Integrity. Professionalism. Honor. Compassion. Dedication.
Those are the core values that are the foundation of our organization. The values are integrated into every strategic and operational decision we make; it is our culture. Every person, from the newest recruit to the fire chief, is expected to live up to these values. There are no exceptions. Period.
When the dispatcher asks, “what is your emergency?” it is just that – an emergency. The person at the other end of the phone is calling for help. It may be the worst day of their life.
When the pager goes off, the priority is that call. Someone needs our help. They expect perfection. We have to deliver. We only have one chance to get it right. There are no second chances. There isn’t a 911 for the 911. We are it.
When we arrive, we go to work. When we step-off the truck, the public is expecting the equivalent of a Superbowl championship. Although this isn’t a game. The stakes are much higher.
We are a team of professional firefighters. We rely on each other to make split-second decisions. There is no room for mediocrity. If we fall, we get up and we keep going. We don’t quit. We can’t quit.
We rely on our training, education, and experience to make quick, calculated decisions and to take action to save lives and to minimize loss. Our number one priority is life safety. Property can be replaced; lives can’t. We will do whatever we can to save a life.
Being a firefighter is not just a job. It’s not a hobby. It is a calling. The badge we wear is a privilege. It is an honor that comes with great responsibility. We are responsible to our community, our brother/sister firefighters, our families, our country, and, ourselves. The responsibility is with us 24/7; we are never really “off-duty.”
In order to be the best, WE, the firefighter, have to be the best. Our minds need to be sharp. Our bodies need to be in great condition. We need to care for ourselves as we would the rarest gemstone on this earth.
I am extremely thankful for the opportunities this profession has given me. As a fire chief with over 19 years of experience, both as a volunteer and now career, this profession is about service. It is about serving the community and those that need our assistance. As a leader, it is about working with and alongside my team to deliver the best possible service to anyone that calls. After the call has ended, I rest when I know my team is home safe.
Chief T. John Cunningham
[email protected]