We Kick-Off a new Season & a New Monthly Feature - "Make Due"

Here is a fact – approximately eighty percent (80%) of America’s firefighters serve in suburban departments! Sure, they might work in “cities,” but when we think about urban firefighting, we think of FDNY, Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh and many more. But most of us are not in cities that large. We may be close to one, but it still means we are suburban firefighters. Sure, we have mixed usage, i.e., residential, industrial, commercial, etc. You may even have a high-rise or two or three! So, what is the difference?

The difference is that our departments (including career, volunteer, part-paid, etc.) certainly do not have the funding or the number of personnel that our urban brothers and sisters have. If they call a “box,” they will probably have 2-3 engine companies, two trucks (tiller, platform, quint, etc.) a heavy rescue, rehab bus, and much more! Does your department (not counting mutual aid) have that much support when you strike a box for a working fire?

We are happy to bring you the monthly series, “Make Due!” Created by Capt. Nick Peppard and Sean Duffy, it is devoted to address some of the key issues that suburban departments face. And for some, that is not just “once in a while!” It can be a daily grind.

Each month, Nick, Sean and I will bring you a guest to address some of those issues, e.g. staffing, apparatus, hints for TIC use. Searching, leadership and much more. Have an idea for a discussion? Send it to us at Dalmatprod-at-Outlook.com.

Tune in on your favorite podcast platform.