On December 5th, 2003, the family of firefighters in Everett, Washington, lost Captain Tim Ross. For five months he demonstrated amazing courage, wisdom, humor and strength as he battled brain cancer. As he struggled against this killer of firefighters, his brothers and sisters supported him in every possible way. He had at least one firefighter with him 24 hours a day for the last 5 weeks of his life. Despite his incredible strength and optimism, most of us knew from the beginning that this was a grossly unfair battle that Tim would lose. Fire, or more accurately one of its byproducts, was cruelly taking our bother. For the rest of us, it was 5 months of the helpless sadness of knowing a brother firefighter was trapped and beyond our reach. This feeling, and the bond among firefighters, inspired Captain Ken Dammand to write "The Fire Boys and the Smokey Joes." The title harkens back to the 1890’s when the Everett Herald began referring to the city's firefighters as "the Fire Boys." This may have been common to other fire departments during that era as well. And, although this practice ceased in the mid-1900’s, on the occasion of our 100-year anniversary in 1992 we again adopted this title despite the fact that we're not all "boys" anymore.

Also referenced is the common fire service practice of posting the photograph of each firefighter first on a wall with all other active firefighters, then to the retiree's wall, and finally to a wall for deceased firefighters. In the poem, the active duty firefighters are the Fire Boys and the deceased are the Smokey Joes.

Rapid intervention teams, commonly referred to as RIT teams, are specifically dedicated to the rescue of firefighters. May this poem, the RIT team and the Smokey Joes be there for you if you need them.


Fire, be damned if you'll take our brother.........



The Fire Boys and the Smokey Joes



Fireman down
and the RIT teams are coming
One from the past
one from the door
Fire be damned
if you'll take our brother
From the angels crawling
'cross the killing floor


So three shall race
for our fallen brother
Injured or lost,
out of air
Fire know this
one way or another
Firemen
will beat you there


For on the edge
of fire's foul gas
Are the Fire Boys
of days now past
The Smokey Joes
who've lived and died
With whom we've laughed
for whom we've cried


And from the door
with light and axe
The Fire Boys
bring spare airpacs
With lots of guts
and quiet hope
The RIT team
stretches out its rope

It's stop and listen
follow the line
Sweep the floor
waste no time
Miss no door
miss no void
Lest our brother
be destroyed


But when our greatest
efforts fail
And valiant hearts beat
to no avail
It's then
the Smokey Joes appear
To save the one
we hold so dear


No airpacs hide
their kindly faces
No heat or flames
demean their graces
Then sticking out
a gnarly hand
It's "Come with us"
"You're the new man."


"Leave that junk
there on the floor
You won't need it
anymore
We've got breakfast cookin'
back at our station
And an empty locker
there awaitin'

We've got stories to tell
and rigs to shine
And we're pullin' jokes
most of the time
But anytime
a fireman falls
That's when we go
on our calls"


Or you might hear
the Smokies say
"Son, it's not
your time today.
But remember that
you saw us here
And tell The Boys
we're always near"


"And all of us
will meet again"
Say the Smokies
with a knowing grin
"Now stay on your belly,
turn around
Go left wall
and you'll be found"


And the RIT team hearts
that find you there
will fill with joy
as they hook up air
And lead you out
on their tag line
To stay with them
a little more time

But even though
you're safe outside
The object of
the RIT team's pride
Your heart will be
Forever changed
Once the Smokies
speak your name


For now you know
what the Smokies know
By many paths
we all shall go,
Our pictures moved
to the Smokey wall,
To help our brothers
should they fall


Written by Capt. Ken Dammand
Dedicated to Capt. Tim Ross
And all fellow firefighters