From the Editor’s Desk

Dennis Whittam, Editor

I recently overheard a conversation between two firefighters who were talking about all of the experience they had in their department. I looked up and asked, “how many years have you been in the department?” I actually chuckled when I was told by one of the members that he had six years of experience in the fire service. I am willing to bet that as you read my last sentence, you too have a smile on your face. Truthfully, being a first responder is a job that requires constant training and practice from your first day on the job until your last.

Years of service does not necessarily qualify you to say that you are an experienced responder. This time of the year, I get nervous because we are entering brush fire season. Let’s face it, many firefighters have very little experience fighting brush fires. I am sure if you have been in the fire service for a few years, you have encountered a brush fire that might appear large to you upon arrival, but in reality it was a small fire that was quickly knocked down by two or three members who were lucky enough to be part of the crew on the brush truck. The fire that I worry about is the wind-driven brush fire that manages to take advantage of the strong winds of spring and runs through an area like a freight