Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., MIFireE, is an internationally known municipal fire protection consultant and contributing editor to Firehouse Magazine. He recently retired as a Battalion Commander with the Newark, New Jersey Fire Department. His widely popular commentary appears regularly and exclusively on Firehouse.Com.
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2001 Carter Commentary's Archives
• December
12-31-01 - Training - It's As Old As The Hills
Let me end the year 2001 by sharing a statement of my personal beliefs with each of you. This is a core belief, one that I feel lies at the heart of all other for which we might strive. I strongly believe that training lies at the heart of everything good and proper in the fire service.
12-26-01 - Some Hope For The Holiday Season
This is the time of the year when a great many among us pause to share in the miracle of the Christmas Season. Regardless of the manner in which you choose to worship the Supreme Architect of the Universe, please accept my most sincere blessings to your and yours.
12-18-01 - It Has Been A Crazy Week
I just cannot believe how much news has flowed into my little corner of the world this past week. So many odd, screwy, and disjointed stories have come to my attention that I have to wonder if there has not been a permanent full moon shining over many parts of the country this week.
12-10-01 - Be Humbled By The Gold
I have a new theory to share with you my friends. I think that we have to encourage a new way of thinking among the people who aspire to be our leaders in the future.
12-03-01 - It’s All About Staffing
Over the past several weeks, we have been looking at the impact of staffing on life here in the United States. Normally, I limit myself to issues relating to fire protection. However, events over the course of the past several weeks have shown me that staffing, or lack thereof, is a serious issue in the world around us.
• November
11-27-01 - They Are Forgetting Already
My thoughts are with my friends and associates in the New York City Fire Department. As they struggle to keep going, they are continually being worn down by the slow, day-by-day grind of the clash of crashing human events.
11-19-01 - Leadership in Action - Where Are The Leaders?
The leaders of the future are all around us. Unfortunately, far too many of the people who are supposed to be today's leaders cannot see beyond the tip of their egotistically turned up noses.
11-13-01 - Bad Leadership - They Are At It Again
America is in the midst of a period of crisis right now. Since the tragic
events of September 11, 2001, we have all been consumed by a mental state
that can best be described as a sort of stunned, but focused fervor.
• August
08-28-01 - Just What Does It Take To Be A Fire Chief?
I have read a great deal over the past three decades about the subject of what
it takes to be a Fire Chief. In the world of my youth, a fire chief was the proud
possessor of the five-bugled emblem of authority.
08-23-01 - They’re Out of Control: STILL
I have been in the fire and emergency service world for a long time now. I first
stepped into the rear of an ambulance in March of 1964. My first trip around the
block on a fire truck took place in October of 1966.
08-15-01 - What Does It Take To Be A Fire Chief?
In the faraway days of my youth, I can remember thinking what a cool thing it would
be to serve as Chief of our local fire department. There I would be, I thought, out
in front of a row of burning buildings, leading the troops.
08-09-01 - Yesterday The Beginning-Tomorrow The Future
Last week I attended the Firehouse Expo in Baltimore, Maryland with my dad. He’s
been attending this annual event for many years; however, it was the first time
I had ever attended.
• July
07-31-01 - We Must Look To The Young
By now you have probably had the chance to take a look at my daughter’s commentary
that appeared on the web last week. I am sure that you can only imagine how much her
words affected my wife and I.
07-23-01 - To the World You Are Someone
Well, this month something new is happening. My name is Kathleen Carter and I am the
youngest daughter of Harry Carter. You may have heard stories about me being the
"firefighting daughter" or "daddy’s little fire girl."
07-16-01 - The Rock and the Basketball
Many times my inspiration for a particular bit of commentary comes to me as I sit
in church, mulling over the Pastor’s sermon. Those of you who have shared my words
for the past 25 years have probably sensed that.
07-10-01 - Kindling The Spark
You can never really know where a new thought will come from. One night last week,
I sat in my favorite, comfortable chair watching yet another night of boring television.
Suddenly it came to me. I need to stop watching this tripe for a while.
07-02-01 - On The Road: Massachusetts
Once again we mounted up on our faithful steed Yukon and sallied forth to tell the
world about all that is right in the world of long-range planning. This past weekend,
I served as the Keynote Speaker for the NEAFC.
• June
06-26-01 - Barbarians at the Gate
A number of years ago, a fine non-fiction book was written about the fall of the RJR
Nabisco Company. Our research indicates that this outstanding work was written by Mr.
Bryan Burrough.
06-18-01 - On The Road First Stop: Chicago
There are thousands of people across the United States who labor daily in the trenches
of municipal fire protection and suppression. They have dedicated their lives to
protecting the citizens of our country.
06-11-01 - Medieval Suppression
For the past several weeks, we have been dealing with the harsh realities of daily
life in the American Fire Service. We have written about teamwork, and we have had
talks about warring camps.
06-07-01 - An Apology to Asst. Chief Rauter
Ladies and gentlemen of my reading audience, I have been called upon to offer an apology
to someone who was the subject of a blast from the famous Carter broadside. The troops
at Lisle-Woodridge, Illinois took umbrage at my commentary.
06-05-01 - Harvey, Illinois - Re-Visited
Every once in awhile, the crush of a deadline, coupled with a story that catches my
eye, provokes an attack of absentmindedness in my life. Such a scenario occurred when
I was creating my May 11, 2001 commentary.
• May
05-25-01 - This Is A Crazy World
As I sat down at my computer to craft this week’s message for you, I was a man torn
by emotions. It has not been a terribly uplifting week. On the one hand, dedicated
firefighters have spent the week protecting the public.
05-18-01 - Why We Are Dying: Lessons Learned
I want you to know right up front that this week’s commentary has proven to be one of
the toughest pieces of writing that I have ever chosen to undertake. I am positive
that there are those of you who will be reaching for rope.
05-11-01 - Hearing The Voice Of The People
Many times over the past several months, I have urged you to become more closely
attuned to the community where you provide protection. I really have seen great
things happen when the fire service takes the time to meet the public.
05-04-01 - The Voice of the Fire Service Is Heard!
The deadline for the FIRE Bill is now a part of the history of the American Fire
Service. People around the nation are sharing high-fives and celebrating the
arrival of thousands of FIRE Bill application packages.
• April
04-26-01 - The Fire Service Has A Voice: After All
Sometimes an author has to wait a lifetime to see whether their writing has an impact. I often
wonder if Charles Dickens ever knew of his impact on the world. Or Shakespeare or Socrates.
Fortunately, I shall not have to wait that long.
04-19-01 - Grant Apathy
The more I live and the more I breathe, the less surprised I usually am when I hear about
or see something that is asinine. As one who has spent a great deal of time working for
Congressman William Pascrell’s FIRE Bill.
04-13-01 - A Conversation With A Legend
I never really know where the inspiration for my weekly commentary will come from, it
certainly was no different this week. I had just about whittled my list of topics down
to one when the phone started to ring, stopping me in mid-keystroke.
04-05-01 - The Truth About Fire Protection
On Tuesday evening, April 3, I sat with tears in my eyes as I watched my dear friend,
Chief Dan Jones of the Chapel Hill, North Carolina Fire Department on the CBS television
show 48 Hours. Dan was the subject of an interview by CBS-TV Correspondent Erin Moriarty.
• March
03-30-01 - Firefighting Is Dangerous - It’s The Dying Truth
Again this week, we have paused to ponder the death of yet another firefighter. West Deptford
New Jersey's Firefighter James Heenan, 37, died Sunday March 25 after a three-month struggle
to survive fourth-degree burns suffered over 80 percent of his body in a New Year's Eve blaze.
03-22-01 - Fire Bill Update - Let’s Get Moving
This has been a real exciting week in the world of American government. I have had so many
email messages about the FIRE Bill, that I literally had to plow my way though piles of
paper to make it to my computer keyboard. It is times like this that make me proud to be an American.
03-16-01 - A President’s Charge Results in A Living Legacy
Once again, I turn to my associates in the fire service for a bit of motivation. Last week’s
commentary, Love Your Community has led a long time associate to remind me of a historical
charge, from a President long gone.
03-12-01 - Love Your Community? - Make a Difference!
Many times over the past several months, I have spoken about the need for you; yes YOU, out
there across America to get more involved with local government. I have listened to people
who would spend a great deal of time sitting at the kitchen table in their fire station.
03-04-01 - I Am An American Firefighter
Ladies and gentlemen, let me share some serious thoughts with you during this time of anger,
chaos, and confusion. Why do I say that all is not well? These words leave my mouth, mind,
and computer owing to the condescending and patronizing manner in which we of the fire service are treated.
03-02-01 - The Human Side of Firefighting
I want to take a look at the part of firefighting that far too many people seem to
overlook. As we move through our lives in the fire service, we seem to constantly
be hung up on the matter of technical excellence.
• February
02-23-01 - Looking Back: The Days Before Safety
Once again the sad dirge of a firefighter’s funeral is heard across the land. Two brave Illinois
firefighters have made the supreme sacrifice. As I pause once again to ponder the fact that two
more men will not return to their families, my thoughts drift to the issue of safety.
02-16-01 - Taking Back The Fire Service - One Chief at A Time
Once again, I would like to start this commentary with a thank you to my readers. You are
the reason I labor at my computer. You have questions and problems that have wide applicability.
I like to think that by answering your questions and helping you with your problems in a public way.
02-12-01 - Staffing - It’s All About People
There is a storm brewing in the American Fire Service. Some people want to talk about dollars,
while others are talking about safety. There are those who see things as they might have been
20 to 30 years ago.
02-02-01 - Our Deadly Highways
• January
01-26-01 - Welcome To The Poor Leadership Conference
It is that time of year when we begin to think about the long list of educational opportunities
that are available to each of us in the Fire Service. It seems that the list grows every day.
01-19-01 - Make Your Fire Department Part of the Community Again
I have seen a real problem developing within the fire service and it seems to have worsened
over the course of the past few years. We seem to be suffering from a terrible case of "inward-focusitis".
01-09-01 - Some Marching Orders for 2001
Many people have asked me to help them prepare to make changes in the manner in which their
fire department operates. Unfortunately, far too many of these troops are at the middle to
lower level of their fire and emergency service agencies.
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