We Mourn the Loss of the Charleston Firefighters
The tragedy in Charleston weighs heavy on the minds of a lot of us in the fire service. The loss of nine of our brothers, the worst since 9/11, is truly devastating. The Charleston Fire Department lost over 130 years of experience on that day and the community lost a whole lot more. We must never forget the sacrifice that these men made, a sacrifice that any one of us could make at any time.
In the weeks ahead, there are going to be a lot of reports and insights on what happened and how this tragedy could have been prevented. Decisions made at the scene will be questioned and it is very likely that the skills, training and procedures of the Charleston Fire Department will be challenged. We all know that is going to happen because an incident of this magnitude will certainly "come under the microscope."
As the Charleston Fire Department goes under this review, perhaps every department should also review its operating guidelines, strategies and protocols. Sadly, it is from such tragedies that the fire service learns to do a better job and perhaps an even safer job. There is always something to be learned from such an event.
However, It is my hope that as we analyze, scrutinize and even criticize what happened in Charleston, we never lose sight of the simple fact that nine of our own are not coming back. The analysis won't change what happened. It won't bring these brave men back to us.