"Firefighter" rant.
 

I have a neighbor who is a FIREFIGHTER. He's about 30 years old and drives a fire engine red SUV with fire helmet stickers in the back window. He wants the world to know he's a FIREFIGHTER.

Well...the state of California is ON FIRE! More than 1,100 fires burning. 650,000 acres burned. More than half of the firefighters in Colorado, Montana and Wyoming are in California fighting the fires. They are battling exhaustion, dehydration and smoke. My neighbor? He spends his days in the firehouse mostly watching TV. He's home by 5 PM. You see, he elected not to be a part of the strike force. He's never walked into a burning house or a burning forest. I have no idea how he can face his brothers who are giving a full measure of heroic effort.

damn, you have a firefighter living next to you? in your neighborhood? damn.

i think being a fireman, is just about the best gig. i guess it pays well too.

I guess it's different out there, but are the local, street-level firemen actually going out in the bush and fighting these forest fires?

When I was AZ, the guys on the firelines in the mountains were 100% wilderness firemen, they had completely different training, skill sets, and tools. I wouldn't expect, nor would I want, an urban fireman doing wilderness suppression, or vise versa.

His last name Bush?


Sorry, to easy.

It's optional, but the majority are out there fighting the fires. They are working long, long hours. They are doing amazing work. Only 40 homes destroyed despite more than half a million acres burned. They are desperate for more help.

Back on Long Island the FF's were all volunteer.

It's mandatory to respond to a minimum number of calls a year or you got booted.

Caused some interesting issues. Couple of instances of these guys setting fires themselves to "catch up" on their quotas.

Then I agree, your neighbor is a jackass.

Chicks dig firefighters. I knew a gal once who was having an affair with a firefighter. The local station in her town had a special room for "lady friends" to visit. Lots of weight lifting, eating, and hanging out going on.

I think they have like a 3 day work week, too. Pretty sweet life. Definitely some risks, though.

Not defending this guy, but I am sure the department needs to keep a minimum of personel on shift, you know, in case <i>your</i> house catches fire.

Could be. Just like Wayne said there are dip#$^%# in every profession but 99.99 of all the firefighters I know are some of the best people on earth. ( And I know alot of firefighters.) Cops on the other hand...;)

Yeah. In general, the older guys stay in the firehouse and the younger guys join the strike force. This guy has NEVER served.

Yup, Bag O' Douche.

I (not-so-good) friend of mine is a firefighter. It took him six tries to pass the exam. He tells his wife he works 7 days a week. He often does not go home for 2-3 weeks. I sometimes get frantic calls from his wife asking if I've seen him--and I live 200 miles away.

I don't think he works as much as he lets his wife believe. I think he's got a few at least two girls on the side.

In college, he'd come and visit (still with the same woman). He'd wander off and we'd get a call to come pick him up the next morning. It was always a different girl's apartment.

His wife is a teacher and he has a 2 year-old daughter. He is living off of an allowance from his FIL--who has a seat on the Board of Trade.

Northbrook's finest!

There is no profession on earth i respect more than that of the firefighter.

Heroes in my book, all of them.

Even my neighbor?

IF there was a fire and HE was called upon, do you believe he would go in and pull out a kid or puppy? Not has he, WOULD he?

If the answer is yes, then so is mine.

If the answer is no, then so is mine.

He's been asked to join the wildfire task force. He said no.

I would hate to live next to a guy like that. Probably one of the type that has the high and tight haircut, and wears fatigue pants and tactical boots, instead of the usual dickies type of uniform slacks and oxford shoes. He also probably wanted to be a cop, but could not pass to do that, so he tried the FD. The bad part about it, is that he probably does not even think he is the d-bag that he is. Sounds like a lot of the ones that I have pulled over, through the years, that expected to get a pass, on whatever infraction or infractions that I made the stop for, just because they were a fireman.

Fireman wages in Vallejo CA, a city that recently declared bankruptcy:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1215563334.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1215563342.jpg

Notice how many pages of hits are on those lists.

Moses,
He's not a firefighter, he's a fire avoider...