Beyond the Flames

Last week, a fiery blaze that ripped through 10 buildings in Philadelphia claimed the lives of four young children. It also claimed national headlines after the parents of the children killed criticized the fire department and crowds of supporters gathered outside a firehouse to protest the department.
A number of rumors were spread immediately after the fire, ranging from the time it took the department to respond/arrive to their unwillingness to rescue the children trapped inside. Many angry residents felt disrespected by the department, and some could be heard yelling about how they pay taxes for the firefighters to rescue the children.
Community leaders got involved, demanding answers from the fire department and other city officials, calling for investigations and even resulting in a meeting including representatives from the Liberian embassy. As a result of the rumors spreading, the fire department released official statements documenting their department response to the call, including the first fire apparatus less than four minutes after the first call was received, and that there were already several houses fully engulfed when firefighters arrived.
While it is a reasonable expectation for the parents of the children who were killed to be angry, taking their anger out of the fire department, or blaming them for the death is a ludicrous idea at best. The reactions, expectations and riots that resulted highlight some of the most common misconceptions people continue to hold about the fire service.
The simple fact of the matter is that firefighters cannot, and likely never will be able to save every single person in need. Firefighters are selfless and often put the safety of others first, but even the most daring firefighter can identify when the probability of a successful rescue is slim at best.
I would bet my last dollar that there isn’t a firefighter in the city of Philadelphia who didn’t want to run into that building and try and save those children. But there are also many officers in the Philadelphia FD with the experience and knowledge to make tough decisions, none tougher than the one to back away from a rescue for the safety of you and your crew. But sometimes, it’s one you have to make. Dead firefighters don’t help the situation, it just leads to more grieving. Firefighters have families to go home to as well.
The unfortunate reality is that firefighters don’t always attempt a rescue. Fire departments conduct (or should conduct) risk/benefit analysis before any attempted rescue. And while firefighters will always do their best to ensure everyone is brought to safety, sometimes our best isn’t good enough.
Our turnout gear doesn’t make us invincible. While it certainly provides additional protection, it isn’t an absolute defense against the heat and flames that quickly consumed the houses on the short stretch of a city block that night in Philadelphia. It’s not like firefighters could just walk right in the building as if it were a normal day.
Often times, those who point blame are ones trying to deflect the reality of the situation. While they may not be at fault, pointing blame at another person avoids the tough questions, and allows them to feel less guilty whether they are responsible or not. This particular case shows a hint of hypocrisy amongst those crying foul.
When members of the neighborhood argue that the firefighters didn’t respond quickly enough after some reports stated that the fire burnt for approximately 25 minutes before the first 911 call was received, it’s a lot like those who fail to pull over for emergency vehicles but are the first to say it took too long for them to arrive when they were the ones in need.
The very people who left their homes knowing that their children were still inside are now the same ones criticizing the FD for not running into the inferno that they themselves just ran out of. Your taxes absolutely do pay for fire protection, but what they don’t pay for is the sacrifice of lives for an unfortunately hopeless cause. Stay safe.