Officers and Members of the Bath Fire Department,
As we work our way into April, the earth will soon begin to awaken, the days and
nights get warmer, birds will come back and hopefully people will stay on the
road and out of the median.
This time of year always makes me glad that I live in a place that actually has
seasons and some type of cycle. There is always so much to look forward to this
time of year.
We have recently taken delivery of 35 brand new sets of turn out gear and a new
breathing air compressor. Special thanks to FEMA, Andrea Haradon, our grant
writer, and the many members who have contributed to the grant process over the
years. We finally got one, and we are so much better off for it. This grant will
prove it’s value for years to come.
May 3rd we will be putting on the annual dinner/banquet for the Bath Ambulance
Corps. Alfie can use all the help he can get. There is a sign up sheet on the
open office area bulletin board. Please sign up ASAP.
This April finds us still without a structure fire this calendar year. Many of
you have expressed some discomfort in the fact that it hasn’t happened yet and
profess to be waiting for the “other shoe to drop”. Trust me sooner or later it
will. This is the time to be ever more vigilant and prepared for the time that
it does. This is not the time for complacency. Every time the pager goes off,
the potential is there. Every automatic alarm could be the real thing. Every
odor of gas, or smell call could be a real problem. Remember, when someone calls
911, they believe the have a real problem. It is our duty to treat that caller
with the same seriousness and diligence as if we were responding to our own
home. Sure, it seems like all we have been running lately is “smells and bells”
but every one of those calls has the potential to injure or kill you. Keep on
your toes. Keep your wits about you. Never fall into the trap of thinking that a
call is “routine”. Do the little things that will keep you safe. Take the extra
second or two to put your seatbelt on before responding to a call in your
personal vehicle AND in the apparatus. Wear your hood and gloves. Get off the
truck with a tool, not empty handed, every time. Don’t make me have to go to
your house and tell your spouse or parents that something has happened to you.
If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for me, don’t put me, or my fellow Chief
Officer’s in that position.
Over the last couple of months, it seems like members who are qualified to drive
the trucks have become a shrinking number. With the better weather coming, this
is the perfect time to get out and do some driver training and get qualified.
There are usually some people at the station on Sunday mornings, myself
included, who would be willing and able to do some driver training and work in
the operation of the various trucks. This is a good time to accomplish this as
it doesn’t interfere with drill on Tuesday night, and we don’t have to burn a
drill night on driver training.
Speaking of drills, we have made a concerted effort to get back to some real and
meaningful training. The lion’s share of last year was so focused on building
our new home, that focus got shifted away from training. This has not been the
case this year. Special thanks to Alfie, Mark, Dave S. and everyone else who has
contributed to the re-birth of our training program. Keep up the good work,
guys.
Lastly, I would like to sincerely thank everyone who supported me and continues
to support me in my efforts to be a Chief officer. First and foremost, my wife,
Tami, and my children, Shannon, Sierra, and Jessica, but also all of you. I am
working as hard as I can to make the transition as seamless and transparent as
possible, but I am far from perfect and will undoubtedly say, do and make
decisions that you will either not agree with or not understand. I urge you that
if this happens, to please come see me, after the call or incident, to discuss
things with me. Nothing is ever accomplished by complaining to everyone but the
person who can really tell you what is going on.
I want everyone to know that I have the utmost pride and respect in each and
everyone of you. The fact that you do what you do, for no pay and little or no
recognition, sometimes boggles my mind. I am proud and humbled to be selected to
help lead you. I am reminded of a quote from Chief Edward F. Croker, Chief of
the FDNY (1899-1911). He said, “When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of
bravery has been accomplished. What he does after that is all in the line of
duty.”
I respect and applaud the fact that you have all have made the commitment to the
department, the community, and to each other, to become a firefighter.
Be careful. Be safe. Everyone goes home.
Regards,
Dave Dowdle
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