My 10 Commandments of Fire Leadership. Sept. 7, 2001 Always lead from the front (not always literally). Treat your men all the same, whether like gold or like crap. Don't make your men do anything you wouldn't do first. The more you sweat in training, the better you'll perform on the fireground. Trust your instincts. Your men don't have to like it, they just have to do it. Keep it simple, stupid. Never assume. Build company discipline and teamwork. Build a team of FIRE FIGHTERS. Two things a leader can do. Either contaminate his environment and his unit with his attitude and actions, or he can inspire confidence. Political Correctness November 21, 2001 Here I go again with political correctness. There seems to be a disturbing trend in the fire service to change physical qualifications for female applicants. Other occupations have done this for years, but I'm a fireman; this is what I'll discuss. Fire fighting is a physically demanding job. No one can argue that point. I have to be of a certain physical make-up to do my job (or to get the job in the first place). For this reason, the fire fighter is held to a certain standard. If we lower physical standards for a certain segment of the population, then by definition, we are hiring sub-standard applicants. With my butt on the line, I cannot condone this. There are some women who can pass the current standard. There are always exceptions. I have no problem working with these individuals. What I have a problem with is "poster child appointments" designed to please the media and politicians. By the way, at the start I used the term "fireman" to describe myself. Well, when I was 3 years old, I wanted to be a fireman, and, politically correct or not, that is what I am. General MacKenzie December 15, 2001 I watched a program the other night about Major General (Ret.) Lewis Mackenzie, Canadian Army. He was involved in peacekeeping missions in the former Yugoslavia, Cypress, and 7 other countries. He has been described as "A Soldier's General." He constantly stood up the the United Nations, insisting that troop safety took precidence over "Rules of Engagement". In Bosnia, the UN told him he could only have 15 Armoured Personel Carriers. He brought 83. When securing the airport, he was told not to bring explosive ammunition and demolition charges; he did anyway. This type of leadership would be quite welcome in the fire service, I think. Too often, we see cowardly leaders without the back bone to tell the city "We need more resources!". for both fire fighter and public safety. Leadership Takes Courage, and it is in short supply at the top. They need to learn that four men on a pumper (engine) cannot extinguish a house fire. One man on an aerial truck (ladder, tower) won't help either. There is no ventilation, search, or RIT (RIC, FAST, etc.). If they don't have the balls to stand up to management, have the guts to admit to the public that if a citizen has a fire, fire fighters can either extinguish the fire or rescue the victims. Taxpayers have a right to know, as do insurance agents. Fire Departments shouldn't have to hide or spin anything for the public. Tradition Febuary 19, 2002 "Today Fire Fighters do so much more than fight fires." That seems to be the rallying cry of Chiefs across Ontario (and maybe even further). I agree with that. With medical aids and extrication alone, the fire service is diverse. That being said, there is a movement now to change the jargon of our profession. First it was "Fire Fighters" instead of "Firemen". That one I can live with. I call myself a Fireman, but that's my own business (see Political Correctness, November 21, 2001 in "Previous Rants"). Now it is "Fire Service" instead of "Fire Department." Can anyone tell me the reason, because I don't know. It leads to a diminished moral, and a watered down version of Firemen. We have an image in the public. We are burly, brave, and dedicated. With business ideas and corporate thinking, the Fire Department loses its teeth. We are not 9 to 5 accountants, we risk life and limb to protect life and property. Some may feel my thinking is antiquated, that I have primitive ideas. Not true. I love the Fire Department and what it stands for. That includes its history and traditions, and when someone tramples on them, I get upset. And then I rant. But to my point. If upper management feels that the term "Fire Department" must be changed beacuse our job is so diverse, don't cry poor when training in new areas is needed. Don't say that these tasks are not part of our job. What am I talking about? In my own experience, things like water rescue and a boat, advanced hazmat, confined space rescue, and high angle rescue to name a few (actually, that's a lot). It's time to get it together. We are members of the Fire Department, a long a proud tradition. Hold your head up and say so. And do your job to the best of your abilities. That's all anyone can ask.