One of the universal basic tenets of the fire service is that we take care of our own. This is a good thing. Yet, all firefighters, from newbie to chief, know that some members take advantage of that tradition. I have never read an article about incompetent firefighters; yet, as a firefighter and an officer, I’ve had to work with and manage men and women who were not capable of doing the job for which they were trained. Few books deal with the managerial relationships of the officer and the firefighter. The information in them is useful when you take a promotional exam but not as useful in real life on the job. What should you do when there is a personnel problem in the station house?
Firefighters who choose to become involved in the promotional process often learn some management techniques. Unfortunately, my experience has shown that none of these techniques truly prepare the new officer for an unacknowledged problem of the fire service. In a seniority-based system, the good officers are usually in the good stations. The stations that first become available to a newly promoted officer are often stations with a problem. How does an officer deal with a firefighter who can’t safely drive a fire truck? A medic who consistently makes rash diagnoses? Hazing of a newbie that started before you arrived and is now out of hand?
You’ve had years of experience as a firefighter. You knew these problems existed. Now, as you’re trying to master the art of command at the scene of an emergency, you come to realize that your most important asset, the firefighters under your command, may be flawed in their ability, training, or personality. There are no cut-and-dried answers, but there are some reasonable steps you can take to protect yourself, your crew, and the citizens.
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