MANY decades back, the New York Fire Department (NYFD) had a policy requiring firemen to place a ladder against the front of a burning building before they commence stopping the fire. When a fire broke out, a fire brigade came on time, led by a maverick officer. Noting the fire was raging at the back of the building, the officer and his team went directly where it mattered the most than waste precious time putting up a ladder against the building façade.

The fire was put out quickly, and minimized the danger to people's lives and property inside the building. There came a fire inspector who noted the absence of a ladder against the front of the building. Immediately, he documented the brigade's lapses and began disciplinary action against the fire officer and his team.