EMMITSBURG, MARYLAND – During the 37th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service on Sunday, October 7, 2018, the U.S. Fire Service will pay tribute to the lives of 80 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2017 and 23 firefighters who died in previous years.   

The names of the firefighters will be read, and their loved ones will receive an American flag that had been flown above the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial and the U.S. Capitol Dome. They will also be presented with a red rose and a special personalized badge. During the ceremony, a bronze plaque bearing the names of the fallen will be officially added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.  

The service begins at 10:00 a.m. (ET) at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland and is open to the public. These firefighters also will be remembered in a special Candlelight Service at the same location on Saturday, October 6th at 6:30 p.m. (ET). 

“Memorials are created so there will always be a special place to remember and honor our loved ones.  In 1981, the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial was created to pay tribute to these men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Chief Dennis Compton, Chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) Board of Directors. “Everyone who visits the memorial pauses to not only honor the fallen firefighters, but to also honor the strength and courage of their loved ones.”   

Members of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus will present 103 American flags that were flown over the U.S. Capitol to the NFFF during a brief ceremony on Thursday, October 4th at 10:30 a.m. (ET) in the Kennedy Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building. The flags will be displayed in the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Chapel until the memorial service on Sunday when they will be presented to the families. 

More than 5,000 people, including families, friends, firefighters, members of Congress, and Administration officials are expected to attend on Sunday. Firefighter Honor Guards and Pipe & Drum units from across the U.S. will participate in this national remembrance.  

NFFF provides live satellite feed and streaming of ceremonies along with video of events for downloading courtesy of VISTA Worldlink. For a complete list of fallen firefighters being honored, and a widget to display their information on your website, go to http://live.firehero.org. There, you will also find Memorial Weekend streaming information, videos, photos, and satellite coordinates. 

For more information about the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, go to www.firehero.org.  

By Richard Marinucci

As summer winds down in Michigan, and fall begins, there are fewer opportunities to enjoy the warmer weather. One thing I enjoy is taking the ragtop out and driving around. I find myself, at times, exceeding the speed limit (please don’t tell law enforcement). I don’t do it as much as I did in my younger days but I still like the excitement of going fast. I am not sure it is a great risk, but certainly there is a chance for a ticket or even worse an accident. Yet, I am willing to do it for the “cheap” thrill. While out doing this recently, I noticed that many motorcycle riders were also taking advantage of the nice weather. Many were not wearing a helmet, as is legal in Michigan. But, statistically the use of a helmet will reduce the risk of serious injury should a crash occur. I am guessing that many firefighters who ride do so without a helmet even though they know the risks. The point of this is that there is something in the make-up of firefighters that promotes risk taking. This is one of the challenges of improving the health and safety in this occupation.

Those who sign up for the job are more apt to take a chance. This is a good thing in many cases but can create unnecessary actions. Sometimes maybe firefighters do things not because they want to flout the rules but because they are natural risk takers and don’t always consider the consequences. This creates a challenge for fire service leadership who are trying to prevent preventable accidents. Due diligence is needed every day on every call and must be done in a way that doesn’t hamper operations and firefighters’ natural instincts that contribute to their success.

There is another way to look at this. While I may have had some lapses in judgement regarding safety during my career, I was way more conscious of safety on the job than I am doing work and chores around the house. Whether working on a ladder, operating a power tool, or using a grinder, I am fairly certain that I am not following standard operating guidelines as closely as I should when at home. Again, not to be critical, but how many firefighters would agree with this? In the overall scope of things, do we regularly and routinely operate within safe principles when all alone and no one is watching? I admit I don’t, though I am getting better as I age and think more about what I am doing. The carryover to work must not occur, and the officers and people in charge must work toward improving safety constantly to reduce unnecessary injuries. It is not easy because the workforce has established its own habits, and there is no intentional effort to get harmed. Understanding that some actions are just part of the human makeup can assist in developing steps to correct behaviors that need to be corrected. Supervision helps as do reminders. I don’t always get that at home but should always have a superior or peer to keep me on track.

As the hurricane in the Carolinas causes unprecedented damage, I am in awe of the commitment that members of the fire service continue to show in offering assistance. Teams have traveled from many states to work in less than ideal conditions to make a difference for those who need help. This is when the fire service shines and shows everyone what its core values are. My hat is off to those who volunteer for the extra work. It is more than just going to the disaster zone. They train for years to be prepared, not knowing if they will ever be activated. That is tremendous dedication, and the chiefs who support the programs should also be commended.

On the flip side are chiefs who don’t think participation is necessary because they probably won’t have an event. This is so shortsighted. I have heard of chiefs, mostly newly appointed, who have taken members from regi

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