By Lt. Michael Swiman
Wake Forest (NC) Fire Department
For LION Connects

Why?  This is something that I have learned to ask in the fire service. Most of the upper command staff, even line officers hate this question due to the fact that they feel that they are being infringed on.  I look at it as a way to understand and learn what is coming from the command staff.  Now asking why does not have to be a bad thing, it can be used as a learning moment in various situations such as incident management, or returning to the basics (which everyone should do).

Asking why questions should be done tactfully. Lord knows that sometimes that this is not done and can get you in trouble. But if done with a learning intent I have found that you can obtain a lot of learning information from your command and line officers and then they will be more willing to share the information with you.  As for line personnel asking why, line officers should take the moment as a teaching moment and answer those questions or play devil’s advocate and see what your personnel are thinking (who knows their answers may be the one you’re looking for, or be a better solution to the problem at hand).

With the retirement of some great Chief’s and seasoned firefighters, the newer generation of firefighters need to ask why things are done and how they are done. We all know that we are seeing less and less of firefighting and more EMS calls, it’s just nature of the beast. But when the opportunity arises and these seasoned personnel come by the station or have a seminar/class in your local area, take the opportunity to sit and listen, ask and learn.

I take the opportunity and ask my firefighter’s why I do things the way I do. I like to receive their input. I also ask them why they did what they did. I have all faith in my crew, but I try to encourage them to think outside of the box and have them keep several back-up plans in their minds besides what they currently have in front of them.

Take the moment, learn what you can, ask those questions. Keep training; learn something new every day, return to the basics. Have a safe and joyous holiday.