Culture of Fire Departments
By: Dr. D. J. Mingo
Having served many years as a missionary in Southern Africa prepared me well for my first assignment as a Fire Chaplain with the Eagan Fire Department in Eagan, Minnesota. Upon discussing the goals of a Fire Chaplain with my chief, I purposed to do what any properly trained missionary does when they arrive on the field to begin ministry with a new people group.
In Africa, it was the wonderful nation of the Zulu people. Not only did they speak a different language of clicks, but their practices, music, and culture differed so drastically from my Midwest American upbringing that one discovered very painfully sometimes that effectiveness required a different approach. My different approach took years to acquire.
Upon entering service with the Eagan Fire Department I applied the same cross cultural principles to understand firefighters, fire service, and hopefully effective fire chaplaincy. Three main principles develop out of my life experience. They are by no means original, but the application of certain cross cultural and missiological principles proved tremendously helpful in becoming an effective Fire Chaplain. I present them in the form of three questions:
First, what does it mean – observation? While in the tenth grade I took biology. I remember the day we dissected a frog. The poor creature was laid out on a block of wax. After we finished making the proper dissections, our biology teacher said, “Now, write down everything you see. Draw pictures if it’s helpful, but tell me everything you see.” Well, had that assignment finished in just about twenty minutes. All our work was collected, and our biological masterpieces were collected and put in storage for the next class session.
Two days later we sat at our work stations looking at the now pathetic creature and our assignment began as such, “Now, write down everything you see. Draw pictures if it’s helpful, but tell me everything you see that you didn’t see the first time you studied your specimen.” “Huh?” I thought. I didn’t miss anything the first time, and I didn’t see anything new the second time, but this was a two hour session, and a grade depended upon the assignment. So, I began to stare, again. To my amazement, there were sinus, textures, organs, and other discoveries not caught the first time. Well, I filled another paper full of my observations. Quite proud my work the project was handed in, and the weekend began.
On Monday, we entered that same biology room again, and to our amazement their sat all those frogs on their now crucifixes of wax. The dreaded anticipated assignment proved to be horridly accurate. “Now, today please take out a sheet of paper and through your powers of observation write down everything you see that you missed the first two classes.” I decided right there and then, “God, you didn’t call me to be a biologist!”
The principle of observation is however a principle of cross cultural communications too. Observation says, “Look at it, examine it, touch it, feel it, study it, meditate upon it, and it ultimately asks the question, ‘What is it?”
The “What is it?” principle applies to Fire Chaplains in the fire service. Upon beginning my first fire chaplaincy, my chief thought it best that I go through all the training of Fire Firefighter One. For fourteen weeks I did everything the other rookies did during their training. Learning about forward hose lays, pumping, and pumping relays, hose clamps, SCBA’s, thermo imaging, 800 megahertz communications systems, dispatching, pagers, and other fire fighter stuff was fascinating. But, what really fascinated me were the fire fighters themselves. Firefighters are a uniquely different culture of people.
The second question of cross cultural communication must asks, “What does it mean — interpretation?” As I tried to get to know the firefighters, there was a fair amount of resistance towards me as the Chaplain. I began to ask myself, “What is it about a chaplain they are apprehensive about?” (Yep, I know you’re not suppose to end a sentence with a preposition, but hey, it works!)
Taking the time to observe many things over my first few months led me to this conclusion, “They are apprehensive, because they believed my intentions are not the same as theirs about the fire service and firefighting. I am not one of them!” This led me to work towards and become an actual fire fighter as well. Serving side by side with them in the ranks helped this Fire Chaplain belie any fears they possessed about my intentions.
Ultimately, I asked myself the third question, “How can I use it – application?” This question was answered by my actions. Yes, I served side by side, but I also helped with reading at the local child care center, fire preventions, coffee conversations with fire fighters, mundane chores, performed one wedding, hospital visits, and most of all the times sitting with other firefighters just talking, joking, and horsing around.
Did these principles serve this Fire Chaplain well? Well, I resigned my position two months ago as I changed pastorates. My chief asked me to meet him for coffee at the local coffee shop. As I entered early on a Friday morning there sat many of our officers. “What’s up guys?” I asked. “Oh, just here for coffee” was the reply. Our chief arrived and during the course of our conversation he slid a box in front of me, and there in the box was my chaplain’s badge mounted in an acrylic hexagon tower. “We just wanted you to know how much we appreciated you on the fire scene” mentioned by chief. In the Eagan Fire Department culture this is an extreme honor.
It was monumental to me personally, but more importantly was the intention of finding another fire chaplain to replace me. Just like a missionary, I worked myself out of a job laying the foundation for another to follow this Fire Chaplain’s footsteps.
Last month, we moved to Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Just this past week the City Council and Grand Rapids Fire Department appointed me as their first Fire Chaplain; the result of a very supportive recommendation from my chief in Eagan. And, you know what? I didn’t even approach the Grand Rapids Fire Chief, after hearing of my arrival into the city and previous Fire Chaplaincy service, from one of the elders in my new church, called my Chief in Eagan, and then called me asking for a meeting.
The process begins all over again as Eagan was a department of over 100 firefighters and Grand Rapids has one station and thirty fire fighters. I embrace the challenge with a missionary spirit!
If there is one piece of advice I can give new fire chaplains or those considering Fire Chaplaincy it’s this; at first, “Shut thy mouth and learn, learn, learn!” You will not learn or remember near as much as the average fire fighter forgets about fire fighting. They are there because their passionate for fire fighting. They live, sleep, and eat fire fighting.
A fire chaplain will never be their equal, but become as knowledgeable as possible about fire service. Ask firefighters to teach you their trade. It’s a richly humbling experience. Remember, we’re on a huge learning curve, and fire chaplains must first earn the right to share.
Second, focus on relationships. While the action is great, you are there for the firefighters. This means you need to understand their culture and speak their language, (well, only as your ecclesiastical body will allow you to do so on the second part).
And, learn to keep confidences well. One conversation repeated and your ministry can come to a permanent end very quickly. Firefighters do not open up easily, but once they do a fire chaplain must not violate their trust. This is nonnegotiable.
Lastly, enjoy yourself. It’s a great ride!
A wonderful article! Especially enjoyed the bit about observation and biology. However, as a fire chaplain with 5 years experience under her belt, and having a Chief and Training Chief who do NOT wish her to take the Fire Firefighter One training, she submits that some chiefs and districts will wish it and others not.
In this rural district of 8 paid staff, 88 volunteers, and 6 stations, what counts is that a chaplain is always available, and shows up on scene for structure fires, search and rescues, and other events as dispatched, no matter what the weather or time of day. It counts that we are available to companion fire fighters and their families through times of grief, stress, illness, and joy. It counts that we show up for monthly Association meetings, and hang with the volunteers whenever able (including during their training sessions, drills, and “check and cleans”). It counts that we show up for Code 99′s and DOA’s, available to spend hours on end with the families and friends of those who’ve died — and to be available for one-on-one’s or group debriefings with the responders. And, it counts that we’re involved with Ham Dinners, Christmas Toy Drives, and Stuff-a-Trucks. We don’t need to “be them”, but we do need to accept and respect them, walk alongside them, and demonstrate solidarity with and compassion toward them.
Another piece that earns respect for a chaplain is obtaining training in CISM — and the more courses, the merrier! It’s a great way to gain: empathy for the culture of fire fighters, skills that enhance spiritual care, and confidence in one’s skills; and to establish networking venues with other chaplains. In a sense, CISM offers support to those who offer spiritual support to the fire fighters. And one of the greatest skills? (Other than “learn, learn, learn”?) Listen, listen, listen!! With heart and ears and eyes, listen!! And then, as Chaplain Mingo stated, maintain utmost confidentiality.
Without presence, there would be no chaplaincy. Put simply, perhaps a chaplain’s greatest assett to fire service (after love of God and man) is a cheerful, calm, and humbly willing availability. And, by God’s grace, we’ll experience the day when the fire fighters give us a brotherhood “name”, and clap us on the back.
(PS. It certainly didn’t hurt that this 59 year old chaplain once donned turnovers and participated in a timed skills drill pulling and rolling hose, running an obstacle course, and clamping and unclamping hoses. It created lots of delighted laughter and warm comaraderie! And led to officiating at a wedding. )
Some very good points on the response back!
Hey, I would like to become a chaplain and am currently a missionary kid. I will graduate in a few months… if I could ask you a few questions I would greatly appreciate it, being I cant ask questions all that well in person (being I am outside the US). semperfidelis4us@yahoo.com
This is a good article. I joined our local fire company last fall and then volunteered to be the chaplain (I serve in a lay status because I do not currently have ministerial credentials. I am a seminary graduate and have pastored in our local area). The company elected me as their chaplain. I also took the Fire Fighter I class which I had to give up because the physical challenge was a bit much. I was able to audit the class and took the Haz Mat Ops certification class. My main role is as a firefighter, but I pray at our monthly company meeting and our annual banquet. I have also helped one of our crew work through an issue at home. I attend all drills and respond to most calls.