Once upon a time, the fire service just did fires. Focusing on old articles about fireground activities underscores how much change has taken place over the past 50 years. While not obvious on a day-to-day basis, equipment, training and fireground capabilities have changed dramatically, refuting critics' contention that fireground operations are “200 years of tradition unencumbered by progress.”

Why does change go unnoticed unless we consciously think about it? It may be because the stakes are so high in our business; we are reluctant to adopt unproved methods or technology quickly or on a large scale. Unlike the computer industry, we don't change our operating systems all at once. Our change, while dramatic, happens much more slowly. Once tools, procedures and innovations become widely accepted, they move into the background and are seen as something we've always used. We focus on moving to the next potential change on the horizon.

In the 1960s, we basically had pumpers and ladder trucks. Today, we use aerial platforms, bioterrorism response units, foam pumpers, decontamination units, air and compressor units, mobile command vehicles, hazmat units, interface pumpers, and more. Water tenders have grown wings and became tankers.

Early articles extolled the value of radios on every truck to improve fireground communications. In the '70s and '80s, radios were so commonplace they were taken for granted and not even mentioned in articles. Recently radios came back in the news. As proprietary technologies have improved radio capabilities, the lack of interoperability has become a hot topic. Brand X radios don't talk to Brand Y radios. Old radios don't talk to anyone anymore. Radio compatibility has replaced radio availability as a fireground issue.

In the '60s and '70s, a fire involving hazardous materials was viewed as just another fire, not a hazmat incident. Firefighters often were overcome by smoke and fumes as their primitive gas masks failed to protect them; choking and gagging firefighters were viewed as just part of the job. The use of air packs during that time was rare. They were expensive and not readily available. Many firefighters believed that breathing apparatus was too heavy and cumbersome to be practical. The mention of SCBA in an article demonstrated the seriousness of the fire while also highlighting their use as an emerging technology. In the 1980s, fireground articles talked about firefighters donning SCBA before entering a burning building. Unfortunately, photographs from that era still show most firefighters operating outside windows and doors without SCBA, despite heavy smoke. By the '90s, special mention of SCBA fades from the text, as their use became accepted procedure on the fireground.

Now seen as essential, the basic personal protective package is the product of technological advances over the past 20 years. In the 1960s, a firefighter's personal protective gear consisted of a canvas or rubber turnout coat, I-length rubber boots, and helmet. While bunker pants afforded protection, they were originally seen as a convenience to help fire crews dress rapidly when getting out of bed at night rather than a safety necessity. There were no Nomex or Kevlar products, and pass devices did not come into widespread use until the mid-'80s.

Even the way we use hose has changed. You don't read as much about supply lines and hose lays currently because water systems have improved and large-diameter hose has generally replaced 2H- or 3-inch supply lines. When was the last time any of us contemplated writing an article to discuss the advantage of a double reverse supply over a single forward supply? I'm sure some of the younger readers might even ask, “What's he talking about?”

Another change over the past 50 years is impossible to miss — the change in demographics. Coverage of the fireground reflects this change. A review of articles from the “good old days” demonstrates a real lack of people of color and a total absence of women. The fire chiefs in the older magazines were all white males. This is not the case today.

In my opinion, however, the most crucial change over the past 50 years is a mindset toward fireground safety. Smoke inhalation or freelance firefighting resulting in deaths or injuries are no longer seen as something implicit to firefighting, something to be glorified. They are analyzed as system failures, something to be corrected.

Not everything has changed over the years. My sampling of articles from the past to the present shows a persistent dedication to the public we serve. The fire service still delivers the highest level of service possible with the resources at hand, and our commitment to mutual aid continues to serve us well. The determination, dedication and resiliency of the men and women of the fire service continues to be awe-inspiring.

As I reflect on the past 50 years of Fire Chief, I find the willingness of others to share their knowledge affords us an extraordinary gift. The authors who contribute to the magazine are experienced professionals. We have the opportunity to learn from them without unacceptable risk, expense, or consequence. They allow us all to learn about changing technology and to take advantage of hard-learned lessons without the pain. We owe them our thanks.