Where t = tempo, r = resources and f = frustration: ↑t + ↓r = ↑↑f. When we reach the result ↑↑f, it has been often expressed with an expletive and a raised middle finger.

In one corner, the people who think that what the South Fulton Fire Department did was reprehensible. In the other, those who think that you need to “pay to spray”. In the classic Firehouse Zen outlook, let’s go to the root of the problem.

There are people I know who are in constant conflict.  We aren’t talking about warriors; we are talking about regular people who, from one day to the next, always seem to be involved in one event or another in which they feel like they must choose a side and fight.  Every day, every shift, they […]

If I may appeal to your rational side, if safe practices are really just sucking the life out of you, then try thinking about it from the perspective of your survivors.

Anyone who demonstrates an obsession for the status quo and fails to think about the future with an open mind is only setting the table for their eventual obsolescence.

While we can quantitatively point out that having a customer service attitude benefits us in public support, there should be a much more altruistic reason for our embracing that belief.

When your organization is experiencing such dysfunction that it is obvious even to the newest recruit, then how clueless are you to insist that everything is coming up roses?

If the people we are recruiting can’t even solve the simplest of daily problems, what makes us think that at 0200 with the roof falling in on us that there will be sudden improvement in judgement and reasoning?

Unless I am compelled to do so for official business, or intend to engage in a learning session in which I can take away lessons from the event, I’d just as soon do the things I do and avoid hanging around to look at the carnage of someone else’s bad day.

Firefighter Netcast is an excellent resource; we all need to be able to talk with individuals interested in the professionalism and the legacy of our brotherhood.