From Big Fish to Shark Bait: The Narcissist’s Reality Check in the Fire Service

Author : Robert Woodhead

The fire service is built on teamwork, dedication, and humility. It’s a profession where respect is earned through skill, experience, and the willingness to serve others—not through arrogance or self-promotion. Yet, in many stations across the country, there are individuals who see themselves as the big fish in a small pond—those who thrive on belittling others, inflating their own importance, and ensuring their egos are constantly fed.

The Narcissistic Firefighter: A Threat to the Team

These self-proclaimed fire service elites make sure their voices are the loudest in the room. They take every opportunity to talk down to newer members, dismissing ideas and efforts that don’t align with their own. They hoard knowledge rather than share it, ensuring their position as the “expert” remains unchallenged. Their confidence isn’t built on skill but on the illusion of superiority within their small station, where they control the narrative.

This type of behavior poisons firehouse culture. Instead of fostering growth, these individuals stunt it. Instead of mentoring, they manipulate. The fire service is meant to be a brotherhood and sisterhood, built on trust and mutual respect—not a dictatorship where one firefighter’s ego dominates the room.

The Small Pond Can Only Hold Them for So Long

Here’s the reality check: the fire service is much bigger than one department, one shift, or one crew. While the narcissist may reign supreme in their little world, the moment they step into the ocean of true professionals and Fire service members—regional training events, national fire conferences, or specialized rescue teams—they quickly realize they are not the apex predator.

Because out in the real fire service, there are sharks—firefighters, officers, and instructors who have spent years mastering their craft, refining their leadership, and continuously learning. These individuals don’t just think they are the best—they prove it through action, knowledge, and respect for the job.

When the big fish leaves their small pond and enters the ocean, their weaknesses are exposed. Their arrogance is met with cold reality. Their outdated tactics, dismissive attitude, and lack of true experience become glaringly obvious. And rather than commanding the same blind admiration they once had, they become a laughingstock, dismissed by those who actually know what they’re doing.

How the Sharks Handle a Big Fish

    •    Experience Trumps Ego - The real leaders in the fire service don’t need to constantly remind others how good they are. Their reputations precede them. They don’t belittle rookies; they build them up. The big fish is left stunned when they see that knowledge and humility, not arrogance, command respect.

    •    Disrespect Has Consequences - In the small pond, talking down to others might go unchecked. In the ocean, it’s different. The moment a self-important firefighter tries to talk down to a seasoned vet, they’ll be put in their place—fast. Respect is non-negotiable.

    •    Real Growth Comes from Learning, Not Dominating – Fire service professionals know that no one is ever done learning. The moment someone thinks they know it all, they prove they don’t. The sharks of the fire service keep learning, keep improving, and leave the big fish gasping for relevance.

The Choice: Stay in the Pond or Grow in the Ocean

For those who thrive on arrogance, the reality is coming. The fire service is bigger

than your station, and if you aren’t willing to grow, you’ll be left behind—or worse, exposed for what you truly are.

For those who genuinely want to be great firefighters, the path is clear: ditch the ego, respect your team, and always be a student of the job. Because in this profession, the best don’t belittle others—they raise them up.

And when the big fish finally realizes they’re out of their depth? Well…

The sharks are always hungry.