Vision

THE CHIEF’S VISION…

I.C.AS A RESULT OF MY TRAVELS AROUND THE WORLD, WORKING WITH FIREFIGHTERS IN ALMOST 50 COUNTRIES ON 5 CONTINENTS AND OVER 20 YEARS WITH THE UNITED NATIONS, I HAVE COME TO KNOW FIRST HAND THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY MANY OF THE WORLD’S FIREFIGHTERS.

AS THE PROTAGONIST OF MANY PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, I HAVE FOUGHT FIRES WHILE COMING UNDER FIRE FROM ARTILLERY AND SNIPER ATTACKS ALONGSIDE MY BOSNIAN COLLEAGUES IN SARAJEVO. I WAS PERSONALLY ATTACKED IN KOSOVO BY MOBS OF ONE ETHNICITY WHO TRIED TO PREVENT ME FROM EXTINGUISHING FIRES THEY HAD SET TO DESTROY THE PROPERTY OF ANOTHER ETHNICITY.

I HAVE COME TO KNOW VERY BRAVE MEN WHO, AS FIREFIGHTERS, UPHELD THEIR SENSE OF DUTY TO THE CITIZENS THEY HAD SWORN TO PROTECT IN THE FINEST TRADITIONS OF THE FIRE SERVICE WITH HONOR, DIGNITY AND DEDICATION. IN BELGRADE AS IN BAGHDAD, WHILE AERIAL BOMBARDMENTS AND WAR RAVAGED THOSE CITIES, THE FIREFIGHTERS REMAINED ON THE JOB DOING THEIR BEST TO LIMIT THE DAMAGE BEING HURLED AGAINST THEM AND TO COMFORT THE POPULACE WHEN MEMBERS OF ALL OTHER INSTITUTIONS RAN FOR COVER AND EVEN THE STATE ITSELF NO LONGER EXISTED. THIS SENSE OF DUTY, A RARITY IN TODAY’S WORLD, IS INHERENT TO FIREFIGHTERS EVERYWHERE.

IN ANGOLA AND IN IRAQ I HAVE WORKED WITH FIREFIGHTERS WHO RAN INTO BURNING BUILDINGS WITHOUT GLOVES, HELMETS OR BOOTS, WORKING WITH EXTREMELY LIMITED EQUIPMENT AND OFTEN WITH NO TRAINING, IGNORANT OF THE RISKS THEY WERE FACING. THEY DID SO BECAUSE THEY ARE FIREFIGHTERS.

I HAVE WITNESSED FIREFIGHTERS OF DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES AND RELIGIONS COME UNDER ATTACK FOR WORKING TOGETHER AS HAS HAPPENED TO SERBIAN AND ALBANIAN FIREFIGHTERS IN THE BALKANS AND HINDU AND MUSLIM FIREFIGHTERS IN KASHMIR. THEY HAD NO PROBLEMS WORKING WITH EACH OTHER, DESPITE THEIR DIFFERENT BELIEFS AND LIVING IN AREAS OF POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS HATRED, BECAUSE THEY ARE FIREFIGHTERS AND ARE DEDICATED TO PRESERVING HUMAN LIFE.

WHILE SERVING AS THE UNITED NATIONS FIRE CHIEF AND COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT U. N. FIRE RESCUE OPERATIONS WOULD CEASE ONCE MY MISSION IN KOSOVO WAS OVER AND UNDERSTANDING THE DESPERATION AND GENUINE NEED OF SO MANY FIREFIGHTERS IN DEVELOPING AND WAR TORN COUNTRIES, I DECIDED TO ACT ON MY OWN.

Meeting Kirkuk FF's

I PUT TOGETHER AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF ELITE, HIGHLY SPECIALIZED, MULTI-LINGUAL FIREFIGHTERS TO HELP OUR COLLEAGUES IN NEED IN AREAS PLAGUED BY POVERTY, WAR, POLITICAL STRIFE, ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS HATRED. THIS ORGANIZATION IS THE FIRE RESCUE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, OR SIMPLY FRDP.

THE LATIN MOTTO OF FRDP, SOLVS INIMICVS IGNIS EST (“THE ONLY ENEMY IS FIRE”), IS THE INSPIRATION THAT FRDP INSTILLS IN THE FIREFIGHTERS WE ASSIST AND THE CITIZENS THEY PROTECT AROUND THE WORLD IN STRIFE RIDDEN COUNTRIES.

THE SPIRIT OF THIS MOTTO IS SUMMED UP IN A QUOTE BY EDWARD CROCKER, THE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK FROM 1899-1911:

I have no ambition in this world but one and that is to be a Fireman.
The position may, in the eyes of some, be a lowly one. But we who know the work the Fireman has to do believe that his is a Noble Calling.There is an adage which says, “Nothing can be destroyed, except by fire”.

We strive to preserve from destruction the wealth of the world, which is the product of the industry of men, necessary for the comfort of both the rich and the poor.

We are defenders from fires of the art which has beautified the world, the product of the genius of men and the means of refinement of mankind.
But above all, our proudest endeavor is to save lives of men – the work of God Himself.

Under the impulse of such thoughts the nobility of the occupation thrills us and stimulates us to deeds of daring – even at the supreme sacrifice.

Such considerations may not strike the average mind, but they are sufficient to fill to the limit our ambition in life and make us serve the genaral purpose of human society.