Almost every department requires some type of gathering at the start of the work shift. This is the time to confirm the day’s staffing, make assignments, pass-on information from the off-going shift and provide firefighters with department-required information.
Times have changed from roll call as a formal event where the on-duty crew shows up in Class A uniforms at the start of the workday. Mike Legeros shared this picture from a 1972 “Day in the Life of a Fireman” News & Observer article about Raleigh, North Carolina.
An example from FDNY
Battalion Chief Frank Leeb describes how the informal roll call is conducted in the quarters of Engine 287 and Ladder 136:
… begins at 0900 hours in a small sitting area behind the engine apparatus. The roll call starts with a discussion of recent fires to which the companies responded, as well as other noteworthy fires from around the City and beyond.
… one of the junior Firefighters reads from the book, The Last Alarm, authored by Micheal L. Boucher, Gary R. Urbanowicz and Frederick B. Melahn, Jr. This book provides information on the circumstances of each line-of-duty death (LODD), documents the traditions of the FDNY and ensures that members will never forget the sacrifices of the FDNY’s fallen members.
The conversation then moves on to the current “hot topics” and current events that are likely to impact the companies. This will include items related to the safety of the Firefighters, as well as a discussion regarding adjoining companies out of service, activities (such as training or building inspection) scheduled for the day, the fore¬ casted weather and, of course, the assignment of riding positions. This roll call often lasts for more than 30 minutes and it is not uncommon for both incoming on-duty and outgoing off-duty members to attend the morning roll call.
What an impressive way to pass on values, safety/situation awareness, and expectations. The 2007 hardback version of The Last Alarm is out-of-print, this link takes you to a print-on-demand service that will provide you a copy for $49.
Other officers have used NIOSH LODD reports, Firefighter Close Calls, and Firefighter Near Miss reports to provide examples to share at roll call.
FDNY Pro Digital Subscription
Two years ago I moved from a paper to digital subscription of the quarterly training journal With New York Firefighters (WNYF). The FDNY Foundation runs WNYF, Pro EMS, and ProFit magazines. They are expanding into more digital content with a blog, podcast, videos, and films. Recently they added WNYF back issues and published Chief Dunn’s latest book Building Construction: The Firefighter’s Battlespace.
A FDNY Pro digital subscription is $25 for 1 year, $35 for 2 years. Click here for details
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Leeb, Frank (2017, 4th issue) “Roll Call: The Firefighter’ Competitive Advantage” With New York Firefighters. page 6. Retrieved May 13, 2018, from www.fdnypro.org/digital-edition/2017-4th-wnyf/