I am confused. I thought I was supposed to take the time to wear seat belts, turnout gear, SCBA,

I am confused. I thought I was supposed to take the time to wear seat belts, turnout gear, SCBA, latex gloves, and other protective equipment when responding to fire and EMS calls. Now I read the Editor`s Opinion and find out I`m a mouse. The way it should be done is to get in the rig as fast as you can, drive as fast as you can to the scene, jump off the rig, and run into the house. Taking time to put on that wimpy gear just wastes time we could be using to save the victims.

If we make the rescue, great. But what happens to us if we get hurt or killed? Is it just part of the job? Doesn`t a fireground injury or death complicate matters and take our attention away from the original victims?… We take risks every time we respond. We accept those risks and try to eliminate them as much as possible. Let`s not make light of this fact by editorials that put down safety.

What Firefighter Dan Santos did was a brave thing. How would the editorial have read if he had not survived the fall?

Kurt Weyers

Lieutenant/Paramedic

De Pere (WI) Fire-Rescue Department

Large House in Fort Worth (TX) Partially Collapses During Fire

Fort Worth firefighters battled a fire at a large house in the affluent Crestline neighborhood, near the River Crest Country Club, early Wednesday.
Hutchinson Kansas fire

Man Arrested After KS Fire That Killed Two

A man was arrested on Monday in connection with a deadly Hutchinson house fire on Saturday where a woman and girl died.