Posted by Scot on November 28, 1998 at 21:57:19:
In Reply to: Re: November size up posted by Bobh on November 27, 1998 at 14:42:58:
: : I was reminded the other day to never assume a derelict looking building is vacant. Especially these days with squegee kids and other homeless types.
: : Just my 2 cents.
: With regard to the two previous postings:
: It may not sound like "The Bravest," but if I were to be on the scene in a fire like this one, I would prefer to err on the side of safety: the saftey of members!! Yes, perhaps some kind of search is needed, but only after careful evaluation of the building's stability and with full knowledge that an outside operation is most likely to be used. Again, it may not sound like "The Bravest" is writing, but too often our lives are risked with little or no payoff in a structure such as this. The rewards MUST AT LEAST be COMMENSURATE with the possible risks if not outway them outright. Unfortunately in a city such as ours we have an indigent class housing themselves in delapidated buildings. Yet, though we assume a fair amount of risk when we sign on for this job, we musn't be contemptuous in pursuing our goals to ensure the safety of those in peril.
: Let's just stop and think a bit before we dive in.
Bob, I have to agree with you! My goal (and I think all of ours) is to see that ourselves and our firefighters get home to their loved ones at the end of each and every shift. Everything else is gravy.