Last week, a column was posted to the FIRE CHIEF website in which the writer harshly criticized the Chicago Fire Department for incident-command decisions made in battling an abandoned warehouse fire last month that claimed the lives of two firefighters and injured 17 others. The reader response to this column was swift and just as harsh. I certainly can understand the anger, which is why I am writing this column.
A staff editor made the decision to post last week’s column. I did not become aware of the column’s existence until after it was posted. However, as editor-in-chief of the magazine, I have to take responsibility for that decision. I’d like to start by briefly explaining why it was made. First, the writer is a retired fire chief and safety instructor who has contributed commentaries to FIRE CHIEF, both in print and online, numerous times over the past several years. So, the editor believed that his perspective would be credible regarding this matter. Second, it was believed that he raised legitimate questions that deserved to be contemplated.
In no way were we trying to take a cheap shot at the CFD or its leaders. I can assure you that everyone on the FIRE CHIEF staff has a deep and abiding respect for all members of the fire service, but especially those who serve our hometown department. Rather, the only motivation was to share with our readers what was believed to be relevant commentary about the incident.
All of that said, an error in judgment clearly occurred. One of the world’s most-quoted adages suggests that “there is a time and place for everything.” This clearly was not the time to post such commentary. As a result, this contribution has been removed from the FIRE CHIEF site.
This was not a decision to be made lightly. In journalism, retracting content in the face of reader criticism — regardless of severity — generally is considered a taboo that should be avoided at all costs. Indeed, this is the first time in my 30-year career that I took such an action. But we ultimately decided to do so out of respect for the CFD and its members, which is far more important to us than any precedent this action creates.
Everyone at FIRE CHIEF puts a great deal of passion into the effort to provide quality information to our readers. The primary reason is our profound admiration for those who serve selflessly and bravely in the fire service. We like to think that, in some small way, our efforts help to keep first responders safer, because the information we provide helps to develop more-effective leaders.
On a more personal note, I have a deep respect for all members of the fire service, but particularly those who are on the job in Chicago, my hometown. I have two childhood friends who are CFD members — one is a line firefighter, the other an officer — and a close relative, my mother’s first cousin, spent his entire career battling blazes in the Windy City. (Ironically, he was severely injured many years ago in a building collapse while fighting a fire, the story of which was retold at every holiday gathering when I was growing up.) As a result, I deeply regret that the ill-advised decision to post this commentary has caused so much profound pain for the CFD and its members at this very difficult time. That never was our intention.
I hope that when the pain and emotion spawned by this unfortunate event subsides, everyone who has been wounded by this posting will see it for what it is — a profound mistake, but also an aberration. I also hope that they will look at the overall body of work done by the FIRE CHIEF staff and realize that it is the better reflection of our respect for, and dedication to, the fire service.
What do you think? Tell us in the comment box below.
