Bill Gustin Saved My Life (And Yours Too) March 29 2025, 10 Comments
Last week, I was vacationing with my wife in Washington DC when I received a call early in the morning that Bill Gustin had taken his life. The news left me feeling hollow. The feeling passed, but ever since I've been left with a sense of foreboding and nervousness, like a passenger on a rudderless ship. The Captain is gone, the sea is calm, but I'm not sure how we'll get back to shore.
Our course and our direction in the American Fire Service has been thrown off.
If you’re a firefighter, whether you know it or not, you’re a passenger on this ship and trust me when I tell you that Bill Gustin was one of the Captains of our ship. For all the prestige of the National Fire Academy, with all of its programs and certifications, they mean next to nothing for the regular firefighter and line officer who goes to work everyday looking to do right. The NFA is for the pencil pushers and certificate collectors and does not guide the spirit of the American Fire Service.
No sir, that spirit, the expectation to serve courageously is led by a band of loosely connected instructors from all over the country who deliver their messages over and over again to the willing. Those participants then take the lessons learned back to their firehouses and share them. And the cycle of meaningful education continues.
We all learn through sweat, repetition and the wisdom of these instructors. We all learn.
It should be noted that the DNA of fire instruction today is influenced and has descended from the greats; Dunn, Norman, Pressler, McCormack, and Fredricks among many others. They took their cues from the generation before. We owe a debt to each and every one of them, but chief among these legends is William ‘Bill’ Gustin.
Bill Gustin never taught a class he didn’t have to cut short. He never gave a lecture where he didn’t wrestle with what ‘must be removed’ for time. This was always the struggle. Why? Because he had more slides, more information, more warnings than can fit into any class, no matter the length.
“George,” he would ask me, genuinely perplexed. “How do I decide what to remove? How can I take out a slide that might save someone one day?” This was his perpetual struggle–the desire to share all the knowledge, and the compulsion to gather all the mistakes, from all the fires, then deliver lessons learned to every firefighter that was willing to listen and willing to train.
Every class and every drill that Bill ever taught never ended because Bill was done. They only ended because time ran out, daylight faded, or exhaustion took over. Bill worried for all of you everyday. He committed his life to not only our safety but to our success.
Bill Gustin was always compelled to learn, to teach and to write. Bill was prolific. Every field has their masters. There are scientists that push towards discovery and engineers who push refinements. There are athletes who take their sport to new heights and craftsmen who take an object and create something no one has ever seen before. It is a blessing to share time and space with a true master. Very few of us ever get the privilege. A master elevates their craft and reminds the rest of us that we can and should be better. They inspire us. Bill Gustin was a master of his craft. Mastery of firefighting is impossible to quantify though. We can’t review his theorems. We can’t appreciate his inventions and we can’t admire his art. How after all, do you quantify the thousands of firefighters who made the ‘right’ decision on the fireground because of lessons learned in Bill’s classes? How do you quantify the injuries that never occurred because he taught you a better, safer way to operate? How do you prove that the fire went out quicker because of what he taught you? I can’t prove it, yet I know it’s true.
How do you thank someone who gave you the foundation for your wins and for your saves? How do you say thank you for the confidence to perform on a playing field where death and injury are always lurking and waiting to strike? Bill, how can I thank you?
For almost 50 years ‘the good Captain’ guided not only MDFR, but steered the American Fire Service bravely forward. I can see his influence in each and every class I take. I see and hear a bit of him in every young instructor that takes the responsibility to teach and keep us safe, and I see his passion in the young men and women who are students of the craft.
So yes, Bill Gustin saved me many times, and he has saved you too. Keep learning. Keep training and for God’s sake, don’t let him down.
If you'd like to share, we'd love to know how you felt about Captain 'G'. -George
Comments
Although technically Captain Gustin and I shared the same rank, obviously we were not equal. I never called him “Bill” to his face. Out of respect and with humility, I always addressed him as “Captain G”.
Nick Lindsay on March 31 2025 at 07:27PM
Had the pleasure of meeting Capt. Gustin in Las Vegas during a training at the Riviera in 2015. He was running vertical stretches in a high rise. I’ve never laughed so hard in my life at a class. The Captain was a gentleman and an absolute wealth of knowledge. His passion was contagious. So sorry for your loss, George. God bless.
Val Srbovan on March 30 2025 at 01:14PM
I had the pleasure of meeting Captain Gustin later in my career when I was in charge of the Training Division at my fire department . I met him through Captain Posner from MDFR . They both taught some amazing classes to my department. After the first class by Captain Gustin, I felt like I known and worked with him for years. He made that kind of impression on me. I personally attended other classes by Captain Gustin and though I was towards the end of my career I will always remember what he said “ Always be a student of the fire service” . Always continue to learn . He made a great impression on myself and others and will be missed.
Felix D Gonzalez Capt on March 30 2025 at 08:33AM
Thank you for that article. It describes him very well. I’m a retiree from way back and always admired and respected Bill for his love for the job and his total commitment …everyday and every shift. He was someone who exuded confidence ,trust and brought others along to see that professionalism and service to others was more important than accolades. I’m not sure of the circumstances of his passing but he will always be remembered and highly esteemed. Gods speed my friend.
Pablo Arguello Incer on March 30 2025 at 12:00AM
He saved many… many lives. Your spirit leaves on. Forever engraved in our history of MDFR and the U.S. fire service period. As Captain Gustin’s
reach went beyond our own fire department to fire departments across the globe. I will
make you proud Captain Gustin. It was an absolute joy and delight to have been one
of your students.
Eugene Gonzalez on March 29 2025 at 07:45PM
Very well written and you described him perfectly. While a lieutenant at Hialeah’s Station 4 I had the pleasure of having Captain Gustin show up on several of my working fires. My station was on an imaginary line that separated the county and hialeah. Captain Gustin being the man he was chased the smoke and always arrived willing to help. I always felt safe knowing he was close by and he often included us in his training drills when possible.
I can still hear his voice “Gonzalez what do you need” I will be forever grateful for meeting the man and proud to call him a friend.
May he rest in eternal peace 🙏
Elvin Gonzalez on March 29 2025 at 07:03PM
George, that was beautifully said brother.
You described to the “T” everything we’ve genuinely experienced when being around this man.
He was not only a great “Fireman” but a master of his craft.
And more importantly would drop everything on his schedule to speak with you.
Like you mentioned George, that all would me more proficient, stay safe in doing so, go home.
He dropped everything one evening and headed to my home to help me put some PowerPoints on fighting hi-rise fires.
He quickly told me, “there’s just too much info Elvin for just one PPT. We’ll do 2 of them.”
He was right. He always was.
He stayed over and had dinner with all my girls and we later finished late that night.
I hope this allows you to understand exactly who this man was to me.
We will never forget you.
Continue sharing his stories, so that his legacy stays alive for future generations of firemen to come.
RIP Brother Bill.
Ret. Capt E. Gonzalez
MDFR
Drea Sweetman on March 29 2025 at 07:02PM
How do you encompass what someone means to you in a few short words? I had the true honor of being the lieutenant at Engine 7 C shift for 6 years while Capt Gustin held the helm at Aerial 2. We drilled together, he was tireless, he was intent, he was present every moment you conversed with him, he remembered all of my family member’s names and he was genuine in his love for firemen and his joy in learning. He laughed so hard he coughed and spit, he had such a memory of events so detailed, his written reports were classic, and he loved the true comraderie of firemen. Miss u Capt. We all do.
Mike Yetter on March 29 2025 at 05:47PM
I’ve spent the better part of 26 years chasing the knowledge Capt. G possessed & shared knowing I’d never make it close to his shadow. His ability to conversely teach using humorous anecdotes during his presentations inspired me to remain diligent in the quest for continuous learning. He was a force multiplier in his own right with promoting the knowledge and skills to make it out of this job alive. His talent as an Instructor personified the art & science of firefighting. Capt. G walked the talk for 50 years by always being a student of the fire service.
The wonder in the man contains so many incredible attributes from his wealth of knowledge he humbly shared to the level of humanity his charisma exemplified. He truly made each person feel like they had their own special relationship with him.
If “The meaning of life is to find your gift. Your purpose is to share it with the world”. How fortunate are we that the humble ol’ Captain G was so incredibly passionate in demonstrating both his meaning and purpose?
Thank you Chief May for eloquently putting into words the significance of what Capt. G has contributed to the benefit of us all.
Tom Cole on March 29 2025 at 05:34PM
George, thank you for putting down on paper what many of us have been thinking since his passing. The good Captain was a mentor and dear friend to many of us in the fire service. Bill will be missed terribly but never forgotten. Rest easy Captain…
Gabe Nemeth on March 29 2025 at 05:04PM
Thank you George for the way you were able to write how many of us feel. I have struggled, like many of us after his death to comprehend the magnitude effect that Bill had on us at MDFR and in the Fire Service.
I will miss him but am thankful that I have the memories
Gabe Nemeth
Retired Capt E3 MDFR