Drawing Lines: The ART of Making a Difference

By Paul Combs 

Immersed in our modern fire service community is Paul Combs. Paul is the "then what" 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 "those" drawings. The drawings that have helped every one of us with short attention spans (we love drawings) to learn...understand...pay 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. It's kinda like a friend reminding you to do something...but without "saying it" in front of everyone else. Just between you, me, us and Paul. It's our little secret. He knows what the issues are. He knows where we need to be reminded. He knows when we need to be scolded...and 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 "screen shots" of his art/drawings/cartoons...the many "helping us make choices reminders" ...the ones that really resonate to you personally. The ones that stick. The ones that may help you not "blow" 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 Paul's 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 do—making a positive difference to those who need us...right now.

—Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder, EFO, Loveland-Symmes Fire Department, Ohio