The editorial was excellent. I was beginning to think I was the only one who thought that way. I have been in the fire service for 36 years, both as a paid and volunteer firefighter. During that time, I have seen many changes, some that were good and some not so good. Too many of them have the fire service going in too many different directions, as Manning pointed out–with haz mat, EMS, confined space, and so on. It almost seems as though firefighting is just something else a fire department does. Perhaps I am old-fashioned and not quite with the modern times, but I firmly believe that all these extra jobs that are being forced on the fire service can actually hinder firefighters from performing the basic task of fire suppression to the best of their ability.
George Lander
Fire Official
Stafford Township, New Jersey
