Jumpline MAG_Spring 2026 - Flipbook - Page 7
Michael Vallone, Ret.
Jumpline Editor
Fire Service Tradition
Fire has been recognized
as a tool of warmth, cooking, light, protection, and as
weapon, terrorizer, destroyer, and renewer of nature,
for eons. As long as 昀椀re has
been known to mankind, it
was also readily apparent
that it must be controlled.
Primitive methods of control included the use of pits
dug into the ground, stones constructed to form a
ring around it or shaped to limit its size and move
昀氀ame where desired, and to the direct the product of 昀氀ame: smoke.
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Organized 昀椀re departments came into being. It
was a bumpy and checkered growth during the 昀椀re service’s infancy. The value of life was important, but so was the value of
real estate. Protection needs caused advances in the 昀椀re service: equipment, gear, 昀椀re昀椀ghting techniques, tactics, and 昀椀re
昀椀ghting agents and delivery systems. The importance of the 昀椀re
service grew, and expanded. Fire prevention gained recognition
as being an essential ingredient in the 昀椀re service. The public has
grown to depend on the 昀椀re service, and its duties have grown
as the most ef昀椀cient way to deliver emergency medical services.
Fire 昀椀ghter resiliency is also acknowledged as inseparable to
昀椀re昀椀ghter health, thus the highest quality of services that can be
provided, can only be done through the healthiest 昀椀re昀椀ghters.
The 昀椀re service is an esteemed public service. The citizens
of a jurisdiction often have high regard for those in the service
of 昀椀re protection and medical services. The quality of 昀椀re昀椀ghtAs the trajectory of humanity grew from nomadic to static, and
ers has grown exponentially as the services provided have extoward covered structures to houses, towns, and cities, the use
panded: technical rescue, water rescue, high angle rescue, air
of 昀椀re as a tool not only did not abate, but grew. It also changed
transport/rescue/昀椀re昀椀ghting, complex apparatus, hazardous mafrom strictly personal use to also industrial use.
terials, airport, medical, including administration
Fuel to make 昀椀re also changed; wood, coal, and
of drugs, and electrical therapy. Its not an easy
various chemicals became wide spread. Tools
career. It requires constant training above the
and systems to spread or focus the heat from
emergency responses. The toll on 昀椀re昀椀ghters
昀椀re came into use, such as bellows and piping.
can be brutal physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Firefighting has
It can deprive a person of everything. Still, peoThe importance of controlling 昀椀re was idena strong history,
ple apply for the job, and expend great energies
ti昀椀ed as essential for the preservation of the
heritage, nostalgia,
to get hired in a very competitive process.
structures of society. The potential losses of
uncontrolled 昀椀re gained emphatical realization.
and culture, often
Why? The salary is good, it isn’t great, no one
Fire watches came into being, alarms systems
becomes a millionaire being a 昀椀re昀椀ghter. The
manifested in
to quickly notify the populace of uncontrolled 昀椀re
bene昀椀ts are good, not great. So what drives
antiques, plaques,
were implemented. Fire response was purview
people into the 昀椀re service? The 昀椀re service for
of the general population. As cities grew wider
mementos, artwork,
most members is more than just a job, a place
and taller, more populated, and with the advent
to work, or a paycheck. For most, its part of their
memorabilia; the
of diversi昀椀ed construction materials, other than
who they are. When asked the question,
things that give history identity,
wood, such as concrete, bricks, and steel, the
“Who are you?” A 昀椀re昀椀ghter may answer, a faand personality to the
need for 昀椀re response did not diminish. Eventuther, a husband, a man, a good person, etc. But
ally, dedicated 昀椀re response was an idea whose
almost always, he/she will say a “昀椀re昀椀ghter.” It
fire house.
time had arrived; the precursor of the modern
is one of the few working endeavors that identi昀椀es who that person is; you don’t hear a person
昀椀re department was at hand.
Spring 2026 | JUMPLINE Magazine
