I recently came across an article titled “When Firefighters Are Pulled Into Law Enforcement Activity,” and it got me thinking about the direction public safety is heading.
The article shared the tragic story of Firefighter John “Skillet” Ulmschneider. In 2016, his crew responded to what appeared to be a routine welfare check involving someone who may have needed medical help. Police were also dispatched, but their response was delayed. After firefighters tried several ways to contact the person inside, they forced entry. The homeowner opened fire, killing Ulmschneider and wounding another first responder.
That story stayed with me because it proves something firefighters already know… There is no such thing as a normal call.
We may be dispatched for chest pain, a fall, trouble breathing, a welfare check, or an automatic alarm. On paper, the call may sound simple. But we truly never know what we are walking into. At any moment, something could pop off.
That is one of my biggest fears as a firefighter. It is not only the fire itself. It is the possibility of walking into a setup, entering a home where someone may be armed, or watching a scene get out of control when law enforcement is delayed or unavailable.
Firefighters are trained to help people. When we hear that someone may be hurt or unable to answer the door, we want to act. But sometimes we do not have the full story.
The article focuses on firefighters being pulled into law enforcement activity. That could include forced entry, searching for suspects, using fire equipment during police operations, or entering scenes that may not be fully secure.
I do not believe this is always about police officers or firefighters being lazy or passing work onto someone else. I believe resources are becoming thin on both sides.
Fire departments are short staffed. EMS systems are overwhelmed. Police departments are also dealing with staffing shortages, high call volumes, and delayed responses. Yet the community still expects someone to show up when they call 911.
Because of that, firefighters and police officers are leaning on each other more than ever. Firefighters may need police to secure a dangerous scene. Police officers may have to provide medical care until an ambulance arrives. In some places, officers have even transported patients to the hospital because no ambulance was available.
It has gone both ways.
Police may need firefighters for lighting, ladders, medical support, rescue equipment, or manpower. Firefighters may need police for crowd control, traffic, violent patients, or protection on an unsafe scene. Most of the time, both sides are simply trying to meet the community’s needs with the resources available.
As a country, we must improve recruitment and retention so public safety departments are not constantly operating short handed. We should use technology more effectively, including better dispatch information, communication systems, cameras, drones, and real time updates that help first responders understand what they may be walking into.
Technology cannot replace firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, or police officers. However, it can provide better information, support safer decisions, and help protect first responders overall.
The death of Firefighter Ulmschneider is a painful reminder that a routine looking call can become deadly within seconds. Firefighters and police officers are being asked to do more with less. We need to focus on stronger staffing, improved technology, and safer ways to serve our communities.
