Dirty tools are not a sign of a busy company. Dirty tools are the sign of a lazy company with no pride. — Lt. Doug Rohn, City of Madison Fire Department, Ladder 6 “Pride of the South Side”
Ego is the root of dysfunction — Anonymous
A good fireman will know his job. A GREAT fireman will also know the job of the man above him as well as teach his job to the man below him." — J.H., ENG/PM E86 PHF CA
Don't be a weak link. Learn something new every day. — Daryl Troute, engineer, South Metro Fire Rescue, Colorado
You can only identify a great firefighter by what other firefighters say about him, not by what he says about himself. — Lieutenant Billy Higgins, Southington Fire Department, Connecticut
It's better to be lucky rather than smart, but if you're smart, you have a better chance of being lucky. — Vincent Dunn
Amateurs practice until they get it right; professionals practices until they can’t get it wrong. Train everyday. — Assistant Chief Jeffrey Ramsey, Division of Training, Alameda County (California) Fire Department
"If everything seems to be going well, you obviously have overlooked something." — Captain Edward Moss, Rescue 3, Technical Rescue, Bowling Green, Kentucky
Don't confuse one's confidence for competence. — T.J. Welch, Alameda County Fire Department
If you're not gaining on the fire, the fire is gaining on you. — Lieutenant David DeStefano, Engine Co. 3, North Providence (R.I.) Fire Department
Learn your job
Educate your team
Appreciate their efforts
Double your own (efforts)
Earn their respect
Return it (to them) — BFD
Educate your team
Appreciate their efforts
Double your own (efforts)
Earn their respect
Return it (to them) — BFD
It's not how long you have been doing it; it's how well you have been doing it. — Lieutenant Trapper Meadors, City of Eldon (Missouri) Fire Department
The garbage man doesn't get excited when he turns the corner and sees trash, because he's expecting it. Likewise, you should be expecting fire on every run. — (The Late) Lieutenant Andy Fredericks
Courage doesn't put out fires. Training, motivation and leadership does. — Chris Werner, East Fishkill Fire District.
To be the best in the future, you have to train harder than the best in the present.
Your training should periodically show you your physical and mental limits, because reality will, at some point, try to lure you past them. — Firefighter Dan Snyder, AFPD
Being in charge is a lot like being pretty; if you have to tell people that you are, you're not. — Scott Corrigan, Gig Harbor Fire
The more we sweat in training, the less we bleed in battle.
Can't means Couldn't Access Needed Teamwork — Adam Arkins, Greenwood Fire Department, Engine Company 93
As this job gets more complicated, doing the basics becomes more important. — S. Andrews, L.F.D.
"A fast reponse may be your last response! Get the trucks to the scene." — District Chief Willcok, Corunna Station, St. Clair Township Fire Dept
If you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it. — Vince Lombardi
This job's a hell of a lot more fun when you're good at it.— Mike Haberski, Petaluma (Calif.) Fire Department
Experience is what you get, just after you needed it. — John D. Montgomery, assistant training officer, Clovis Fire Department, California
A good firefighter knows how. An educated firefighter knows why. — Gary Slusser, West Pittston Volunteer Fire Department
In the heat of battle, you will not rise to the occasion; you will default to your level of training
"I frequently remind the men of my truck company, 'You may not fight fire every day or every week like they do in the Bronx or in L.A., but fire here won't care; it doesn't know you're not a New Yorker, and it won't wait for you to explain, but it'll expect you to start actin' like one.'" — Captain Ben Fleagle, firefighter in Alaska
"Do you have 20 years' experience or one year's experience 20 times?" — Albe, Norwalk Connecticut
"There are too many outstanding firefighters today. You know, the ones outside, standing."
"It took me twenty-two years to realize that I am getting paid for the transportation business — driving to and from the Fire House. I would do the rest of the job for FREE." — Victor F. Dane, engineer, 1524 B Shift
"You have two ears and one mouth; listen twice as much as you talk" — Dan Shultz, Millbrook (N.Y.) Fire Department, based on Benjamin Disraeli, English statesman (1804-1881):
"An officer cannot be a good officer if he is not a good leader. He may be able to fool himself and even other officers, but he cannot fool his company." — Bill, Millwood Fire Company, New York
"You get authority from your rank; you get respect from your actions." — Bill, White Plains Fire Department, New York
"The day you say 'I know it all,' please follow it with 'I therefore submit my resignation.'" — R. Reichenbach, assistant chief, Spring Lake Fire Department, Spring Lake, N.C.
"Learn from the mistakes of others; you'll not live long enough to make them all yourself." — Randy White, Ottawa, Canada
"Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible." — General Colin Powell
"The best thing an old firefighter can teach a young firefighter is how to be an old firefighter."
"When arriving at a hazardous material incident, never pass a dead cop."
"There are three things that keep a firefighter alive in any situation: Instincts, FEAR and training. Loose one of them...loose your life."
"If I had used my yellow bottle more back then, I wouldn't need my green bottle now."
"Hoses bend, ladders don't.... Park the truck where you can use it!"
“Learn it right, and you’ll do it right for the rest of your life. Learn it wrong, and spent the rest of your life trying to get it right.” (Unknown)
“Don’t confuse enthusiasm with capability.” (Unknown)
“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” (Vince Lombardi)
“If you only do what you’ve always done, you’ll only be as good as you’ve ever been.” (Robert “Bob” Murgallis)
“We are what we repeatedly do… Excellence then, is not an act but a habit.” (Aristotle)
