Hero? Huh?

[CDean867]

What was the Chicago Fire Department thinking in its news conference regarding the deadly high-rise fire of last week by bringing some of the officers up to thump their chests about how brave they were? Some idiot captain pointing to the medals on his chest as though they were awarded for this fire? This fire department ought to be ashamed of itself. For pete's sakes, if mistakes were made, do something so that they don't happen again--don't bring in a bunch of *******s trying to put on a brave face about how gallant they were and trumpet the mistakes that WERE made.

[Firebraun]

Quite a first post...

But I agree. If mistakes were made, they should be found and learned from. Maybe the department needed some good press, but it sure sounds like it rubbed you the wrong way.

There has to be more to this story... Are you a member of CFD? Were you on scene? If so, can you fill in some blanks for us?

[12TruckIrons]

Just gotta wonder why your first post is a bash of a dept. Could it be that you are a regular member who is afraid to reveal your true identity, so you create a new username to hide behind. BUt if you really are new bashing another dept is not the way to start off.

[stm4710]

So blameing the jakes for the fire is your solution?

[CharlieRFDPres]

Maybe not a good start, but.....

Don't see where anyone is "blaming the jakes" above have you read something else? I didn't see the 'chest thumping' story, but if it didn't sound legit, or the thread starter knows something else, to cast doubt on the story, OK... but is not a good 1st post, 1st impressions, etc.


BE SAFE OUT THERE
NEVER FORGET
GOD BLESS THE 343 AND 60, MAY GOD GRANT HIS PEACE TO THEIR LOVED ONES

IACOJ, (hmmmm, is FAST/RIT team Capt. position open?)
F.O.O.P.

[PFire23]

Here's the deal boys and girls, we cannot make a judgement call on ANYONE involved in this incident WITHOUT first having all the facts; which is something that we don't have at this time. Personally I'll wait until more information is released before making a judgement, at this point I am certainly not blaming any of my CFD brother's and sister's, and I'm rather disgusted that anyone would.

[Weruj1]

OH MY !!!!!!!!!! well people ...........er ......uhm never mind. At any rate I dont really see what the FD did that was a mistake....I did not see the chest thumper story, but in my readings I am not sure they did anything wrong.I would have to believe that the one of the magazines will be covering this in a future issue and/or will reveal whatever the investigation warrants. And I agree what a first post and I dont see am darn thing about and Windy City affiliation. Possible ____________ here, BOLO.

[CDean867]

For your enlightenment, gentlemen

Let me ascertain a few facts, gentlemen.
1. I am a former member of the Chicago Fire Department, so my familiarty with the Department is better than most of you, and the fact that I am a FORMER member does not automatically presume any immediate dislike or disdain towards the Department as a whole.
2. At no time did I state that mistakes were made--there have been enough second guessers amongst the lawyers, media, and general public for my two cents to be worth anything.
3. My displeasure with the scenario was with individual firefighters who, in the course of a city sponsored news conference, chose to embellish their own individual actions not only to their own detriment, but to the detriment of the Fire Department as a whole. In the case of one or two individuals, you'd have thought they were the only ones fighting the fire.

So before you all begin to label me, fellas, ask--don't assume.

[PFire23]

CDean867, I was assuming NOTHING. However, what I did see is someone coming to a public forum, someone who has no prior posting history on which we can base a judgement, bashing a FD and his brothers. And yes they are still your brothers and sisters, once a ff always a ff. So you didn't like the way they behaved on camera, you didn't like that they said they were brave for going into a fire .... last time I checked it took a certain amount of courage to enter a burning building. NO you didn't "say" that mistakes were made, but you certainly implied it. I'm sure you didn't mean your post the way it's being read, but you need to sit back and put yourself in the readers shoes, read not just the words, but the tone. Yes you may be a former member, but as such you should also know that ALL dept's have their good points and their bad points. A public forum is not the place to air such things. This incident cannot be judged by the bystander, it must be dealt with by those directly involved, armchair IC's aren't the one's to be pointing fingers and laying blame.

[12TruckIrons]

Ditto Pfire23

[cozmosis]

Originally posted by PFire23
So you didn't like the way they behaved on camera, you didn't like that they said they were brave for going into a fire .... last time I checked it took a certain amount of courage to enter a burning building.

Courage? Perhaps... But it's certainly not something that you brag about on camera. I don't trust firefighters who brag about their own courage or bravery. Something's just a little odd about that.

Of course, that's just my opinion in general. I haven't seen the coverage of the Chicago incident mentioned earlier in this thread.

[firefiftyfive]

Hey guys, CDean is a brand new member. I have only been on here for a few months and I have realized how critical we all are. But maybe we should give him a little break since it was his first thread posting. I'm sure he meant well with everthing he said...

[ChiefReason]

I will weigh in speaking strictly as an outsider.
CDean; please check this for accuracy as you did in my first post in this thread. Here goes:
Chicago is a city that has a mayor that, for one reason or another, does not like his fire department.
So, if I am Chicago Fire Department, I would most definitely take every opportunity that I can to THUMP THE CHEST of the Chicago Fire Department.
If Mayor Daley took as much time lauding the efforts of his fire department as he does casting doubts, the idiots wouldn't take every opportunity to throw shots at the fire department. And it might cut down on the number of lawsuits in that city as well.
Though it might not be in good taste under most circumstances, in this case, it is called "fighting fire with fire".
Hats off to the CFD. Pat yourself on the back. Nobody else is; the mayor included.
CR

[CDean867]

No fan of Richie

For the record,CR, I am no fan of Richard M. Daley. And the reason he doesn't like his Fire Department is because of a lot of petty bull****(4 years without a contract, the Engine 100 videotape, etc...) has cast aspersions on the job. Like any Fire Department(including yours,I'm sure,) there are guys who have absolutely NO BUSINESS being firemen.They are drags and anchors on the guys who really and truly want to do a good job. I mean, bitching about going out the door on a run, because it's an EMS run(which compromises 85% of the CFD's runs,)and not a FIRE run....Since when did you get paid any different for the runs you were going out on? And chest thumping doesn't do anything for anybody---that's what Medal Day is for. I worked for Jimmy Joyce in my time on the job, and he's a great guy in a tough spot. It'd be unfortunate for him to lose his job(which Daley says is safe,) over the stupidity of some members of his command staff who weren't much as firemen and now that they're bosses STILL aren't much as firemen. And CR, I did not mean to criticize your characterization of Eddie Enright--I was just clarifying wrong info given by another member, not your rememberances.

And firefiftyfive, thanks, but I have a very thick skin after 20+ years of exposure--I've been called worse by better.