PRIDE

PRIDE
The night before my 24 hr shift comes, I can’t sleep because of the anticipation that I have built up inside me from my 2 days off. I dread my shift ending in the morning and having to go back to normal life. To me this is not just a job, not just a paycheck. It’s my life, it’s all I study. Every day I watch training videos and critique them on mistakes people make, and to get tips on how to make myself better to protect myself and my brother firefighters. I don’t want to be a good fireman; I want to be a great one.
What is PRIDE?
The letter “P” stands for professionalism. Being professional doesn't mean collecting a paycheck. Professionalism is an attitude, learning about our craft and keeping up with it. It is doing the job properly, without making excuses. It is putting our best efforts to do what we were sworn in for: the protection of life and property.
The letter “R” stands for respect. Respect for the job. Respect for the rank. Respect for those we serve. Respect cannot be demanded, it has to be earned. Most of all, the letter “R” stand for the respect for those who blazed the trail and did the job before us and made the sacrifices that define the job today.
The letter “I” stands for integrity. As firefighters, from the green behind the ears Probie to a grizzled old Chief, we are held to a higher standard. When one swears the oath to serve and protect life and property, we assume a position of trust. When someone calls 911 for an emergency they are, for want of a better term, inviting us into their homes and their lives. They trust us. If we lose that trust, it takes a very long time to gain it back.
The letter “D” stands for dedication. Dedication is putting the needs of the public we serve ahead of our own. Dedication is also keeping up with the latest trends in the fire service by constantly training, reading the print and electronic versions of the trade magazines (Firehouse, Fire Engineering, Fire Rescue).
The letter “E” stands for excellence. The very nature of the job means that perfection cannot, will not and never ever be achieved. There are far too many variables in each and every call we respond to for that to happen. You must set your own standards and achieve them yourself.
In life there is one thing that everyone must have, and that’s family… I have my family at home and then I have my family at the firehouse. If you don’t feel like family when your at the firehouse that is a major problem. We live together for 1/3 of our life, were around people when they are at their worst. We have to stick together as a team to show our support to these people to reassure them when they have lost property or a loved one.
The reason I’m writing this is because PRIDE and the team morale is down in my department. Before coming into the fire service I always heard of the “Brotherhood” and couldn't wait to be a part of it. Well I’m here now and I’m looking for the comradery… We are a young department for the most part and the PRIDE should be through the roof. Maybe our Chief has brought the morale down, maybe we have people that aren't cut out for the job. But my goal for the next couple years is to get it back where it needs to be.
Some people I work with won't wear their department shirts off duty. Why is that? Is it because they are afraid they might see an elderly woman fall out in a grocery store and they don’t want to help? If so that is BS. We should be proud to help at every given opportunity. We should be proud to wear our shirts off duty because we love the job, because day or night, off or on duty we are always fireman. It’s not an act we put up for 24 hours, it’s a lifestyle. Chill bumps should roll down our arms when we hear bag pipes or a Federal Q spooling up. If you don’t agree maybe it's time to take a long hard look at your career choice. There are plenty of other people out there who would kill to have your spot and keep this tradition alive. Departments shouldn't hire their “homeboys” they should hire the best man for the job. Who wants to be a part of the fire service if generation after generation have come and gone with such a lowly view of this calling as those who think it is no different than any other job? We should be glad to clean the station and wash the rig every shift. I think we need truck nicknames, our own station shirts, firefighting decorations in our stations. We need custom cab trucks with all the bells and whistles that elicit pride from those who have the privilege to ride on every day. I know that we are a burden to the city because we don’t bring in money, there are grants, theirs money out there for us. We just need those in charge to care enough about us and want us to have the best equipment for our job.
Some of the older generation have become disgruntled and no longer care about the department. What kind of example does that set for the new firefighters? Being exposed to this negativity this early on in there career is horrible. Getting in this habit this early on sets a standard for them that will be very hard to change. When a rookie comes in you should set aside a couple hours a shift and teach him anything you can about the job, truck, etc. and the next shift get him to show you what he has learned. When you get back from a fire discuss what was done and why, what could have been done better and answer any questions no matter how long it takes. Unfortunately I’m not in the position to do all these things but I will be one day. That day will come sooner than later. People may joke on me now for being obsessed and gung ho but I’ll be their officer one day and it will all even out. I refuse to let all the negativity bring me down because I know who I am. I’m not going to change if I get moved to a bad crew maybe my ways will rub off and make them adapt.

--Blake Powers
Blake has been described as "the contagious young firefighter that is in love with all things firefighting". He serves as a firefighter for Decatur Fire & Rescue at Station 1 "The Big House", is a member of FEMA Heavy Rescue 52, and is a Certified Alabama Smoke Diver.