Kitchen Table Conversations

After 50 years in the business, Chief Robert Swarthout has something to say.

Swarthout shares his takeaways from a life in emergency services, and specifically, being on the ground at the Pentagon on 9/11. Right in the middle of the country’s emergency response.

Even though his career is rich with experiences serving with the United States Air Force and in public safety, Swarthout said that prior to 9/11, the biggest fire he had experienced until that point was “3 or 4 alarms.” After 11 days he took away an understanding of the “complexity of a big incident. I mean a big incident… not a 3-4 story house fire, not 3,4,5 or 20-story high rise fire… especially when it deals with government.”

In a live podcast recording session with recruits in the New Hampshire Fire Academy and EMS 2022 recruit school program, Swarthout said, “I’ve learned a lot over my 50 years in this business about when to take a chance and when not to take a chance.” Swarthout went on to encouraging the recruits to continue with their education and “learn it all.”

“Know your job. Know your streets. Know your hydrants. Know the basics,” and added, “your reputation will precede you wherever you go.” 

Listen as Swarthout describes the situation in Washington D.C. on 9/11, from the moment he heard of the low-flying plane, through the scene in, on and around the wrecked building- the jet fuel smell, the incoming alert of another aircraft, and the work keeping tabs on all of the responding agencies that had arrived to help.