While I’m no longer a Fire Chief and responding to calls, as the Director of Training & Education at Provident, I make it my goal to learn and train almost daily. Already this year I have attended lectures and online classes related to Lithium-Ion Batteries (Li-ion), Stored Energy Facilities, Foam & PFAS, Fire Dynamics, Electric Vehicles (EVs), and Situational Awareness…just to name a few! This is in addition to taking these same courses in previous years.
The trainings are helpful and certainly reinforce and refresh what I have learned in the past, but my concern is that I may not remember all the critical technical details of these topics when I need them during emergency situations.
Let’s take Li-ion batteries and EVs as an example. You’re the Fire Chief, and you have taken numerous classes related to these subjects, but the last class you had was more than a year ago. Then, your department gets dispatched to a roadside accident involving two vehicles with patients entrapped in both—one vehicle is electric and the other a hybrid. At the scene, one of the cars is emitting white smoke from the undercarriage.
At this stressful point, you must recall all the information you have learned through the years relating to electric cars and batteries. But will you remember every important detail? Will you be able to provide direction safely and effectively to the firefighters and EMS personnel gathered there?
In other words, will you remember when it matters most?
This scenario has led me to think that we should consider having people within our departments or on the regional level become subject matter experts (SMEs) in specific areas. For example, within your volunteer or career department (or at the regional level), you could establish a group of people who specialize in Li-ion batteries. They would attend classes online and in person, and spend time staying up to date with the latest information and technology related to this subject. These people would become the experts in this area and could be called upon to help you during a call where this technical information is vital.
Technology is ever evolving in every facet of our lives. Although we may train on various specialized subjects, it’s not possible for every person to remember and recall all the important technical details, especially under stress when the clock is ticking.
Let’s face it—when something goes wrong, the public dials 911 and expects the fire service and EMS to show up and make things right. The question now becomes: Will you remember all the finite details to bring a successful conclusion to the problem?
Afterall, we have Hazmat Teams, Swift Water Rescue Teams, Dive Teams, and a long list of other specialized groups. Why can’t we, especially in smaller departments, create SMEs in the other areas I mentioned? If you don’t have the resources in your department, perhaps you should consider doing so on a regional basis. That way, you will have a pool of people you can call on when it matters most.
-Chief Ed Mann, June 2023