Each year our Department visits the Suffolk County Fire Academy to attend a lecture and do hands on work in the techniques needed to battle fires and incidents involving flammable gas and liquids.

I always enjoy this drill both as a firefighter and a PIO. Quite frankly the hands on portion, as any of you who has taken this kind of training know is quite spectacular as LP gas creates a pretty intense fireball.

As a PIO I look forward to the drill because I get some pretty neat pictures when I am not involved in an evolution and I get plenty of food for thought on how I can let the public know about flammable gas safety.

One of the facts that the public always finds interesting is that natural gas has no odor. The actual smell of the gas is created by a substance called mercaptan that creates the rotten egg odor to warn of potential danger.

Prior to substances like mercaptan natural gas explosions came without warning.

If I had an unlimited public information budget I would try to mirror the creative natural gas safety promotion undertaken by Puget Sound Energy.

The Washington State energy giant, much like stores used to do when they put a perfume sample in with a bill or direct mail piece, infused invoice contents with a scratch off that mirrors the odor of rotten eggs.

I spoke to a buddy in Washington who told me about the mailing and said that the odor after the scratch off was effective but not sickening to smell.

Kudos to Puget Sound Energy for this effect community outreach and safety program.

Here is a copy of the pamphlet

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I think we should all take a moment out of our Fourth of July festivities to think about, and express our deepest gratitude to the founding fathers of our great country for what they did in establishing the framework of a democracy that has survived the test of time.

Of all the forefathers, the one we should place on the highest pedestal is Benjamin Franklin who among his greatest accomplishments was the founding of the volunteer fire service.

Here is a reprint from ushistory.com about Franklin’s interest in and development of the volunteer fire service

“On a visit to Boston, Benjamin Franklin noted that the inhabitants of his native city were far better prepared to fight fires than the natives of his adopted city, Philadelphia. Upon returning home, he consulted the Junto, a benevolent group dedicated to civic and self-improvement, and asked for their suggestions on better ways to combat fires.

Franklin also sought to raise public awareness about the city’s dire need to improve fire-fighting techniques. In a Pennsylvania Gazette article of 1733 Franklin noted how fires were being fought in Philadelphia. “Soon after it [a fire] is seen and cry’d out, the Place is crowded by active Men of different Ages, Professions and Titles who, as of one Mind and Rank, apply themselves with all Vigilance and Resolution, according to their Abilities, to the hard Work of conquering the increasing fire.”

Goodwill and amateur firefighters were not enough, though. Franklin suggested a “Club or Society of active Men belonging to each Fire Engine; whose Business is to attend all Fires with it whenever they happen.”

For the February 4, 1735 issue of The Pennsylvania Gazette, Franklin sent an anonymous letter to his own newspaper entitled Protection of Towns from Fire. Writing as an “old citizen” he admonished:

In the first Place, as an Ounce of Prevention is worth a Pound of Cure, I would advise ‘em to take care how they suffer living Coals in a full Shovel, to be carried out of one Room into another, or up or down Stairs, unless in a Warming pan shut; for Scraps of Fire may fall into Chinks and make no Appearance until Midnight; when your Stairs being in Flames, you may be forced, (as I once was) to leap out of your Windows, and hazard your Necks to avoid being oven-roasted.

He further urged that chimney sweeps should be licensed by the city and be held responsible for their work. He noted that a neighboring city (Boston), “a club or society of active men belonging to each fie engine, whose business is to attend all fires with it whenever they happen.” He noted that via practice and regular meetings, the firefighters’ skills improved.

Under Franklin’s goading, a group of thirty men came together to form the Union Fire Company on December 7, 1736. Their equipment included “leather buckets, with strong bags and baskets (for packing and transporting goods), which were to be brought to every fire. The blaze battlers met monthly to talk about fire prevention and fire-fighting methods. Homeowner’s were mandated to have leather fire-fighting buckets in their houses.

Other men were desirous of joining the Union, but were urged to form their own companies so the city would be better protected.

Within a short span of time, Philadelphians witnessed the birth of the Heart-in-Hand, the Britannia, the Fellowship, as well as several other fire companies.

Thanks to the matchless leadership of Benjamin Franklin, the dire fear of fires expired in Philadelphia which became one of safest cities in the world in terms of fire damage.”

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What is it about blue lights? In New York State a blue light can be used by a firefighter responding to an alarm, but it serves strictly as an indication for another driver’s courtesy. The public does not have to yield. It seems blue lights have this hypnotic, mezmorizing effect that causes most motorists to become totally oblivious to your attempt to get to the fire house as quickly as possible while staying within the speed limit and rules of the road. Many doesn’t know exactly what to do, a number of sadistic drivers intentionally slow down, while a few good citizens actually yield.

I posted a few day ago about a totally involved fire we had in town. The editor of one of our papers called me to find out about our response time. It seems a neighbor told one of his reporters that it took us 15 minutes to respond.

We are a transparent department and reviewed the records. We found out that the initial response for the first due engine was 8 minutes. No where near the 15 minutes claimed, but not as rapid as we respond under optimal conditions.

Before I called back the editor to make a statement on the response time, the Chief felt a closer analysis was warranted in the event the editor wanted to delve closer into the dynamics behind the response.

The alarm was a mid day call, on a work day. Main Street in our town is extremely congested during the week.

The analysis provided two clues to why the response time was 8 minutes. First, the heavy smoke from the fire that could be seen on Main Street had drivers slowing down to watch. The second, more telling fact was that many firefighters attempting to get to the firehouse, which is located just off Main Street, were not given what we considered to be the simple yield courtesy of many drivers on Main Street. Drivers could see the smoke, slowed down, but in a number of cases would not yield.

We felt though that the response time overall was within the acceptable range for a weekday fire when many members are out of town at work. Obviously for a volunteer firefighter to get to the station, they have to leave work or their home, get into their vehicle and make their way to the firehouse.

The incident opened the Chiefs eyes to formulating a public information campaign to let residents understand what a blue light is and why it is being used. I think this is a great idea.

Any of my fellow PIO’s ever create a blue light campaign? I’d like to know about it and if it achieved any tangible results.

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A fire incident in my own town, created serious circumstances that could have easily become deadly serious. While we strive to be as transparent as we can with the public, it is also the responsibility of citizens to be transparent with us, especially when potentially deadly conditions exist on the fireground.

 Yesterday we responded to a working garage fire. Our units confronted a structure with heavy black smoke showing. The homeowner, a retired New York City firefighter no less, told us a vintage car was on fire in the garage. A virtual hands and knees attack was needed to knock down the blaze.

 The horrifying part of this incident is that when the smoke literally cleared and overhaul began, we realized that the garage was being used as the resident’s personal repair and restoration shop.

The homeowner failed to mention to us that the car in question was on a hydraulic lift and the shop was filled with pressurized gas cylinders and a large amount of oil, gasoline and other hazardous materials.

 I leave it up to your imagination to think of the scenarios that could have taken place.

 Unfortunately we see this lack of transparency by some citizens over and over again. I’ve been to car fires where after the fact we have found cylinders of propane on the back seat, MVA’s with vehicles containing hazardous materials, house fires with illegal occupancy construction that creates a virtual maze, without a peep from the homeowner or driver while the incident is unfolding.

 Is it better to hide their little secrets or see responders dead at the scene?

 Illogical!!

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During my quick trip to Las Vegas, I’m glad someone was on fire watch at The Fire PIO desk.  I want to thank Bill Carey at Fire EMS Blogs who does such fantastic work managing these blogs as well as well as websites for  FirefighterNation.com/ Fire Rescue Magazine /JEMS.connect/JEMS.com LawOfficerConnect/LawOfficer.com.

The first piece Bill brought to my attention was written by Howard Kurtz in the Washington Post. It is about stressed newroom budgets and how reporters must multi task to get a story out.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/07/AR2010030702506.html?sub=AR

The second piece is about a great public information partnership between the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department and Metro bus.

http://pgfdpio.blogspot.com/2010/03/pgfd-pepco-and-metro-partner-for-fire.html

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As a PIO I always look for opportunity to educate the public as the result of a specific incident that my department responds to. When we have the first chimney fire of the year in the fall I usually float out to the media a story on chimney safety. Similar lessons to be learned are sent to the media after CO incidents, MVA’s, electrical fires etc. It’s a great way to let the public know about an incident and ultimately how it can be avoided.

My fire brother, the world renowned Firegeezer, scooped me on covering a Massachusetts Fire Chiefs partnership with Boston’s WFXT-TV to tell the public about the dangers of some modular homes.

 TAKE A LOOK AT THE GEEZERS STORY

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The Las Vegas Fire Department is catching the ire of many residents who are upset at seeing fire apparatus parked in front of health clubs while entire crews workout during shift hours. This is a potential full community mega ton public relations bomb that can be diffused with some communications finesse.

Read the story in the Las Vegas Review Journal  

The LVFD is currently under public scrutiny at a time when future budget expenditures, possible layoffs and pay cuts are all on the table. Both the Department and International Association of Firefighters Local 1285 are working to maintain the public trust.

Las Vegas Fire Chief Greg Gammon sent a memo to firefighters discussing some of the current public perception about the Department and hit on the gym issue.

Here is the complete memo.

Gammon was recently quoted as saying that “There’s a perception that’s out there that they’re at the gym more than they should, and all I can do is remind them … just be mindful of the public perception right now,” he said.

“Spending 2-3 hours a day at the gym like some crews do is just the kind of actions that tear us down,” Fire Chief Greg Gammon wrote.

The department requires firefighters to exercise 90 minutes each work day, which battalion chiefs are required to monitor. They can do that in their fire stations, which Gammon said usually have modest equipment, such as a bike and a treadmill. Or they can go to a public gym within their fire station’s coverage area. They have to pay for their own gym membership and have to be ready to go to a call at all times.

My PIO interest in this story is how both the Union and Department are on the defensive when they can take an offensive posture that both offers justification to gym use, honestly evaluates the  perceived problem and policy, and informs the public of the importance of firefighter fitness.

FIRST OF ALL, PERSONALLY, WHO EVER NEGOTIATED THE WORK RULE THAT STATES THAT A PIECE OF FIRE APPARATUS CAN BE PARKED IN FRONT OF,  AND ITS CREW, ON DUTY, CAN UTILIZE A PUBLIC GYM SHOULD BE ASHAMED! WHO THOUGHT THIS KIND OF EDICT WOULD LEAD TO ANY SORT OF POSITVE PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE?  I’M A FIRE FIGHTER, AND I WOULD FIND IT QUITE UPSETTING IF I WITNESSED AN ENGINE IN FRONT OF MY GYM WITH THE CREW WORKING OUT.

But since this absurd rule is in affect, how can a PIO try to put a positive spin on this debacle?

1. The Chief, although well meaning in my estimation, is telling his firefighters, through this memo to lay low until the smoke clears. He also talks about not using too much sick time which implies to me that abuse is taking place. Again he takes a lay low approach that can come back to bit him and do more damage then good. I figure he is walking a fine line between Department and Union and is trying to be a good guy to his men but this will ultimately backfire.

2. The Union is currently ignoring, or not commenting on, the discontent of the public concerning the gym issue and feeding the usual menu of the generic dangers of cutting fire services in Clark County.

Here is a look at the International Association of Firefighters Local 1285 website addressing budget issues. 

Here is how I would try to regain the public trust on the workout issue –

1. Have the Chief and Local President address the issue head on.
2. Hold a news conference to address the public concern of gym use.
3. Inform the public that it is understood that the perception of firefighters using health clubs during shift hours could be misinterpreted and how a review of the policy will take place to make any necessary corrections.
4. Inform the public of the need to have firefighters in optimal physical condition to conduct their duties in a way that keeps the community safe.
5. Review statistics that show how many firefighter LODD involve heart attack, cardiac arrest and exertion. This will also serve to inform the public of the physical dangers of firefighting.

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The most practical government applications for Twitter are in public safety and emergency notifications. I’m currently kicking around a blueprint for exactly how I can use Twitter more effectively to keep the community instantaneously informed of fires, road closings from MVA’s, power outages etc.

Currently I use Twitter as a tool to spread information on stories I post on my departments website. These Tweets about incident reports usually draw a good number of followers who go to the story via a link on the Twitter post. I truly know though that the value of Twitter is being able to give real time information during an emergency.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has been at the forefront of Twitter usage. They Tweet with bulletins about structural fires, the number of responding firefighters, and injuries and casualties. A typical post is something like: “12126 Burbank Bl* No ‘formal’ evacuations; Firefighters maintaining 500′ exclusion zone pending LAFD Hazmat arrival.”

When a commuter train derailed Sept. 12, 2008, in Chatsworth, Calif., killing dozens and injuring hundreds, the LAFD tweeted several times to update the public about rescue operations. And citizens near a wildfire in Griffith Park in 2007 tweeted to the LAFD about wind direction and smoldering hot spots, which helped firefighters, control the 800-acre blaze.

I know the value of Twitter, and once my blueprint is complete I will embark on the marketing phase to get the community involved as followers.

I would appreciate hearing from my fellow PIO’s about any department that has a Twitter emergency response plan in place.

Here is a quick video about the emergency use of Twitter by Public Service of New Hampshire when thousands of homes lost power during a major ice storm.

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From a PIO standpoint, I thought I would never say this, but I would rather see a total press blackout then continue to allow the blather coming out of government official’s mouths about the tragic fire in Flint, Michigan last Saturday night that took the lives of four young children.

There has been questions about the response time for a first due unit to arrive on the scene. Instead of saying that the matter is part of an ongoing investigation into the incident, Alvern Lock, the Flint Public Safety Director looked into camera’s and reporters faces and said that staffing cuts and station closings had no effect whatsoever on the response to the fire.

Lock actually said, and I quote, “We’re not concerned with station closings or staffing levels because that was not a factor in this fire.” 

 Lock indicated that rescue time was lost due to the babysitter, alleged to having left food cooking, being asleep and not responding to efforts to wake him.

“That’s a determining factor here,” Lock said. “How long did that fire burn in the kitchen before engulfing the entire apartment? How much time was that? By the time the fire department gets there, you’ve got flames coming out from windows upstairs and downstairs.

“Is that a response issue? I don’t think so.”

 This is surreal! Who is driving the Public Information bus?

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From a community and public relations perspective things are not looking good in Flint, Michigan. First, response time was questioned in the tragic fire last Saturday night that took the lives of four children ages 1-4, and now the Mayor of Flint announced today that 23 firefighters will be laid off tomorrow. The layoffs will leave just 65 firefighters in a city of 118,000. Flint can also lose two fire stations, which would leave just 3 for the entire town. The city is trying to close an $8 million budget shortfall.

How do you justify such an announcement when the city is still mourning from a horrific fire? Personally, I would have attempted to soften the blow and perhaps delay such a somber message for a few weeks out of respect to the children. I understand that this would cost the sinking city additional money, but I find this proclamation delivered by Flint Mayor Dayne Walling at this time to border on tasteless.

You may disagree with me, but not the way I would do business.

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