Public Snowjob

Let me preface this by saying I know this is going to really piss off some people. Especially the NYFD. I assure you this is by no means to discredit you or downplay what you brave people do each and every day. If you misunderstand the point I am trying to make I apologize up front.

Many of you know what I do for a living and how I feel about my job. For those that don't, I am a State Code Enforcement Officer and I love what I do for a living. My job is life safety. I deal with buildings primarily. New construction and existing construction. I am also responsible for hazard mitigation for disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms, floods, and other natural and man-made catastrophes. This post will be more about my role in fire prevention and fire safety.

The local news recently commented on statistics that showed the number of injuries and deaths in fires has declined in recent years. Right away the Chief of the NYFD spoke up to take credit. Saying that it was all due to decreased response time of the NYFD and other measures taken by the NYFD. All the credit went to him and his men and women. I do not dispute that your job efficiency has improved. And I certainly am not saying you do not deserve any credit. However what about the countless people like me and those who do the job we do? Did it ever occur to NYFD that maybe less people are killed or hurt in part to safer buildings?

Building & Fire Codes are constantly being worked on and improved. I personally am an active member of the International Codes Council or ICC. I attend the code development hearing each year and have voted on a number of critical issues. I see the passion of the thousands of Code Officials from around the world. We take what we do seriously. We know that every single day we may have saved another life that day. The US Senate has officially referred to us as the "First Preventers." Yet you never hear about us on TV or the radio. You will never hear how someone didn't die in a fire. Or how a fire was contained by sprinkler systems and fire walls and that the building didn't collapse. What you will hear is how the Fire Department was able to save the people and the structure because of the response time.

On a regular basis I will go to a house owned by a fire fighter. They will typically make a point of saying, "I am in the fire department. I know what I am doing and don't see why you have to inspect this!" Well I give you credit in putting out the fires. You are superb in your ability to fight the fire. Well, it is my job to try and make sure you don't have to fight a fire to begin with. God forbid if there ever is a fire in your home and your family is inside, do you want to have to run to the fire house to get the equipment and people to come back and put it out? Or would you rather that we make sure that if there is a fire, that things like rated walls and doors or smoke detectors or egress windows are as they should be so that your family can make it out alive while you wait for the fire department to respond?

It is time to wake up NYFD. If it were not for the Building & Fire Codes and the men and women who enforce those codes, the fires you fight would be more severe. Not only would the occupants be at risk, but you would be attending the funeral's of countless fellow firefighters on a much more regular basis. So when will you stop and take a minute to thank us publicly for saving YOUR lives?

Rest assured, even if you ignore us, even if you take all the credit, we will still be doing what we do each and every single day and building a safer community. You are welcome.....tm