Fire Department Measuring Greatness

HOW DO YOU MEASURE GREATNESS?

By Ettore Berardinelli

Over the many years since I’ve retired, I have been asked to come back and speak to my Fire Department’s new recruits during their initial drill tower training period.  I’m not asked because I have some great strategy and tactics to pass on, nor is it because they need to fill some time in the training schedule.  The request is always just for me to come and share with these new firefighters what this career has meant to me.  Although they usually give me a two-hour block of time to speak, I can sum my feelings up in one sentence; this career has meant everything to me.  I still have to “pinch myself” to realize that I was able to be a Firefighter, and spend over thirty years doing something I loved.

Anyone who knows, me has heard me say repeatedly that we have the very best job in the world.  I truly believe this.  We come to work each day with the intention of helping others, usually during what may be the very worst day in their lives.  And more often than not, we do solve their problem, provide medical help, and once in awhile, we actually put out their fires!  We have the distinct advantage of entering into a situation that is occurring right now, providing professional assistance, and most often changing what the outcome would have been.  Simply put, we get to change the way the story ends!  This is powerful stuff, and it is an honor to have that opportunity.  We get to go home at the end of most of our shifts knowing that we were able to positively intervene and essentially make someone’s life better by our presence.

I also believe that the day back in 1972, when I was given my Fireman’s badge and uniform, all of a sudden people viewed me differently because of those recognizable symbols.  But I also knew that I had yet to do anything to deserve the respect or authority that came with those symbols.  The firefighters that had served our community since 1889 had earned that respect for us new recruits.  Over the years I realized that one of my largest responsibilities as a Firefighter was to not only preserve what was given to me, but to also do my best to increase the respect endowed on my chosen profession.  This is a responsibility we all have, to insure that we conduct ourselves in a way that maintains and increases the respect for our profession, to provide for the newcomers the respect, admiration and trust that was graciously there for us when we began our careers.

I also think it is important for all of us to realize that when we get the job of Firefighter we inherit something that was actually built by others.  This applies to all Fire Departments, and was usually the work of many dedicated people.  My experience began on May 1, 1972, with a Training Officer that is probably one of the finest men I have ever met.   Battalion Chief Morris “Jake” Jacobs joined the Santa Monica Fire Department on October 16, 1945, after serving our country in the Army Air Corps during World War II.  He was a bombardier on a B-24 Bomber, and spent the last eight months of the war as a prisoner of war in a Romanian prison camp.  Chief Jake was my imprint on what this career was all about.  He was someone I tried to emulate throughout my time in the Fire Service, often falling incredibly short of the standards he set.  He took the time to teach us to become dependable, functioning members of a firefighting team, but he also shared his love for service to others and for the fire department.  He mentored us and when we made mistakes he would counsel us in very constructive ways.  It became important to us to not disappoint Chief Jake by screwing up!  He was living proof of just how fine a person can be.

Building an excellent organization takes many dedicated individuals. Fire Chief John Sturges was the next selfless Fire Officer that shaped our organization.  In 1972-73, as our Department transitioned into delivering paramedic services, there was also talk of reducing our staffing levels to three personnel on an engine company.  In order to keep that from occurring, Chief Sturges decided to try something that had never been done before, something that would insure that staffing levels would not be cut, paramedic engine companies.  This has been documented as a major breakthrough for ALS delivery in the Fire Chief’s Handbook;

“One of the most important evolutionary changes has been the concept of paramedic engine companies.  Originated in Santa Monica Califormia, in 1972, the ALS engine company is seen as an economical way to deliver paramedic-level emergency care rapidly.”

This was a strategic decision based on what was best for the community and the Fire Department.  The introduction of the paramedic engine company allowed our department to maintain staffing levels , and provide the very best service to our community.  The flexibility of allowing paramedics to promote through the ranks and continue to utilize their skills also ensured that our new paramedics were receiving the very best training possible and has developed into a highly successful and replicated EMS delivery system. Chief Sturges never received any accolades for this visionary decision, nor would he have wanted any.

In 1980, our department had another systemic jolt.  The city hired a new Fire Chief from Los Angeles City Fire Department, our neighbor to the north, east and south.  Chief Tom Tolman came to us with a vision for our fire department after a career with LAFD.  All of a sudden, new tactics were being discussed and taught, the latest equipment was being tested and purchased if it proved worthy, training became a high priority and morale was increasing because of these positive changes.  A “Snorkel” was replaced with a tractor-drawn aerial, ventilation techniques were introduced, and eventually twelve additional firefighters were added to our department because of his efforts on our behalf.   Chief Tolman’s only motivation was what was best for the department.

So, what is my point?  We live in a time when prominence is often linked to notoriety and maybe even a scandal.  Meanwhile, people like those discussed above and many of your fellow co-workers come to work each day, do their jobs, make decisions based on what is right and expect no recognition.  The phrase, “I was just doing my job” never rings more true than it does in the Fire Service.   True leadership and greatness comes from putting the organization, the citizens and the department members ahead of any ambitions you may have for yourself.

Ours is a noble career, based on over three hundred years of bravery, trust, self-sacrifice and the honest efforts of those who came before us.  It is my sincere desire that each of you has a Chief Jake in your career, that your leaders are selfless like some of the leaders I had the privilege to work with, and that you realize what an honor it is to wear the Firefighter’s Badge.  I hope that one day some amateur blog writer will be writing about the great things that you did for your Fire Department!