Chief Concerns Richard Marinucci
For probably as long as I have been writing for Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment, the theme of the December issue has been to look ahead to the coming year to predict or guess what one may expect.
A brief review of some of my files would show that I hit some and missed some. I do recall missing the pandemic. Didn’t see that coming! The fact that not everything people think might happen comes to fruition does not surprise me as today’s world changes rapidly, and society is complex. But this is a fun game to play, and it also should be part of everyone’s planning process.
There are some people who are better at looking to the future. Think of those who always seem to pick the right stocks or winners at the track. Obviously, they do more homework than the average person and they get lucky more than most in this area. Their hard work gives them an edge. They look at past trends and historical events that often indicate future tendencies. One might say that you have to look back to look forward.
With that theme, we should have some idea of national issues in that it is a presidential election year. While picking who may be the nominees at the time of this writing may be premature, therefore making predicting the winner next November even more challenging, we should know that campaigns affect us all. Today’s politics, particularly on the national level, can be polarizing, but one thing to note is that the fire service remains popular on virtually all fronts. This should translate into continued support of federal programs in the coming year. This is probably true on the state and local levels. It would be surprising to see any decreases in support.
As I write this, the UAW is striking against the Big 3 automakers. If the strike goes on much longer, it will affect deliveries of vehicles produced by these companies. Even without the strike, delivery time for ambulances has grown. Those in desperate need must wait in line to replace aging and unreliable apparatus. Delays in production add to the challenges facing organizations. The need to anticipate when replacements are required has never been greater. Even with a good plan, there may be local regulations regarding budgeting and funding that need to be overcome.
The move to electric vehicles (EVs) and the use of lithium-ion batteries will grow. This places a couple of challenges on fire departments. Some will be strongly encouraged, maybe even mandated, to look into EVs for their fleets. There are costs and changes in operations that will be different. While the aforementioned election will affect the pace of change, other forces will continue to drive (no pun intended) this change. Eventually, more and more EVs will become part of the service. It is just a matter of how much time it will take.
The EVs and lithium-ion batteries will continue to present challenges to fire departments. Much is being learned about the threats presented to those tasked with extinguishment, but there is so much more that needs to be learned. As more batteries are being used for more items, there must be an expectation that your department will respond to calls involving lithium-ion batteries, whether in automobiles, scooters, or other items being powered with this method. Departments and members must commit to continual research and education on this critical issue.
While this article is about trying to prognosticate, there is one prediction that I am certain will occur. I am taking this opportunity to announce that I have chosen to stop writing monthly articles for Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment. I have been doing this for more than 20 years, and it is time to end a good thing. It has become more challenging for me to come up with topics and hit deadlines. This is a sign that another part of my slide into retirement has arrived.
Most important in this decision is the fact that I have personally come to this realization and have not been coerced in any way. That is important to me. I get to leave on my terms. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment. I thank Chris McLoone and Diane Rothschild for their unwavering support throughout the years. They have been great to work with and have made this side job fun and a great experience.
I started writing a long time ago for Fire Engineering. At the time, Tom Brennan was the editor. He was absolutely the best, and I miss him. I also got to work with Bobby Halton—another outstanding human being. Both had such a huge and positive influence on me, both in my career and as a person. I am not sure I ever thanked them adequately.
The journey with Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment began before PennWell Corporation, when it was an independent magazine. I was approached about contributing and agreed to give it a try. I never thought it would last as long as it has. Ultimately, the magazine was acquired by PennWell to add to its stable of publications. I was also writing for Fire Engineering at the time. I was asked to continue with Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment and decided to do so. Ultimately, I could not find the time and energy to contribute to both magazines. I stuck with apparatus. PennWell was then bought out by Clarion Events, and Chris and Diane asked me to continue. I thank them for the confidence they showed in me and also the freedom to write whatever crossed my mind—within the confines of the theme of the month!
When you write a column, you are never sure who will read it and how it will be interpreted. Print media in today’s world is not what it used to be. There is so much competition, and attention spans seem to be shortening. From my perspective, I tried to be mindful of this and to limit the length of the columns. But, the main purpose was always to get folks to think and generate discussion. I have never claimed to have all the answers. Mostly it is about raising questions so everyone can contribute to the best solution to issues. And, a constant theme in most articles was the need for continually learning and training. Competence in this job is essential and is obtained through thorough knowledge and repetition. This is very challenging in today’s fire service, as there is so much to know and so much changing. Learning can never stop.
I can honestly say I never established any long-term goals. I don’t have a set number of years, overall things to accomplish, or the like. I have only strived to do what I can for as long as I think I can contribute and enjoy what I am doing. As for Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment, I think I have done what I can, and others can continue. Chris has been gracious enough to let me write again should something pop into my head that I would like to share with the readers. So, maybe I will be on these pages again, just not every month. Thank you to all who have read and especially those who have offered opinions and comments, whether in writing or in person. This has been a great experience and I had fun.
RICHARD MARINUCCI is the executive director of the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) and chief (ret.) of the White Lake Township (MI) Fire Department. He retired as chief of the Farmington Hills (MI) Fire Department in 2008, a position he had held since 1984. He is a Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment and Fire Engineering Editorial Advisory Board member, a past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), and past chairman of the Commission on Chief Fire Officer Designation. In 1999, he served as acting chief operating officer of the U.S. Fire Administration for seven months. He has a master’s degree and three bachelor’s degrees in fire science and administration and has taught extensively.
