WATERVLIET ARSENAL, N.Y. (June 18, 2014) -- Who would have thought that arsenal Fire Chief John Whipple had something in common with Benjamin Franklin? He does, but before the kite jokes start flying -- ok, a poorly intended pun -- let's take a quick look at early American history before we lay judgment on Whipple.
America's first European settlement in Jamestown, Va., had more to worry about than scurvy, extremely cold winters, and insect-borne diseases. They also had to contend with a rudimentary wooden encampment that was heated by open fire pits. Anyone who has visited some of the recreated early settlements such as Jamestown or Salem, Mass., has learned that fire embers were often an arm's length away from sleeping quarters and dining areas.
Within the first year of the establishment of the Jamestown colony in 1607, more than half of the 105 settlers had died primarily due to starvation and disease. And if that wasn't bad enough, the remaining survivors had to deal with a near-total destruction of the settlement due to a fire in 1608.
As settlers continued to arrive in significant numbers, small camps became towns and eventually cities in such places as Philadelphia and Boston. The material that was readily available for use in the construction of thatched-roofed homes, businesses, and government facilities was wood.
Having witnessed a terrible fire in Boston in the early 1700s and after a major fire in Philadelphia in 1736, Franklin's hometown, Franklin leveraged his journalistic skills to create awareness in his community for an organized firefighting response. He is also credited as having established in Philadelphia the Union Fire Company, America's first volunteer firefighting brigade, in 1736.
A spirit of "volunteerism" is woven into the American fabric. From defending a neighbor's farm to defending our country in battle, Americans have historically done what needs to be done and often without any mental reservation or hesitance. This is as true today as it was when our country was founded.
Today, in an 1800s-era building on the arsenal resides a professional force of firefighters who often go beyond the arsenal fence line rendering aid to the local community by leveraging their critical skills and experience. They don't do this for the pay. They do it for their sense of duty to their community as volunteers, just as Franklin did it in 1736.
Whipple will never claim to have created any impactful innovation such as Franklin's first volunteer fire company, but in his own right he still has made a significant impact to his community.
Whipple has been a part of his local firehouse in upstate New York since he was 14-years old, when he joined the ambulance corps.
Whipple said that he knew at 14 that firefighting was his passion and that firefighting would someday be his career. As soon as he turned 16, he immediately transitioned to a firefighter position and has remained a volunteer fireman since that day.
After high school, Whipple joined the U.S. Air Force and for the next four years he perfected his firefighting skills at Fort Monmouth, N.J. Upon his discharge, he returned to volunteer firefighting with the Rock City Falls, N.Y., department. Although Rock City Falls may sound like a small-fire department, it handled more than 440 emergency service calls in 2013. Today, Whipple is on the Board of Fire Commissioners.
As commendable as Whipple's spirit of volunteerism is to the community, many of his fellow arsenal firefighters share Whipple's enthusiasm toward protecting the local community.
Arsenal Fire Captain Steve Mair has been a part of the arsenal's firefighting team since 1997. He, too, started his tenure as a firefighter when at 16-years old he joined the Westmoreland, N.Y., Fire Department. And, similar to Whipple's career in firefighting, Mair joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from high school as a firefighter.
The benefits to a local community when one of the arsenal's firefighters, as a volunteer to the local fire department, provides first responder training and aid must be immeasurable. That is, unless you count the lives saved or the property protected.
On a quiet Tuesday afternoon last month, Mair and his wife were driving near Westmoreland on Route 5 when they saw what looked like a dust cloud by a house just up the road. As they got close to the house, Mair realized that it wasn't dust that they were seeing but smoke coming out of the basement of a house.
After pulling off to the side of the road, Mair had his wife call 911 while he went to the front porch to bang on the door to alert any residents who might have been in the home. He was soon met by a neighbor who helped him get two dogs out of the first floor apartment. It was a two-family home.
Stepping back from the porch, Mair saw a woman on the second floor who seemed unaware that her house was on fire. He yelled for her to get out of the house immediately. When she still seemed confused, Mair rushed to the back of the house and ran up a staircase to the second floor as flames were now reaching the first floor apartment.
He helped the women down the steps and escorted her safely out of the house. As the volunteer fire department arrived shortly after Mair escaped the fire with the house resident, he gave the fire chief a complete report about the fire and the status of residents. Within three minutes of rescuing the woman, the house was fully engulfed in flames.
On his own time and armed with decades of firefighting experience, Mair was able to make a huge difference in the small community of Westmoreland.
Whipple, Mair, and seven other arsenal firefighters give freely of their time to local volunteer fire departments.
Why do they do it?
According to Whipple he volunteers because he enjoys helping people.
"When people are experiencing one of their worst days in their lives, I know that I can make their lives just a little bit better," Whipple said.
Mair had a similar explanation.
"This is what we do as professional firefighters," Mair said. "We are willing everyday to risk our lives to save a life," Mair said.
Although no one may be able to truly measure the importance of having a well-trained firefighting force readily available at the arsenal or within the community until a crisis or an emergency arises. But suffice it to say that all bets are on the woman, who was saved on that Tuesday afternoon in May, would probably say that the importance is life changing.
The "Franklin spirit" of volunteer firefighters is alive and well in such places as Rock City Falls, Westmoreland, and in countless other communities throughout our nation. Every day in America, a life is saved or made better by the men and women who, like the arsenal firefighters, give freely of their time and experience to make their communities better by being a volunteer firefighter.
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The Watervliet Arsenal is an Army-owned-and-operated manufacturing facility and is the oldest, continuously active arsenal in the United States having begun operations during the War of 1812. It celebrated its 200th anniversary in July 2013.
Today's arsenal is relied upon by U.S. and foreign militaries to produce the most advanced, high-tech, high-powered weaponry for cannon, howitzer, and mortar systems. This National Historic Registered Landmark has an annual economic benefit to the local community in excess of $100 million.
Related Links:
Story: Instilling Soldiers' confidence in their weapon systems is a 200-year tradition at Watervliet
Story: Does it ever make sense to shut down Army manufacturing?
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