To The Editor:
About a month ago I attended a lecture on “Pride & Ownership” in Spartanburg, S.C. that was presented by Chief Rick Lasky of Lewisville, Texas. Chief Lasky has 30+ years in the fire service.
Well those who know me know that I ‘m all about the fire service, how we do it, why we do it and doing it safely and effectively. I came back with all this knowledge that was given to me by Chief Lasky and something he said dawned on me. Firefighters are SPECIAL PEOPLE! I thought about that statement for a while and then I realized it was so true. Firefighters are one of the most trusted groups of people that I know. Much like Police Officers and EMS Personnel are trusted, Firefighters also seem to have that special trust with the public. I have seen parents toss their babies to firefighters because they could not help them and they hoped the firefighter could.
I have had to ask parents to please move when their child was injured so we could do our job.
They TRUSTED a firefighter with their child’s life. Firefighters help people, that is what we do.
Last year, about this time of year, we had a thunderstorm move thru our area. A lady and her young daughter were traveling along Hwy. 38 and stopped at our station because it was raining so hard. As she entered the building she stated
“I KNEW IF I FOUND A FIRE STATION WE WOULD BE OK”. She did not know anything about me, the area or anything else EXCEPT she would be SAFE at a Fire Station.
Think about it for a minute. How many companies or businesses would like to have that reputation, what would they give to have that kind of image with the public.
We as firefighters have to defend that image, what one firefighter does reflects on us all. The symbol of the fire service is the Maltese Cross. It represents the eight traits that firefighters should possess, they are: Perseverance, Loyalty, Dexterity, Explicitness, Honesty, Tact, Sympathy and Gallantry. Being a firefighter includes a lot of responsibility. We serve the public; we must be effective in the way we do our jobs.
Training is a must, the only time we should quit training is when we quit the department and are no longer a firefighter, and in other words training is never ending.
To all the firefighters in Dillon County know that you are SPECIAL. Be Proud of who you are and the job you do! Thanks for all you do.
Respectfully,
Larry Cox,
President-Dillon County Fire
Chief’s Association
Oak Grove, SC