06/12/2026
The fire service has enough problems outside the walls of the firehouse. There is no room to create more inside.
There's value in having a passion for your job, but it will never provide someone the right to decide what the fire service is supposed to be. A person's level of passion for their job doesn't qualify them to represent others. No matter how much a person loves their job; they can't define the standards of professionalism for an entire group of individuals.
It goes both way. People that are very passionate about their jobs may be viewed negatively or categorized as a squirrel or obsessed with the job. On the flip side, those people that don't feel nearly as passionate about their jobs are sometimes belittled or completely dismissed as having no value. Both of these behaviors can poison a department’s culture and destroy trust. Both can also erode the bond that creates "brotherhood" in an organization.
Unfortunately, some of the fire departments' loudest voices are contributing to the destruction. Many so-called "influencers," "social media personalities," and "sticker sellers," have figured out that anger is more profitable than peace. These people build their followings by telling firefighters to look down on their fellow firefighters, and to express disdain towards admin, volunteers, or anyone that contributes to the fire service differently than themselves. Divisiveness is now a commodity, and far too many people are making money off of dissatisfaction.
In reality, the only thing that brings every firefighter together is their desire to help people, and save lives. The variety of means in which this mission is accomplished allows different people to contribute in different ways. Some pursue education or training with passion. Others provide a great management presence or are good at dealing with people. Some excel at mentoring/leadership/problem solving. And some may never be the loudest voice in the department, but they continue to work hard, and do their part when it counts. All types of contributions matter.
The strength of our organization lies within our diversity (the grinders, thinkers, teachers, students, mentors and solid-handed workers). The division that occurs due to whether or not someone is perceived as "too into the job," or "not into it enough" is a distraction that weakens the overall culture of our organization.
It is important that excellence and accountability exist. However, these two principles should be used to promote the development of each individual rather than tear them apart. Firefighters don't require additional criticism from within our own ranks and especially from those that don’t even work for our department. What we need is to recognize the value of everyone’s contributions and encourage folks to develop further in every facet of the job.
When we prioritize respect above rhetoric, we move the fire service forward. Each firefighter is here to serve. Each firefighter is here to save lives. Value exists in multiple forms. Recognize the difference among your brothers and sisters. Develop the team. That’s how we maintain our strength.
