The Editor, Re: "Feelin' the heat," News, Sept. 20. Thank you for such a well-written, vividly articulated account of your experience at Fire Ops 101. It was a privilege to provide a snapshot into a few hours in a career firefighter's day, and share that with you.
We truly cannot do this job safely and effectively with any fewer people on the ground; in fact, many independent studies have resulted in recommendations of more manpower and equipment.
Building-density and numbers of occupants per building continue to be on the rise in all urban and sub-urban sectors, and with that, it should follow that fire department resources should proportionately increase, to keep pace with rising needs.
Your experience at Fire Ops 101, and the way you chronicled it in your story, puts an exclamation mark on all of that. Thank you, once again, for your courage, tenacity and literary prowess...in that order! Thanks also to the VFRS Training Division, the BCPFFA and IAFF Loc. 18 for making Fire Ops 101 a possibility and a success.
Dan McClelland
Acting Battalion Chief
VFRS and proud Loc. 18 member
