BY ALAN BRUNACINI
In the past several columns, we have presented some typical advice that might assist young firefighters in their preparation to effectively and safely operate during hazard-zone operations. We have discussed the current experience drain in our service and how that process has caused officers to now be promoted at a younger and younger age. When this occurs, veterans, like me, write columns giving the young and restless advice. Such senior pontificating is a little (or a lot) like saying: "Don't touch the stove. It's hot!" I know when I was the age of the firefighters to whom this column is directed, I generally listened to the advice and then summarily touched the stove. It generally takes awhile to get your listening/paying attention/learning skills to catch up with your touching skills.
I really believe that the folks who typically become firefighters are "touch the stove"-kind of guys/gals. This is not all bad, simply because what we do is mostly deal with "stoves" that are hot and, sadly, sometimes fatally hot. What I hope is that the young readers (regardless of age) will READ and that some of the material they read will stick in their minds so that on a dark and windy night when they encounter a stove they can't untouch, hopefully, they will remember some of this advice and effectively solve the stove problem without the stove solving them!
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