College education helps in a changing fire service
Jeffrey W. Gruna
Captain
Greenfield (WI) Fire Department
I agree with most of what was said in “Miscellaneous Fictions” (Editor`s Opinion, March 1995). However, I think a false picture was presented by denying the fact that the fire service needs more college-educated firefighters. Successful forward-thinking leaders must tap this resource of properly educated individuals. It is much easier to train an individual who has the cognitive abilities to understand the complexities of firefighting before starting on the job. In general, I believe college-educated firefighters understand concepts better than noneducated individuals; their intellectual process is better defined. In most fire departments, real experience comes slowly; and trial and error is the least effective way to learn. Too often, it becomes difficult to survive the learning process.
The core of the fire service is changing. Municipal funding cutbacks have placed greater demands on the fire service to find ways to fund itself. Emergency medical service and prevention inspection service top the list of potential revenue sources. Every day, we face more complex hazards–chemical spills, specialized rescues, building construction, and toxic substances push us to our educated limits. The failure to recognize and adapt to this changing core will guarantee the extinction of the public fire service.
Today`s educated firefighters are tomorrow`s safe leaders. With education comes knowledge; with knowledge comes survival.
