Re: NANFA-- The whole dam affair... Update

Richard Rego (mummichog_at_naisp.net)
Thu, 11 Dec 2003 21:28:09 -0500

Hi Todd,

Suppression is our term for fighting fire, some say extinguishment. The
fire service (like any other service I would assume) is always concerned
with the public's perception of them. I tell new recruits in our department
that, we aren't just a fire department, we are a "customer service"
department. A fire chief I heard speak at a convention one time summed the
fire departments role like this: We (the fire dept) are in the "Worst Day
of Their Lives Business", because if were they're, it's probably not good.
Knowing Chief Officers, I am sure there was a talk at the dinner table
back at the firehouse in regards to their actions the day of your incident.
Good public relations = good public support.

Rick Rego

----- Original Message -----
From: "Crail, Todd" <todd.crail_at_learnshare.com>
To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 12:18 PM
Subject: Re: NANFA-- The whole dam affair... Update

> Hi Rick,
>
> Thanks for your professional insights on this. After my initial outrage
> subsided, and I realized I may have been overly jacked up on adrenaline
(day
> after), yeah I tried to begin giving the benefit of the doubt, and I hope
> that it was reflected in my letter and in my conversation yesterday (the
> initial email to the NANFA list was pure emotion).
>
> I think that the Asst Chief wanted to tie up any loose ends if the public
> perception was that they were exhibiting carelessness, and he did so in a
> professional manner. I'm not sure what "suppression" means, but maybe
> that's a tactic practiced to keep "cowboys" (like I may have appeared at
the
> time) calmed down.
>
> But if they are as a department, concerned with public perception (and
maybe
> they're not, and that's their entitlement)... When I returned from my
van,
> they were all hanging on the rail of the bridge, hackin' loogies off into
> the stream... I wouldn't exactly call that "back in service" :)
>
> In any case, I feel confident if anything needs to be addressed in the
> department, it will be. So enough about all that.... My only concern now
is
> how to prevent it in the future. And it may take citizen action to get
the
> ball rolling, which is what the Asst Chief seemed to imply with his own
> concerns about the dam.
>
> We'll see how we can handle this appropriately and effectively now that
they
> know who I am :)
>
> Todd
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Richard Rego" <mummichog_at_naisp.net>
> To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 9:55 AM
> Subject: Re: NANFA-- The whole dam affair... Update
>
>
> > Hi Todd,
> >
> > I am a firefighter and water/ice rescue diver for the fire
department
> in
> > my community. I am glad you were in contact with the Asst. Chief in
> regards
> > to your incident. It's always best to get the scoop from those
involved.
> > My department carries blanket on all it's apparatus...whether it's
an
> > engine a ladder or a brush breaker. You never know when you'll need
one.
> > We also carry what you referred to as an element barrier, which
typically
> is
> > a foil-like barrier intended to contain heat...great for swaddling
newborn
> > babies pre-hospital.
> > Toledo is a much bigger department than mine. The "status qou"
> > situation is commonplace in every department. Once we realize (whether
> > en-route or on-arrival) that the scene has been stabilized or the
incident
> > no longer exists, we immediately go back into service (to be available
for
> > the next run). It's possible that Toledo was experiencing a busy day in
> the
> > city, and getting back into service was the main concern (after rescue,
> > suppression, etc.). Some days it's busy w/back-to-back-to-back runs,
> others
> > not.
> >
> > Rick Rego
> > MA.New England NANFA Rep.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Crail, Todd" <todd.crail_at_learnshare.com>
> > To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> > Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 9:37 AM
> > Subject: NANFA-- The whole dam affair... Update
> >
> >
> > > Greetings NANFAns,
> > >
> > > My follow up with the city et al concerning the near drowning at the
> South
> > > Ave dam has made it's way through some (most probably all) of the
ranks.
> > An
> > > Assistant Chief of the Toledo Fire Department contacted me yesterday
to
> > hear
> > > my side of the story and shed light on what his men's side of the
story
> > was.
> > > I feel that it was handled very well, I am very greatful they made the
> > > efforts that they did in such a timely manner, and plan to follow up
in
> > > another letter emphasizing my gratitude.
> > >
> > > I think Mr Binkley had it dead on in his response on the list... They
> got
> > > there and I'd already done what they were prepared to do, so yeah,
they
> > > _could_ relax. The Assistant Chief said that sure, it would have been
> > nice
> > > if they would have offered _something_ of a creature comfort... But
that
> > it
> > > wasn't on their minds. For the last five minutes they had it in their
> > minds
> > > that they were going to be getting in the stream and pulling a child
out
> > of
> > > it. When they saw this situation has dispersed, it was back to status
> > > quo... And they're rescuers... Not nurturing care givers :)
> > >
> > > He also noted that they didn't have a blanket, as what I was thinking
of
> a
> > > "blanket". They only carry thin plastic "element barriers" on the
> > trucks..
> > > Again, they could have offered a coat or something, but that wasn't
what
> > > they were there to do. They were there to pull a kid and the crazy
> > fishguy
> > > out of the water. ;)
> > >
> > > I was very satisfied with his explaination, paired with his emphasis
> that
> > > the force is very aware of this site, that he is in fact the fast
water
> > > rescue "guru" of the force, and that this may be a good opportunity to
> go
> > > over the site again with the surrounding stations.
> > >
> > > I hope that I emphasized enough that my outstanding concern in the
whole
> > > matter was that they weren't familiar with the dangers surrounding
this
> > > location, and not that I thought they were rude and not doing their
job.
> > > The primary concern has been reasonably waylaid by our conversation.
I
> > will
> > > emphasize this in my return letter of thanks.
> > >
> > > The Assitant Chief has also offered to bear witness to the danger that
> is
> > in
> > > Highland Park, to give credibility to any action I attempt to seek out
> for
> > > securing the site. It's apparently up to the Metroparks to do
anything
> > > about the site... He's offered to serve as a reference. I was very
> > pleased
> > > with his offer, and hope to at least get a fence in place around the
> > > portions of the structure that could put anyone in danger.
> > >
> > > So we'll see if we can't get some definate positives to roll out of
this
> > > situation.
> > >
> > > I thought I should update you all.
> > >
> > > Todd
> > --
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necessarily
> > > / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
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> /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
> / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
> / Association"
> / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes
Association
> / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
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http://www.nanfa.org
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/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
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/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org