Patriotic helmet needs to go, Newton Fire Chief says (Massachusetts)

The Boston Globe ^ | December 16, 2008 | Ben Terris

[gargoyle]

...Should have been done long ago. The Nation has been at war since the “Revolutionary”...

[Stonewall Jackson]

While it is impossible to beat the nose art that came out of WW2, here is some modern art that would drive this chief absolutely ape.

[Leisler]

Newton is Bwarney Fwanks hometown.

[fatboy]

I’m a volunteer fire fighter in PA

OK, I do not get any compensation for my services. A few things, in the fire service, helmet colors are used to determine the status of the firefighter. Since I’m a regular firefighter (non-officer), interior certified, my helmet is black. Juniors and probationary members have yellow helmets, line officers have red helmets and chief officers have white. Different compnies have different color schemes (our mutual aid company uses red helmets for probies), the reason is to give the officer in charge an at a glance idea of the capabilities of the man under the helmet. Try to ID a guy wearing an air pack.

Again, we are volunteer but we cannot personalize our personal protective gear at all. I’m company chaplain and I cannot put a cross sticker on my helmet. The only exception is I can put HazMat ops and vehicle rescue cert as well as EMT on my helmet and nothing on my bunker gear. I can wear my own customized flash hood as long as it is NFPA approved. I cannot remove the eye shield and replace with goggles.

The chief in Newton (as much as it pains me to say) is right. The fire service is quasi-military and being in the public eye requires uniform and professional dress appearence. The public demands it. You would be amazed how an unhappy tax payer complains about the professional service we provide using volunteer labor. It is amazing.

BYW, helmet color will not really effect temperature and NFPA rules require reflective stickers Trapezoids to visability.

Having said all that, the chief is probably a jerk.

Tom

[fatboy]

One other thing, our helmets have our last name on the back in reflective letters. This is so we can ID our own helmets and is a source of personal pride to the men.

[Kevmo]

thanks

I think I’ll put the phone number on my speed dial for when I’m driving this afternoon.

[ASOC]

We had a B-52 up the air show a couple of years ago. The nose art was nothing to look at, but the tail logo was awe inspiring

“We manufacture nightmares”

[The Chief]

I guess it’s how one defines “quasi-military”, but I do see your point...

[Tzimisce]

...most fire departments I know of ARE Public workplaces. And as you just said, the government can’t tell us not to express ourselves.

[Secret Agent Man]

Even so, public workplaces can define what is and is not part of a uniform, and what (if any) exceptions there are. The military is public but you can’t ‘express yourself’ any way you want on your uniform.

I think since the chief had allowed it in the past for this particular helmet, and the helmet hadn’t changed - but now all of a sudden the chief changes his mind, while it’s in his authority to do so, I don’t think he should have.

[Tzimisce]

I’m not 100% sure what you’re getting at.

That said: the article specifically states that the guy checked the dress code beforehand.

I don’t know what you’re arguing with me for, but you sound like you don’t have all facts.