Considerations for Fire Prevention Week

Since 1922 Fire Prevention Week has been observed to honor the victims and survivors of the Great Peshitgo and Chicago Fires. While Maine's fire history is only a shadow of the Great historic fires of this week, here in Maine fire departments all across the state work to keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention and safety. 

Just over 140 years ago, two Great fires, The Peshitgo Fire and the Chicago Fire both started on the evening of October 8th, 1871. The Great Peshitgo Fire consumed 2,400 square miles (1.5 million acres), killed over a thousand people, and continued to burn until it reached the waters of Green Bay and it met the fall rains. The Great Chicago Fire burned for two days; destroying over 3 square miles of the city, leaving over 100,000 homeless, and killing hundreds more. 

 

Closer to home in Maine, and sixty five years ago this week, a few small woods fires were reported to the Maine Fire Service. By the middle of the month over 20 large fires were burning all across Maine. The fires consumed 175,000 acres of timberland and destroyed over a thousand homes. Sixteen citizens were killed and over 10,000 citizens were injured by the fires. Finally, cooler fall weather assisted with bringing the fires under control. 

 

Fires happen every day and whether they consume thousands of acres of forestland, a major business, or a single family home, the greatest tragedy is when they take a life. Residential home fires are still the leading cause of fire related death and injury in the United States. Annually, fire departments respond to nearly 365,000 residential fires. These fires cause over 7 billion in direct losses, and sadly, kill more than 2600 family members. Our annual residential fire deaths are equal to the number that would die if 7 jumbo jets crashed ever year in the United States: killing all on board.

Please take some time this week to consider what a fire in your home would do to your family and your life. If possible, visit the National Fire Protection Association's Fire Prevention Week home page. Spend some time reviewing ways you and your family can prevent, and survive, a fire in your home. Note that two-thirds of reported home fire deaths occur in homes with no working fire alarm, and that something as simple as a working alarm cuts your risk of dying in a home fire in half.

The Badge in Your Pocket

Imagine for a moment that one day in casual passing, the firefighter, Chief, or your favorite instructor: the fire service someone you most admire, tucked a little note into your hand. Wrapped in the note was a fire department badge. The badge they’d worn for decades, and the best part of their career.

Now imagine for a moment, you are the one giving the badge.

There’s considerable talk these days about the photos in your wallet. The visual icons of the spouses, kids, significant others, and even pets, to which we vow to stay safe for and always come home to. Consider in this same fashion, not just the badge you currently wear, but the one you thought about above as it was given to you. Consider too, the badge you'd give someone; and what is it about that person that moves you to give them your most treasured badge?

As we go through our careers we make choices and are chosen. Those we choose to admire, respect, and glean knowledge from will not only mold us into the firefighters we become, they mature us into our fire service career. At the start few of us realize, between the giving and the getting, is an enormous amount of mentoring, leadership, and a variety of roll models.

Mentors give us direction and help us learn and refine valuable skills.

Leaders keep us on track and within boundaries that progress our careers

Roll models possess the complete set of core values, on and off the fire ground, that we aspire to.

The majority of firefighters most likely go through their career never identifying or considering those who influenced the establishment or growth of their career. The mentors, leaders, and roll models who impact us are dynamic. Whether we recognize them or not, they exist. Some grow and stay with us from the start, others come and go.

The challenge we most face is knowing who to watch and learn from, who to follow when and how, and most of all, knowing and honoring when we ourselves are being watched and followed. The answers come a little easier when you know who's badge you'd carry in your pocket, and who you'd be most honored to have carrying yours.

How the Weather Rules the Day

Suffice to say I am a morning person. Approximately 4am you can find me in my chair, enjoying my first cup of coffee, and contemplating the days events for the farm. First check the weather. Will the crew and horses face winds and cold this morning, or will the day be a mild one for chores with "tons" of horses worked in the afternoon. Will the ground stay frozen just enough so the horses keep a grip, or will it soften and be slippery on top? Did little puddles of snow thawed by yesterdays sun refreeze over night causing icy spots? Can we use all the pastures and paddocks? Where will the weanlings go today?

Temperatures in the high 20's, sunshine, and no wind are glorious days here in Maine for working drafts in the winter. There is no wind to chill the sweat against a horses skin, the sunshine warms just enough to dry the hairs. The air doesn't hurt for either horse or driver as we breathe, and the ground is the right consistency of grip for both hooves and boots. A few twitches of fire wood come in to the yard near the wood furnace. And the girls get to ride. 

If I could custom design the winter days here on the farm the vast majority would be just like that. No hay blowing out of the pastures, no wondering if the young or older horses are comfortable with the windy chill. I'm often told I worry too much, that the horses are fine. But I know the difference between a horse basking in the glow of warm sunshine, and bracing their back to the winds. The picture is the same, its the emotion that the are sending that tell me; the weather rules. 

The Calm Before the Storm

The air is fresh and crisp and the sky has breaks of light between the dark clouds. It could fool one into thinking the day is ripe for riding and driving. But reality says its short lived, by noon the sky will cloud in and snowflakes will start falling and the cold sharp winds will begin to howl. The horses will get a few hours outside today while barn is cleaned, and staged with hay to last a few days. The foals seem to know tomorrow will be a day inside, so had best get out all the sprints and bucks and kicks for now.

Snow will fall through the night and tomorrow will dawn with more snow and high winds. The barn will stay snug and warm as its insulated and full of drafts. Water buckets will not be frozen in the least as the 26 "draft furnaces" will keep it a comfortable temperature for both man and beast. Every horse, from weanlings through adults will get a good grooming and a few treats while on the crossties. Its a enjoyable break while their stalls are being cleaned. Only the door to the "nutrient recycling" pit will be open at times, which allows the right amount of needed fresh air.

The horses will munch, and drink and lay content while I concern myself with plowing, the wood furnace that heats the house, and the possibility of loosing electricity, getting the generator started and a host of other "what if's". But the horses are safe and happy, and that is what matters most.