Posted on 12/16/2008 9:03:18 PM PST by buccaneer81
Patriotic helmet needs to go, Newton Fire Chief says
By Ben Terris, Globe Correspondent
A veteran of the Iraq War, Richard Busa is used to fighting for the American flag. But never quite like this.
After more than three years of rushing into fires with his signature red, white and blue helmet, the Newton firefighter has been told to paint it black. Newton Fire Chief Joseph LaCroix wants the patriotic decoration gone, saying it does not conform to the department's rules.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
...Should have been done long ago. The Nation has been at war since the “Revolutionary”...
Newton is Bwarney Fwanks hometown.
I’m a volunteer fire fighter in PA
OK, I do not get any compensation for my services. A few things, in the fire service, helmet colors are used to determine the status of the firefighter. Since I’m a regular firefighter (non-officer), interior certified, my helmet is black. Juniors and probationary members have yellow helmets, line officers have red helmets and chief officers have white. Different compnies have different color schemes (our mutual aid company uses red helmets for probies), the reason is to give the officer in charge an at a glance idea of the capabilities of the man under the helmet. Try to ID a guy wearing an air pack.
Again, we are volunteer but we cannot personalize our personal protective gear at all. I’m company chaplain and I cannot put a cross sticker on my helmet. The only exception is I can put HazMat ops and vehicle rescue cert as well as EMT on my helmet and nothing on my bunker gear. I can wear my own customized flash hood as long as it is NFPA approved. I cannot remove the eye shield and replace with goggles.
The chief in Newton (as much as it pains me to say) is right. The fire service is quasi-military and being in the public eye requires uniform and professional dress appearence. The public demands it. You would be amazed how an unhappy tax payer complains about the professional service we provide using volunteer labor. It is amazing.
BYW, helmet color will not really effect temperature and NFPA rules require reflective stickers Trapezoids to visability.
Having said all that, the chief is probably a jerk.
Tom
One other thing, our helmets have our last name on the back in reflective letters. This is so we can ID our own helmets and is a source of personal pride to the men.
thanks
I think I’ll put the phone number on my speed dial for when I’m driving this afternoon.
“We manufacture nightmares”
I guess it’s how one defines “quasi-military”, but I do see your point...
...most fire departments I know of ARE Public workplaces. And as you just said, the government can’t tell us not to express ourselves.
Even so, public workplaces can define what is and is not part of a uniform, and what (if any) exceptions there are. The military is public but you can’t ‘express yourself’ any way you want on your uniform.
I think since the chief had allowed it in the past for this particular helmet, and the helmet hadn’t changed - but now all of a sudden the chief changes his mind, while it’s in his authority to do so, I don’t think he should have.
I’m not 100% sure what you’re getting at.
That said: the article specifically states that the guy checked the dress code beforehand.
I don’t know what you’re arguing with me for, but you sound like you don’t have all facts.
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