Time to prevent a flashover
“Watch for the warning signs of a flashover” is one of the most important lessons I learned in the Nassau County Fire Service Academy when I began active service with the Wantagh Fire Department over 30 years ago. Flashovers — when combustible materials in a room all ignite nearly simultaneously — are one of the most dangerous situations a firefighter can encounter. Recognizing the warning signs — rapidly rising temperatures and certain smoke and flame patterns — and acting to vent and lower the temperature before a flashover occurs can mean the difference between safety and a tragedy.
Our country had a giant flashover warning sign a few weeks ago in Pennsylvania, where a lone gunman shot and injured former President Donald Trump while he was speaking at a political rally. While, thankfully, he survived, a father and volunteer firefighter was killed, and two others were critically wounded.
Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. Like any unchecked fire, it builds over time before it gets out of control.
Congressman Steve Scalise, a Republican from Louisiana, was shot and nearly killed in 2017 by a left-wing extremist at a practice for the bipartisan congressional baseball game. Thankfully, Scalise survived and recovered after spending weeks in the hospital and undergoing a number of surgeries.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat from Michigan, was the target of a 2020 kidnapping plot by a group with ties to far-right paramilitary militia organizations that was upset about Whitmer’s Covid-19 policies. One of the plot leaders was chillingly recorded on FBI surveillance saying, “I want to have the governor hog-tied, laid out on a table, while we all pose around like we just made the world’s biggest drug bust.” Fortunately, law enforcement foiled the plot before it could be implemented, arrested the perpetrators and kept Whitmer safe.
These abhorrent incidents and plots should be cause for alarm, regardless of what candidates or political parties you support. Overheated and hyperbolic rhetoric is unfortunately becoming more commonplace, on both sides of the aisle. Elected officials, candidates, media outlets and even everyday people have all contributed to this. It’s up to all of us to help lower the temperature.
Disagreements are a function of our political system. In fact, they’re encouraged. Debating and voicing opinions and positions, then voting on a choice, is the foundation of democracy. Usually there are winners and losers, but when that passion turns to violence, we all lose.
One of the best ways to lower the temperature is to work together and find ways to respectfully collaborate across party lines without compromising core values. Government’s primary role is to function and get things done, in spite of political differences.
Here in New York, despite fundamental and deep divisions on many critical issues, Democrats and Republicans came together to pass groundbreaking new legislation dedicated to prioritizing our children’s mental health and safeguarding them from the potential dangers posed by social media. It’s a great example of the progress that’s still possible.
The reaction from an overwhelming number of Republicans and Democrats to the attempted assassination in Pennsylvania was united and encouraging: condemnation of the violence, relief that Trump was OK, and calls to bring the temperature down. Let’s hope all sides do so.
The warning signs are there. It’s up to all of us, but particularly our leaders, to take action to prevent a flashover that can have catastrophic consequences.
Steve Rhoads represents the 5th Senate District.
