Simply put, although we just experienced the fewest LODDs in recent years, too many of us still do not go home. Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder (Loveland-Symmes (OH) Fire Department) looks into why.
“You can read reports and read articles and that’s great. But, we used actual radio traffic and facts to show where firefighters have made mistakes,” said Goldfeder. “We took a different look to see what went wrong so firefighters can take lessons home without having to experience them first hand.”
Through real-life and current case studies, Goldfeder helped participants distinguish between firefighter behaviors that are heroic, involve taking calculated risks, and ending with tragic results versus behaviors that are not heroic. “They’ll be amazed at what basics were not used. And these are the same types of departments we’re all in so why couldn’t it happen somewhere else,” said Goldfeder. “Chances are if I ignore a policy today, chances are I already ignored it—I just didn’t get caught.”
At the end of the workshop, Goldfeder’s hoped to impress upon attendees that most LODDs are clearly and measurable preventable. But, the best way to honor a firefighter who has died in the line of duty is to not let it happen again and learn from the tragedy. “If we learn a lesson from it,” he said, “then it is not a total loss.”
