Letting Firefighters be Firefighters

Fire departments exist to prevent and solve problems. They openly prioritize firefighter safety and fire victim survival. On the other hand, organizations with weak leadership, that lack operational trust, that minimize the importance of training, and that make excuses for taking risks, have replaced the mission with philosophy and emotion-based opinions. Mission focused fire department organizations have figured out how to balance risk acceptance and risk avoidance while allowing firefighters to aggressively solve fire, rescue, and emergency medical problems. They make a commitment to mental, physical, mechanical, and procedural preparedness a priority to best position firefighters for success and survival. From the firehouse to the fire ground, these organizations balance risk acceptance and risk avoidance by being pro-active when it comes to training, pre-arrival assignments, and allowing what many consider to be aggressive tactics. These organizations believe that the greatest action step towards safety is a commitment to preparedness and a risk management approach to operational safety.