Unsung Hero: Mike Barish, Volunteer Probationary Firefighter, Suffern Hook & Ladder Company No. 1

BY BARRY WARNER

Our Unsung Hero this week is Mike Barish, who is serving as a Volunteer Probationary Firefighter or ‘Proby,’ which is the lowest rank in a fire department rank structure. The primary responsibility of the ‘Proby’ is to train to be a firefighter while being mentored and instructed by senior firefighters and officers.

“Mike Barish is following in the footsteps of his father, ex-captain of the Suffern Hook & Ladder, William “Buck’ Barish,” said Captain Matthew Ellsworth. “Mike joined Suffern Hook & Ladder at 16 and spent two years as a Junior Firefighter where he attended the necessary NYS Fire Training courses and learned our trucks, tools and skills required. At 18, Mike became a ‘Proby’ where he has excelled and continued to learn, help other junior guys and train. He’s an example of what all ‘Probys’ should be like: always ready to learn, work any task and a high attendance at calls and events. In February, Mike will turn 19 and he will earn his Red Hooks Helmet Shield, an achievement well deserved.”

“Firefighting is difficult and the probationary period is a test of my abilities. Being a firefighter is all about accepting challenges. The firefighters want to be sure that the Proby has retained the information that was taught. They want to bring the Proby from the textbook to a becoming a real-life firefighter and a member of the team. It’s their obligation to do the mentoring, because their lives may have to be saved one day,” Mike Barish told the Rockland County Times. “When I started out, I received information on how to function safely and what firefighting was all about. I practiced setting up ladders and handled all of the tools on the trucks including saws, Pike Poles and the ‘Jaws of Life.’ Also, I picked up information about opening up a wall and using the ‘bail-out’ system. Eventually, I would like to train to be a Tillerman.”

Here are 11 things a Proby should be doing:

1      Arrive early. Arrive at least 30 minutes before the shift begins. This will provide the opportunity to become familiar with the apparatus assigned.

2      Be social. Introduce yourself to everyone you meet. These are the men and women you’ll be putting your life on the line with. It’s also important to understand the ranking system.

3      Find a senior firefighter. A good senior firefighter on your shift will be a great asset.

4      Be proactive around the firehouse. As a Proby, you basically do everything including answering the phone and doing the dishes.

5      Know the riding positions and responsibilities. Everyone on the apparatus has specific duties and tasks that they’re expected to know and accomplish in order to ensure success at an incident.

6      Stay physically fit. Firefighting is a physically demanding job, so eat healthy and work out.

7      Be a team player. Crew continuity is built in the fire station, but teamwork is fine-tuned on the training ground and at the fire scene.

8      Be accountable. If your officer asks you to do something on the fireground, do it, then immediately report back to him.

9      Make safety your priority. On the fireground, it ‘s easy to get caught up in the moment. Take the time to think about what you’re doing before you do it.

10   Check your equipment. Check your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), your Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and tools, such as nozzles and saws.

11   Ask questions. You’ll be working with knowledgeable firefighters, but to benefit from their experiences, you must be willing to make the first move.

False Alarms are a problem because they take firefighters away from real emergencies. Common causes of fire alarms include cooking, a faulty alarm panel or detector, a smoke detector activated by dust, a technician working on the system, steam, a homeowner testing the alarm, construction processes or a sprinkler malfunction causing an alarm to be activated. Therefore, firefighters are rushing unnecessarily from their stations using personnel, equipment and the fuel needed to roll engines to thousands of calls. They disrupt traffic as fire trucks with lights and sirens enter busy streets.

A tiller truck, also known as a tractor-drawn aerial tiller ladder or hook and ladder truck, is a specialized turntable ladder mounted on a semi-trailer truck. One of the main features of the tiller truck is the enhanced maneuverability. The Tillerman maintains a rear-steering position in an elevated cabin because the back end is a trailer that steers independently of the front end of the truck. The tools and ladders carried on the aerial ladder truck are most often used at fires to perform a task known as ventilation. This action involves the Tillerman climbing to the roof of the building to cut holes that allow much of the heat and smoke inside the burning building to escape. Doing this improves conditions for firefighters inside who’re trying to extinguish the fire and locate any victims.

“My father has been an active firefighter for 25 years and I ‘grew up’ in the firehouse,” Barish concluded. ”Whenever I heard the sound of the sirens, I ran to the window in my house. I’ve made friends in the firehouse and appreciate what we do. I enjoy being here in a welcoming environment and giving back to the community.”

For information about volunteering for the Suffern Hook & Ladder Company No. 1, call 845-357-6066 or visit www.suffernfire.org.

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