That was quick: Policy change for Alameda water rescue. If expectations aren't lowered with the funding you too can be forced to watch a man drown & take the blame.

Earlier coverage of this incident

Alameda's fire chief said he is bringing up funding for water rescue training at a budget meeting tonight. Michael D'Orazi, who took over as interim chief just a week ago, seems to be making the best moves possible to try and restore the reputation of his department, tattered yesterday when untrained and unequipped firefighters watched a man drown off shore. Here's what he told KGO-TV:

"I was troubled and disappointed obviously. I think it was a deeply regrettable incident that would have been unimaginable only a few years ago," said Alameda Fire Chief Michael D'Orazi.

"I know that yesterday, those crews – it was killing them to stand on those shores and not be able to do anything. But under the circumstance and because of the policy, they really didn't have a choice," said D'Orazi.

"The crews that were on the scene, we made sure that we had a chance to talk with them. But again, that is a pretty tough situation, when you are paid to do a job — you're a firefighter you want to act. You don't want to stand around and wait," said D'Oraz.

The good news is that Chief D'Orazi and his department have been straightforward about what the problems are. He says he is now working on a plan to quickly address them. It will be interesting to see the response from the political types who failed to fund the water rescue operations so this beach community has firefighters who are certified, along with the proper equipment.

This is an important lesson about cutting and just hoping for the best. It was clear the Alameda Fire Department had gone out of the water rescue business but only their firefighters knew it.

Smart fire chiefs are being up front about what reduced funding means. Those who try to say it's business as usual when they know it's not, just to please a boss, should pay close attention to this story. If you don't want your fire department to be the fall guy, standing on the beach watching a man drown, the expectations of the public and the politicians have to be lowered along with the funding.