Mutual Aid in Cyberspace!

By: Jerry Smith, General Manager
INTER CONSULTING SYSTEMS
Home of the Internet: "Emergency Grapevine"
http://www.wionline.com/ics

Last time we met, I was ragging on those web sites that serenade us with music, and remember? I told you that during the downloading of that music thing. My impatient Netscape 3.0 Browser who is probably in conflict denial would dump on me, always at a time when I’m in a hurry. Today, I’ve already jump started you know who twice? And if that’s not enough, old Blue decides to mess with me some more by stopping dead in his tracks, frozen stiff? Then in my attempt to avoid a severe anxiety attack, I quickly pull the power plug to clear an obvious ice jam. Then on startup, I’m reminded I’ve shut down the old geezer improperly. Well anyway life goes on; one restart at a time. Could this be a power struggle between man and machine?

After all of this anxious time, I finally calmed down enough to go surfing again, only this time, I was blind sided at a busy intersection so to speak. While on an early morning cruise through Cyberspace, I dropped anchor to visit a metropolitan fire-rescue web site. After reading a very interesting presentation about this particular city government. I’m thinking how nice it would be if I left a short comment with their Webmaster. This way he or she would know I was there, and they would also learn how much I enjoyed my visit. After searching their web pages for an e-mail button. I finally decided this web site is not interested in hearing from Jerry or anyone else through the Internet. Hey Webmasters, this is a wonderful two-way communications medium.

Oh yes, I heard from one of my readers who told me she is frustrated by so much web site graphics. To counter this; when she meets with graphic theater she turns her surfboard around and catches the next wave out. I personally like those web sites where viewing graphics is an option. This provides the visitor if they wish, not to wait around for endless downloading. Look at it this way, I’m a return visitor, and all I want to do is leave an e-mail message for the Webmaster. So why do I have to wait several minutes to send e-mail? For you web sites that use frames, beware; there is a large group of protesters marching your way. Now it’s time to set aside the chiding and sparring about the little stuff that exists in Cyberspace and get very serious. Maybe, all of my banter to this point is nothing more than a mask to cover the anguish in this next subject.

October 1997, has been a deadly month for firefighters, we lost seven brothers and one sister firefighter who died on duty. When I hear about emergency responders who were killed or died while on active duty it tears at my heart. Those tender emotions I try so hard to protect from the realities of life until the loss of friends and family suddenly occur.

Every able bodied firefighter understands the potential for death or serious injury that they as professional firefighters face every day in a dangerous profession. Any dedicated firefighter can recall a time or two when they were placed in harms way during a tour of duty. Those of us that were able to walk away from a close call, are considered lucky our last alarm wasn’t sounded. Others might say; it all goes with the risky territory of being a firefighter...

The following tragic events were taken from a formal press release by the Philadelphia Fire Commissioner on October 27, 1997. It’s important to understand that my personal comments are based on assumption because I was not there. The official investigation has yet to be completed.

On October 27, 1997, shortly after midnight; an engine company of Philadelphia Fire Department firefighters became victims of their own destiny. They were innocently lured into what appeared as a routine response reported as wires burning in trees. What they didn’t know until alerted by an anxious homeowner at the scene, was a working basement fire in a nearby 2-story dwelling. According to witnesses; two firefighters went with the homeowner to investigate, and from this point forward the story is vague. For purposes of this discussion, a hose line was then stretched to the basement entrance, but due to smoke and heat; firefighters went back to don breathing apparatus. It appears at this point; Lt. Terry McElveen, a 21 year veteran and rookie Firefighter James E. Haynes became separated from the rest of the crew. They were later found near the basement entrance. The cause of death is listed as smoke inhalation. My deepest heart felt sympathy goes to the families left behind and to the grieving brothers and sisters in the City of Philadelphia, PA. Fire Department. This is where this story will stop until all the facts are known.

On a lighter side, I read about a volunteer fire department promoting their web site by printing their URL on their emergency apparatus. I personally think it’s a great idea to promote the use of the Internet as a vital communications link to the public. I can think of no better promotional medium to transmit and control a standard flow of fire safety, fire prevention and education messages to the public. It’s a public relations jackpot to use the Internet and tell the same story correctly every time. In case you haven’t noticed lately, there is much revamping, upgrading and so on of the more popular fire-rescue web sites on the Internet. There is also an upsurge in message boards coming on line, and I believe this is very healthy for the fire-rescue community. It’s all together impossible to reach over one million firefighters with one message board, but link several message boards and guess what? You reduce those ridiculous odds.

Since late August 1997, the Emergency Grapevine has registered over 600 members representing 19 International countries. We now have every reason to believe we will hit 1,000 registrations by mid January ‘98. Never in my wildest dreams; did I perceive the Grapevine would end up appealing to so many emergency services personnel around the world. I do believe by not narrowing our targeted audience has helped in registration. The message forum is open to all links in the emergency services response and recovery chain. That includes all uniformed and non-uniformed representatives, even students. By doing this; we have united a very resourceful public and private representation of assorted skills and experience who can help share knowledge and experience with one another. If you want to join this respected International team, go to <http://www.wionline.com/ics/emerforum.htm> and sign up; there are no membership dues to pay. This free service is compliments of Inter Consulting Systems and WI Enterprises; your hosts are Jerry Smith in California and Patrick Irvin in Alabama.

About the Writer… Jerry Smith is a retired L. A. City Fire Captain and State OES Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief who retired in 1987. And, after 36 years, he continues to keep very active in fire-rescue service affairs with his Inter Consulting Systems firm and his creative Web site on the Internet. He also writes for the USA 9-1-1 Magazine and the American Fire Journal. If you wish, you can contact Jerry by telephone or fax: 805-489-9337 in Arroyo Grande, California. You can write a short note and send it to Inter Consulting Systems - P. O. Box 199, Arroyo Grande, Ca 93421.

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