FF turns hose on couch-potato pals

[x635 4,066]

An Interesting article......and class.

FF turns hose on couch-potato pals

Wednesday, December 08, 2004

Albuquerque Journal

Bernalillo County, New Mexico - The days of starting a shift by looking for the remote control, reclining in a chair and turning on ESPN might be over for some firefighters.  

Blame Michael Garcia.  

The Bernalillo County Fire lieutenant has developed a class that teaches firehouse etiquette to fellow firefighters. So far, he has taught the class to most Bernalillo County firefighters, and recently it has received national attention.  

Next August, Garcia and others from the county fire department will teach it at an international fire conference in Denver.  

Garcia's class includes hygiene, dress, how to answer the phone and when to raise and lower the American flag.  

"We have plenty of things to do (other) than sit and watch television," he said. "We have to cut the lawn, rake the leaves, sweep out the bays and look for safety standards."  

The idea started when Garcia, a seven-year veteran, went to work and saw one of his colleagues pick up a remote control, recline and watch television.  

It made his skin crawl.  

Garcia thought firefighters should work on chores around the firehouse instead of watch football.  

So he developed the four-hour class to teach colleagues and new hires the lessons he had to learn the hard way as a young firefighter.  

By the end of the class, firefighters should know what to do when they are not fighting a fire.  

"Clean, do inspections and community service," said Garcia. "Being in a firehouse is like being at home, and you always want your home clean. No one wants to go into a dirty house, whether it is your own or someone else's."  

Garcia said he hopes the class helps change some of the stereotypes people have about firefighters and the firehouse.  

When people walk into a county firehouse, they will more than likely see firefighters working in a clean and tidy environment, he said.  

"People think we sit around and watch TV and wait for the alarm to go off, but we have a lot of duties around the house," he said. "It's like doing your chores."  

When Garcia teaches the class at the International Fire Chief's Association Rescue International conference, he could have as many as 200 students from across the globe.  

"The fire service reflects society, and as it changes so does the fire service," said Garry Briese, International Fire Chief's Association executive director. "Stereotypes exist for a reason. Sometimes they are embarrassingly real, and one of the things the course addresses is what is acceptable behavior."  

Although the class teaches good manners and professionalism, Bernalillo County Fire Chief Bett Clark said she doesn't expect firehouse pranks to go away anytime soon -- nor should they.  

"The course is not designed to cut out the firefighter camaraderie or to create prudes," Clark said. "Firefighters have humor, and that is very important because that humor gets them through a call."  

The class is mostly a lecture that uses slides. It shows pictures of firefighters cleaning trucks, sweeping bays and inspecting equipment -- not watching television.  

Garcia said he hopes to change the class someday to involve more hands-on activities. He would like to teach parts of it in an actual firehouse.  

"I never thought it would go this far," Garcia said. "I wrote it to help teach people what I wasn't told."

[Remember585 815]

The one about "raising and lowering the flag properly" is a good topic to cover. I can't tell you how many times our flags are not flown properly. My personal peeve is when they are left flying all night with no light on them.

I like this guy, I hope to sit in on his class one day.

[ndemarse 0]

I hope for this guy's personal well-being that his guys never find him sitting on a chair and watching TV.

I would have him running around all day for pulling this!

Nate DeMarse

[DOC22 1]

I hope for this guy's personal well-being that his guys never find him sitting on a chair and watching TV.

I would have him running around all day for pulling this!

Nate DeMarse

AMEN, Brother, so would I!!!!!