By John F. "Skip" Coleman, Technical Editor

If you stop and think about it, we really do a lot in the fire service: put out fires, put on bandages, pull people from the water, and a plethora of other things. We also have to know a lot about many different things: the combustion process, hydraulic calculations, chemistry, and blood circulation, among countless others. We also accept a certain amount of liability in the process. Although not an everyday occurrence, fire departments and municipalities do get sued for negligence or other charges because of our actions or for our alleged acts of omission. In some instances, perhaps it would be better not to act than to act inappropriately. As an example, as it pertains to hazardous materials and fire, it might be best to simply let some things burn than to extinguish them, only to saddle someone with the "mess" now left behind. I remember being involved in a lawsuit in my department in Toledo, Ohio, for many years concerning a large warehouse fire. This very complicated case, which now serves as a case study at most law schools in the United States, was eventually settled, and we were eventually "dropped" from the suit. Still, it cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless hours of preparation, depositions, and testimony in preparation.

Sometimes we do things we are not actually trained for or otherwise "certified" to do, even on uncomplicated, routine runs. This month's Roundtable question is, Do you reset sprinkler alarm panels and replace sprinkler heads as part of your normal duties? Go to www.fireengineering.com and post your answer, and see what others have to say.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: In November, members of the Providence (RI) Fire Department responded to a house fire. On their arrival, heavy fire was showing from the second floor of an occupied 31⁄2-story dwelling. All hands immediately went to work with a request for an extra engine and a truck. All of the occupants had already exited the occupancy. As this fire was being fought, a still box went out for a fire in a hospital one block away. Nothing was found at the hospital. (Photo by Tom Carmody.) Submit your Photo of the Day to Peter Prochilo (peterp@pennwell.com).

WEBCASTS

Join us for something new on the Web in 2012: monthly Webcasts featuring the best of Fire Engineering authors and FDIC speakers. The first monthly Webcast is on January 19 at 1:00 p.m. EST and features Paul Dansbach, fire official for the Rutherford (NJ) Bureau of Fire Safety, on "Building Construction Principles for Incident Commanders." The February 16 Webcast features William C. Peters, apparatus supervisor (ret.), Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department, on "Reducing Apparatus Cost by Producing Generic Specifications." Webcasts are free, but you must register.

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