Photo by Steve Baer | FireDog Photos
Bill Heffernan is a retired West Haven Fire Department lieutenant, longtime department historian, former technical adviser and consulting producer forthe hit comedyTacoma FD, and cousin ofTacoma FD actor Kevin Heffernan.He now serves as a Connecticut state representative. His blend of frontline experience, historical insight, and behind‑the‑scenes perspective fuelsOff the Record with Cousin Bill Heffernan, where he answers your questions biweekly.
Q: What were the early warning signs you saw in a fellow firefighter whose morale was dropping before they even realized it themselves?
A: There are many. Every firefighter is different. Mostly they become disengaged. They are no longer the first to volunteer for a detail. They lose their sense of humor and become easy to agitate. This can be a huge problem because the other firefighters will smell blood in the water and take full advantage.
Mostly, the firefighter will become a little more quiet than normal, maybe sitting off by themselves instead of being in the thick of things.
The best way to handle this is to find out the root cause. Problems at home? Bad news? Things aren’t going how they expected? Usually, once the crew figures out there is a problem, they will rally around the firefighter and help him or her get their head on straight.
