Hooks N Halligans

04/18/2018

03/12/2018

By G. Rice Those who I work for expect daily that I train, develop, mentor and lead our firefighters. They are a tough bunch to work for. They have some of the highest expectations and constantly w…

08/16/2017

08/08/2017

Take the time to watch and listen

08/05/2017

Anne Gagliano writes, "Your firefighter may or may not care if he’s thought of as a hero by the community, but have no doubt, he wants to be thought of as a hero by you."

08/05/2017

I had a dream: work until I was 60 and they threw me out, and then move somewhere else where they have a volunteer department and I could put my experience

08/05/2017

"As the lieutenant fidgeted in his seat on the short ride to the reported address, he began to review all he had learned and observed to prepare him for what he would likely discover at the turn of the next block," writes David DeStefano.

08/04/2017

Let me say right off the bat that I get the "small department" treatment from time to time and I think it's funny as hell.

Hilarious, really.

I've actually had people stand up and say to me, "I can't believe they brought in a guy like you from a small department to speak to us about leadership."

A wide, satisfied grin spreads across my face every single time.

I always find it to be a hubristic perspective. A view point that couldn't be more wrong.

Before you feel too sorry for me, here are my thoughts....

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There's a lot to be shared from all sides of the craft, but I've always been humbled by firefighters who "play big" from "small towns". Many of the firefighters I've met from the "small" departments really, really know how to get s**t done. They have to. They can't rely on a human wave assault to put out a fire.

"Five workers on a full first? Let's get it done."

I always want to hear how they do it because it's more relevant to me than a hundred firefighters on a job.

The Urban Legend, "The ladder company is gonna do your search...."

Anytown, USA Firefighter, "We don't have a ladder company."

(Crickets) 😐

With fewer people showing up at an emergency scene there are fewer places to hide. No matter the size of your department, if you own your responsibility to the craft there is no reason to hide.

Department size is irrelevant. Big or small, company engagement is what matters most.

"I'd rather go down the river with seven studs than a hundred s**theads."

-Colonel Charlie Beckwith

08/04/2017

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in the first 6 months of 2017