In response to "National Training Program" by Editor Janet Wilmoth, published in Command Post on July 1, 2005:

Wow. I was surprised to see the inflammatory article posted online in the FIRE CHIEF mag regarding the Boston Fire Department. I must have watched a different show. I was watching some of the country's best firefighters at work, using tactics that they have perfected over the years on street experience vs. classroom theory. I also take that in all of your training and experience as a metropolitan firefighter that you should never call your brothers and sisters "lemons," and putting that in writing is even worse. I have only been in this job 15 years, and I am only the 4th generation to do this, but all of the members that I first came on who actually went to numerous fires all told me about when ears get hot it’s time to get out. Now, if you go look at the numbers, we still have about 100 brothers and sisters died a year ... and now in 2005 we have far fewer fires. Many of my retired firefighters feel that the technology of turnout gear gives people a false sense of security. Well, there is some truth to that. Next, I would like to question the unnamed “batt. chief” who has a problem with a driver of an apparatus yelling at a car driver. I wonder if he has ever driven a rig in Boston or any other city. Just maybe he has been out there on the job in fantasy land department of fire services. Well, in closing, I will now forward your potentially libelous article to every firefighter I know; along with that I will encourage them to end the subscription to our mag and make sure they renew their subscription to your friendly competitor. Forgive any spelling or grammar errors. I am a jake and not a desk commando like you.

Bill Cashman