire. When you hear "We have less fires today!!?? Tell'm "then we MUST have even MORE quality, realistic and aggressive training."

Training is NOT handing someone an american heat video and tell'n em to watch it...those may be INTERESTING but training must be physically "doing".

When you are told to open up a roof, make sure it is big enough to drive a small car through.

Stay out of the doorway leading to the fire-you are blocking things.

Make sure doors won't close behind you...carry wooden wedges.

Make sure garage doors don't close behind you...assign a firefighter

Positive pressure works well, AFTER the fire is under control.

EMS is important, but we can get hurt and killed alot easier at a fire.

Power tools need regular daily maintenance and checking...shut off Jerry Springer and go check your tools.

Politicians generally DO NOT have firefighters interests in mind. History has proven that. Once in a while, a good one comes along.

If you have to explain THE BROTHERHOOD, they won't get it

By Chief Billy Goldfeder
FirefighterCloseCalls.com

"The first day of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year."
Mark Twain

"That's the life, being a fireman.  It sure beats being a ballplayer.  I'd rather be a fireman.''
Ted Williams - Boston Red Sox - 1940

"In times of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The next best thing you can do is the wrong thing. But, the worst thing you can do is nothing."
Theodore Roosevelt

"Who knows the difference between education and training ?  For those of you with daughters, would you rather have them take sex education or sex training?  Need I say more?"
Chief Dennis Rubin

"If you gave me six hours to chop down a tree, I would spend the first four sharpening the axe."
Abraham Lincoln