The point of this story is how the same incident must be viewed from different perspectives.  During 1985 as a young fire fighter, I was assigned to the office.  My assignment was to help the fire department update computer software.  Frankly in 1985, anyone who could get a personal computer to print was considered an “expert” and qualified for this task.  However, at that point in my career I was more interested in catching the “big fire” than dealing with computer systems.

On my first day in the office, I was reviewing software specifications – when late in the afternoon things changed.  A propane tanker rolled over on I-495, about two hours before rush hour.  The first arriving Battalion Chief declared a third alarm and announced the potential for a BLEVE!   Great!  Everyone on shift would get a piece of the action and I was stuck in the office!

I was asked what computer systems were ready for us to use – I had all morning to work on something; in shear panic, I said yes!  At that point we had a “luggable” Compaqâ computer, WordStarã and a dot matrix printer.  It’s all we had, and we were going to use it!  The decision was made that I would ride to the scene with the Fire Chief and his immediate staff.  After all, I had the computer.  Between trying to figure out how I was going to make this electronic mess work at the scene – I was thrilled that I would get a chance to see how senior officers’ plan a strategy.  

My notions of what the Fire Chief and senior staff should be considering were the tactics and strategy of how to extinguish the fire.  Issues like establishing a water supply, selecting correct hose lines and nozzles for attack were critical for the Fire Chief.  I was shocked when the Fire Chief directed senior staff to locate and make contact with the County Executive and Governor as well.  Not only did I think this to be very strange but a waste of the Fire Chief’s time.  We had a propane tanker fire on I-495 to put out! 

When we arrived on the scene, the Fire Chief was briefed by the Battalion Chief and things were worse than initially reported, when the tanker rolled, all the control valves were sheared off – there was no way to stop the flow of product.  A flame jet was projecting onto the opposite of loop of I-495.  We estimated the tanker would burn for 12 to 18 hours.  Imagine the traffic jam!

The Fire Chief was becoming more insistent on communicating with the County Executive and now wanted to brief the Governor’s Chief of Staff.  As a young fire fighter getting a close look into workings of how large incidents are handled, I was getting concerned – why is the Fire Chief not directing the tactics and strategy of putting out this fire?  Who was running this show after all? 

Just as I was think things could not get any worse, a State Police Major arrived at the our Command Post and demanded to know when they could open I-495 to traffic.  That’s when I realized the contacts the Fire Chief made within the Governor’s Office were going to pay off.  The State Police Major was asked to contact Governor’s Office, afterward the humbled Major offered any assistance the Fire Department needed for the remainder of the incident.  Then I understood why fire fighters and Battalion Chiefs’ deal with tactical and strategic issues and the Fire Chief deals with larger issues.