Being a driver/operator on a structure fire parallels the actions taken to maintain mental health. When you examine the activities needed to maintain psychological, emotional, and social well-being, you will see they aren’t much different from that firefighters perform on a pump panel. You’re the engineer of your life, proverbially and in the very real sense. That is because life is about energy. Some of the most crucial decisions you make regarding your mental well-being involve how much you have, how it gets used, and how you get more of it.
On the Fireground
It’s 2 a.m., and the tones go off…
“E-1, E-2, E-3, T-4, and BC-5 respond to a commercial structure fire at 123 E Lincoln. Report of flames showing at a strip mall. Tac on channel two.”
After making your way to the engine, you do a quick 360 of your rig. You jump in, flip on the lights, and slowly hit the gas. While en route, you’re dodging traffic, listening to the radio, and cracking jokes on the headset. As you get closer, you put your game face on.
“We’re first in. Time to get it,”you think.
After grabbing a hydrant on the way in, you spot the apparatus on the alpha side. Like clockwork, you hit the brake, put the transmission in neutral, engage the pump, and put it back in drive.
You’re chocking your wheels and priming the pump. The captain is completing a size-up and establishing command. In the meantime, the firefighter has pulled a 2½-inch attack line. You then hear: “Water!” After confirming which line was pulled and doing some quick calculations in your head, you pull the valve and throttle up.
You then finish your changeover from the tank to the hydrant and pull a secondary line to the alpha side. At that moment, you hear the captain over the radio.
“Dispatch, Command with priority traffic. We’re going to be defensive on the center occupancy and offensive on the Bravo and Delta stores. There’s extension into the delta-1 occupancy; we’ll be making entry into Delta-1 once we establish deck gun ops. Break, E-1 Command.”
Lifting your mic to your face, you answer back, “Go ahead, Command.”
“E-1, I need you to hit the center occupancy with the deck gun. We’ll hold it in check until you’re up and ready; then we’ll try and catch this on the Delta-1 exposure.”
You immediately look up at your compound gauge and see 40 psi on your intake. You think: “How much residual gpm does this hydrant have?” After some quick math, you radio back.
“Command, E-1 copies. Set up for deck gun operations and hit the center occupancy. We have 500 gpm available for a deck gun op.”
The captain radios back: “Copy, 500 gpm. That’s fine. Give it all you got.”
You spring into action. Grabbing the remote, you direct the deck gun and pull the valve while adjusting the throttle. Things are going smoothly. You look up, and the water is having a good effect on the fire. Then, all of a sudden, you see your stream become weak. Your pump starts making a terrible sound. Screeeeech! Panic-stricken, you look over at your compound gauge needle dropping like a rock. Your large diameter hose starts sucking in.
You go to notify Fire Attack, but at that moment, the captain radios: “We need water!”
Pump Panel of Life
Water = Energy: When it comes to firefighting, water is our most valuable commodity. It’s how we overcome the heat release rate, cool heated gases, and extinguish fire. Likewise, when it comes to life, energy is our most valuable commodity. It’s how we sustain, fuel movement, and push ourselves. Energy has a limited supply. Where, how, and when we use it are strategic decisions, much like water application. Just like we never waste water on a fire, we shouldn’t waste energy.
Water Tank = Energy Capacity: Fire apparatus have an internal water tank. Some have larger capacities, and some have smaller ones. The tank allows for immediate water use without being hooked up to an external source. We also have an internal tank, but it’s filled with energy instead of water. We all have an internal energy capacity. We’re able to use it anywhere at any time. However, the important thing to know is there is a limit to our internal source. We each have a different energy capacity. Use it wisely.
Pump = Energy Exertion: The pump is what pushes water. To get the proper gpm, the pump ensures enough pressure is forced through the hose. It propels water to overcome gravity, friction loss, and resistance. Our pump is what we call “drive.” It’s what pushes, motivates, and compels us to keep pushing through resistance. Our ability to achieve is directly proportional to how driven we are.
Relief Valve/Pressure Governor = Pressure Relief: The relief valve ensures that any surge in water pressure is alleviated before it is sent to the nozzle. Without it, dangerous fluctuations in pressure could send powerful reactions to anyone on the hoseline. We also need a pressure release. We can only handle so much. We need gradual increases in pressure, not spikes in pressure. As individuals, we have different capacities to handle the vicissitudes of life. Some can handle an immense number of challenges without needing relief. Others reach their limit quickly. However, no matter where we fall on the spectrum, we will have times when we need to release, especially when there is a spike in pressure.
Throttle = Energy Management: The throttle can increase or decrease the water pressure the pump exerts. When firefighters need more gpm, or multiple lines need to be pumped, the engineer can throttle up and increase the water pressure. We also have the ability to increase or decrease our energy exertion. Sometimes, we have a lot going on in life. In those moments, we have to increase our usage. When we’re on vacation or life has calmed, we can throttle down. What we aren’t capable of doing is going full throttle all the time. Much like our fire apparatus, we will burn out the pump.
Tank-to-Pump Valve = Energy Source: The tank-to-pump valve provides an option to draw water from the internal tank or an external water source. We also have a tank to pump valve. We have the option to draw from our internal capacity or an external energy source. Are we feeding off someone else’s energy? Are we feeding off of spiritual energy? Or are we taking from what’s in our reserves? Managing our tank-to-pump valve ensures we have a constant source of energy, depending on where our supply is coming from.
Discharge Valves = Energy Outlets: Discharge valves allow water to be directed to specific hoselines. We can dictate how much water specific hoselines get at any time. We can also dictate who, what, when, and where our energy gets used. Opening and closing our proverbial discharge valves are some of the most important decisions we make every day. We can’t open all the discharges and give the maximum flow to all of them. It’s a delicate balance on how we send water on the fireground. The same can be said in life. We must balance our energy usage through each one of our discharges.
Intakes = Energy Gains: Intakes are where the fire apparatus can resupply or take in water as it’s being sent out. The apparatus has large and small intakes. Depending on water supply needs, the engineer will hook up to these inlets to ensure a continuous supply is available. Without them, the engineer wouldn’t have a place to restore water. It’s also important that we have intakes. We must take in as much energy as we are giving out. Having avenues to bring in a continuous supply is paramount to not cavitating in life.
Drains = Energy Loss: The drains on the fire apparatus are there to allow water to be emptied. It’s important the engineer doesn’t have drains open because it will waste water or ensure a loss in prime. Much like drains on an engine, we also have drains. There are things in our lives that we waste our energy on. These can be things such as people who are energy vampires, hobbies that are unhealthy, or sickness and disease. Regardless, we must ensure our drains are closed. Remove unhealthy habits, get our physical and mental health in order, and cut out people who are energy vampires.
Water Sources = Sources of Energy Resupply: There are three main ways we resupply water to our fire apparatus, and those are hydrants, mobile water supply, and drafting. These are our primary means of resupply. It’s how the engineer refills their tank. In life, there are several ways we can refill our tanks. Things such as sleep, altruism, relationships, therapy, hobbies, or church. Let’s look at three different types of these energy sources.
- Hydrants = Reliable Energy Sources: These sources are readily available and connected to other large sources. This energy source is delivered to us without expending anything to get it. Who are the hydrants in your life? You know, those people who give more than take. They are always around. They are quick energy sources that can fill our tank without exerting anything to get it. This can come in the form of church, a significant other, family, friends, or coworkers. They are excellent energy sources because they are also tied to other energy sources. Much like a hydrant.
- Mobile Water Supply = Passive Energy Sources: Those things that come to you. You can be anywhere, and they can refill your tank. Passive sources are plentiful. Reading, listening, watching, experiencing, and praying are all passive energy supplies. Something as simple as prayer, meditation, pausing, and appreciating the moment can fill you up no matter where you’re at. Having positive thoughts and hope. A mindset. A spiritual filling. This is where you can have an uninterrupted supply of energy. However, much like a mobile supply operation on the fireground, you must be open to it. You must be prepared to receive it.
- Drafting = Reactive Energy Sources: We draft in rural areas, areas where we need to go find a water source. Drafting is important when we can’t find reliable sources of water nearby. Going somewhere to fill your energy tank works the same way. When you don’t have a reliable hydrant, you need to draft. The problem with drafting is that you need to expend energy to receive it. This metaphor captures those times when have to expend energy to receive energy. This includes those times when you perhaps must go to a therapist or when you must constantly seek out friends and family to get refilled. It’s not that these sources aren’t important, but they aren’t passive. They shouldn’t be your only areas in which to recharge. Nevertheless, they are great sources, when needed.
Meanwhile, Back on the Fireground
You radio back, “Fire Attack, the hydrant went down; I’m switching you to tank water; pull out of the structure until we get another source.”
The captain copies the radio traffic and repeats it back. Just then, the battalion chief arrives on-scene, assumes command, and orders the next apparatus to lay a supply line to E-1.
“E-2 Command, take the hydrant on Lincoln and Main and supply E-1 on the Alpha side. Then stretch an attack line from E-1, conduct a primary search, and check for extension in the Bravo-1 exposure.”
You hear all the radio traffic, and your heart stops racing. You’re moments away from getting the water you need, and your crew is safe.
Engineer of Your Life
Being an engineer of life means we will maintain a constant energy supply and deliver it where appropriate. Our discharge valves will be arranged for proper flow, intake valves will be supplied, drains will be closed, and the pressure relief valve will be set. We will know when to throttle up or down and when to switch from an internal tank to an external source. As life engineers, we will be effective at energy management.
We must think and act like we would at a pump panel. Being hooked up to external sources is crucial to our mental health. Whether through reliable, passive, or reactive supplies, our situation will dictate what is suitable. We can’t rely solely on our internal storage. We will eventually deplete the tank. While being resupplied, managing our discharges is imperative. It’s a matter of prioritizing who gets our energy and who doesn’t. Just like our analogy of the commercial fire, sometimes that means shutting down a line (something or someone doesn’t get energy, and we retreat) until we find a secondary means.
It’s a matter of opening and closing valves and adjusting the throttle based on our intake and priorities. Finding balance in life doesn’t mean all the discharges get an equal share. Nor does it mean specific discharges will continually get a predetermined portion of our energy. This means we’re operating our valves and throttling up or down based on current conditions. If we’re having a hard time keeping our prime, check for drains that may be open. If there are drains in our lives, our energy is wasted. They must be closed. Open drains inhibit us from effective operations.
Stop trying to manage time. Time is a constant and keeps moving with or without you. Manage energy [1]. It’s what we have control over. Balancing life and this profession is a tough task. In fact, our ability to pilot the peaks and valleys of our occupation will make or break our career. Life is complex, and so is our profession. This, of course, inevitably adds to the difficulty of staying mentally healthy. As firefighters, we must become incredibly resilient. However, we aren’t robots. We’re not superhuman. We bleed, we get tired, and sometimes we break. Ultimately we break because we haven’t managed our most valuable commodity appropriately, energy.
Like an engineer at a structure fire managing the most valuable commodity on-scene, water, we’re also in charge of the most valuable commodity in life. How we manage our energy will be the difference between having a successful career in the fire service or not. It will be the difference between having a successful family life or not. It will be the difference between having mental and physical health or not. We must be engineers and operate the pump panel of life. Stay mentally healthy through effective energy management.
References
[1] Schwart, T.S. and McCarthy, C. (2007) Manage your energy, not your time. https://hbr.org/2007/10/manage-your-energy-not-your-time.
Dr. Johnny Torgeson started his career with the U.S. Army as a noncommissioned officer. He’s worked for several fire departments in the U.S. and different countries. He became a successful business owner and CEO in his mid-20s. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in business, a master’s in leadership, and a doctorate in strategic leadership. Currently, he works as a chief officer, college instructor, author, and speaker. He is the author of Forging Your Team: Demystifying Team Development for First Responders. Dr. JT has achieved multiple life-saving awards and service distinctions throughout his career. He has written for multiple publications and spoken on leadership and team development nationwide.
Corey Sierra works as a fire prevention officer/firefighter for MCLB Barstow FES. He has advanced certifications as a hazmat and rescue technician, fire instructor, fire inspector, and fire officer. A Navy veteran with a bachelor’s degree in business, he has a strong passion for training and mentorship.
