Anyone here a volunteer Fire Fighter?

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

I have been volunteering with our local fire hall since January (doing light duty training due to my knee recovery). Initially the training was online and via zoom but we switched to the hall a couple months ago. Half of our department is new recruits so there is a big learning curve. Without us new guys, they couldn’t man up all of the units. They barely had enough to crew up the tender and the engine.

Last night was really good and hands on.

Are any of you volunteer fire fighters?

What are your thoughts? What was the most rewarding part of this for you?

sammyg2 · 04-28-2021, 10:34 AM

Did it a long time ago while working at an oil refinery. We helped back up the municipal dept a couple times too.
It was all fun and games until it got ugly and I saw burn victims up close. That's when it stopped being pretend.
Once my kids were born it didn't make sense any more and gave it up except for a little instructing.

arcsine · 04-28-2021, 10:44 AM

I am a volunteer hazmat responder for our County. Luckily do not have to put out fires, just have to ensure releases from one of the local refineries, or tanker truck or tanker car don't kill a bunch of people or fish.

cjh · 04-28-2021, 04:40 PM

Thank all of the first responders for your service!

ramonesfreak · ramonesfreak's Garage

i’m not. wish i could but dont have the physical health now. my grandfather was a firefighter 35 years. i learned a lot from him...mostly how not to kill myself doing something stupid. he was my hero. thanks for your service.

Bill Douglas · 04-28-2021, 08:24 PM

No, but I was a make pretend firefighter at my last job.

I did the fire extinguisher course, and fire safety course, and became fire warden for our floor (got the red hat

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VINMAN · 05-01-2021, 04:42 PM

Been a vol firefighter for 30 yrs. Well as of Monday actually...

Belong to two depts. Was dept chief in one. Currently chief in the other. Also an officer on our state USAR/FEMA team.
Been a fire services instructor for a number of years. Mainly teach advanced stuff, vehicle extrication, technical rescue, ( confined space, high angle rescue, building collapse, etc....

The volunteer service is rough now. Its no longer Mayberry, where everyone lives and works in town. Getting tougher to get members to commit. It takes a lot of time. Especially the initial fire academy training. Plus the people coming in now are a whole new breed. The whole entitlement generation. You have to earn your keep in a firehouse. They cant understand that. You also have the thin skin syndrome. That wont cut it. A firehouse is probably the most brutal, un-politically correct place you can imagine. Nothing is sacred. ( of course there are lines that dont get crossed...) We explain that, first thing when someone wants to join. We also explain that if you are getting your balls busted relentlessly, that means your are liked. When nobody breaks your chops, that's not a good thing.

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stomachmonkey · 05-01-2021, 06:22 PM

cheap beer at the firehouse

what’s not to like about it?

VINMAN · 05-02-2021, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

cheap beer at the firehouse

what’s not to like about it?

Those days are quickly fading away.....

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speeder · speeder's Garage

Hey Vinny, I thought that you were also a paid firefighter? Or do you have another profession?

As for the atmosphere around the firehouse, I wonder how that works with modern hiring practices. Let's just say that in Minneapolis at least, they strive for diversity and the Chief a few years ago was a diesel dyke until she got busted for sexually harassing some other fire fighters, who were also lesbians but just not into her, I guess(?)

So messed-up.

MRM · 05-02-2021, 09:43 AM

Volunteer firefighters get paid for their time on the job and most departments have some full time professional staff to manage the departments. I gather Vinman is one of the full time professionals.

Early in my career I did some arson/fraud insurance litigation. I was even a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators for a while. I looked into joining our local volunteer fire department because I thought it would be interesting and might advance my career. My observation, as an outsider looking in, was much the same as Vinman's post. It takes a lot of training, it's dangerous (hence the need for lots of training) it's a lot of work, and it takes a big time commitment. It was too much of a commitment to me, so I didn't pursue it farther.

But at about the same time a guy across the street who had kids in our kids' grades, did join. He ended up working more and more hours until he transitioned out of his original job to full time with the fire department. He's now one of the professional staff who runs the volunteers. He enjoys the work and has had a good career, but I think anyone who wants to volunteer part time should be prepared for a full time commitment.

widgeon13 · 05-03-2021, 05:15 AM

I was and also an EMT and retired 5 years ago.

Very glad I could make a contribution to the community.

VINMAN · 05-07-2021, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

Hey Vinny, I thought that you were also a paid firefighter? Or do you have another profession?

Nope, have always been a volunteer. I'm a home improvement contractor. Was my side gig for years, now my main job. Also work part time as an investigator for the medical examiner's office.

Retired back in '14 from one of the big telecoms as a power engineer.

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