Immersed in our modern fire service community is Paul Combs. Paul is the โthen whatโ for so many of us. Just when we are leafing through the pages of Fire Engineering, Fire Rescue and Firefighter Nation-we see one of โthoseโ drawings. The drawings that have helped every one of us with short attention spans (we love drawings) to learnโฆunderstandโฆpay attention and to not drift. It seems that just when we may be veering left or right-there are one of those priceless little drawings that reminds of what we really need to be focused on. Itโs kinda like a friend reminding you to do somethingโฆbut without โsaying itโ in front of everyone else. Just between you, me, us and Paul. Itโs our little secret. He knows what the issues are. He knows where we need to be reminded. He knows when we need to be scoldedโฆand he knows when we need to be jacked up against the wall, blasted and smacked. He knows. He knows because he is one of us. Paul rides the front seat, treats the patients, extricates the victims and crawls down the halls doing the same stuff we do each day.
As you enjoy this book-and I promise that you will, take mental โscreen shotsโ of his art/drawings/cartoonsโฆthe many โhelping us make choices remindersโ โฆthe ones that really resonate to you personally. The ones that stick. The ones that may help you not โblowโ that intersection of choice, so that you can continue building on the many positive differences you have already made.
So sit back, start turning these pages and enjoy Paulโs mix of artistic talent and hands-on veteran firefighting experiences. Those experiences and opinions that make us all smile, think and most importantly, help guide us to do what we signed up to doโmaking a positive difference to those who need usโฆright now.
โDeputy Chief Billy Goldfeder, EFO, Loveland-Symmes Fire Department, Ohio
Reviews