My Fire Service Career
(Door to the fire station in my old neighborhood in New York City)
First, a little history of the fire service.
The most recognized symbol is the badge formed in the shape of a cross.
This is commonly referred to as the Maltese Cross
When a courageous band of crusaders known as the Knights of St. John, fought the Saracens for possession of the holy land, they encountered a new weapon unknown to European warriors. It was a simple, but a horrible device of war, it wrought excruciating pain and agonizing death upon the brave fighters for the cross.
The Saracen's weapon was fire.
As the crusaders advanced on the walls of the city, they were struck by glass bombs containing naphtha. When they became saturated with the highly flammable liquid, the Saracens hurled a flaming torch into their midst. Hundreds of the knights were burned alive.
Other knights risked their lives to save their brothers-in-arms from dying painful, fiery deaths. Thus, these men became our first firemen .
Their heroic efforts were recognized by fellow crusaders who awarded each badge of honor - a cross similar to the one firemen wear today. Since the Knights of St. John lived for nearly four centuries on a little island in the Mediterranean Sea named Malta, the cross came to be known as the Maltese Cross.
I joined this traditionally heroic force as a paid firefighter for the Pine Hills Fire Department, located in Central Florida, in 1968.
In the subsequent years, I worked in almost every position in the fire service. (firefighter/ emergency medical technician, engineer, company lieutenant, station captain and shift commander).
In the mid 1970's I started the first Fire Loss Management Bureau within the department. In this capacity, I handled inspections, plans review and other such related items
It was during this period, I became involved with
In 1981, after 10 years of community growth (due to the introduction of Walt Disney World to the area) the Fire Department merged (with 15 other departments) into the
(If you look closely, I'm the guy dressed in black in front of the truck on the far right)
From 1981 to 1986 I was assigned to various duties including data and information systems management (where I obtained my appreciation for computers and the internet, etc.)
My passion for fire investigation continued, however, and , in 1987, I moved further into that arena when I was assigned to develop a Fire Analysis Bureau for the Division.
From 1987 to 1995, I remained the Captain in charge of the 4 man fire investigation unit.
In 1995, a systemwide budget downsizing eliminated the Fire Analysis Bureau as well the careers of 49 fire service personnel within the 800 man department. The Fire Department in general was 'restructured', and I found myself employed as the Captain in charge of Code Enforcement / Inspection activity. (A position I hold at present)
My resume is available upon request
rick@ao.net
What and where is Orange County?
What sort of data management programming was I involved with?
Although the Division now has extensive networking interfaces with the County's database as well as it's own MIS operation, the original (and still utilized) multi-user, relational database and information processing was developed with a customized THEOS Software Corporation operating system.
(If you are involved with the development of integrated systems with 1 to 256 + user ports and have a need to keep your budget under control while providing optimum service, I would encourage you to explore THEOS as an option. Of all the systems I have used, this has been the best.)
