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O/T How many Firemen Out There?

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donjr

Well-known Member
I've been a volunteer fireman for almost 48 years now in Jarrettsville, Md. I was just curious how many of you all are.
 
33 years so far, EMS the same. Now wondering if volenteer departments will survive.

If I was to start now, I KNOW IT WOULD NEVER CROSS MY MIND.
 
I was a cop for 23 years. Made many a fatal fire. After watching the firemen do what they do, they don't get paid enough.
 
10 years in a nuclear plant . Moved to the country and applied at the local rural station. Got told my traing and experience didn't matter . Even with the advanced 1st Aid, high angle rescue, hazmat, electrical ticket and being a CaptAin for 5 years. The local also said I was from the city and to buzz off. Somebody else later informed him I have spent more years shoveling livestock manure than he had. Father-I law is a Chief, lost his deputy chief in the Listowel fire last March 2011. Very stressful and unapreciated public service.
 
Going to retire this June after 38 years as fireman and EMT in rural Indiana. It is getting harder to attract young members, especially with all the training required today. It is going to be a growing problem with the rural tax base unable to support paid responders and the "new" country folk expecting fire and police response like they got in the city.

I would hang in there but I just haven"t gotten strong enough after cancer to let others rely on me for physical performance so I"m hanging up my bunkers.
 
20+ years firefighter/paramedic/technical rescue in a Medium City (50k). Last 9 as a Company Officer. 10k+ runs a year are starting to take a toll on the body. Have a tremendous amount of respect for the vol service (they protect my place)but they seem a little put off by my offers to help.
 
7 years on department, 2 years as Deputy Chief... Again, a small rural department. Finding recruits is a problem as is finding time to do enough training along with fundraising, etc.

Rod
 
38 years - did 28 on a large suburb (Bloomington) an POC near Mpls. MN retired as Chief of Training. Did 29 years in a suburban career department next door to Mpls - retired as chief. Good job but not enough fiores at the end to make up for the admin and political junk.

Have a farmstead in SE ND.
Brad
 
Fire Apparatus Operator (FAO) and paramedic for a larger (200,000+ pop.) midwestern city. Small town firefighter/paramedic before that. About 11 years as career, 14 years as a volunteer before that.
 

35 years on small town volunteer dept. Thirty as nozzle man followed by five as driver operator, and 20 years EMT, five of them as lead. The small town doubled in size, new young chief was appointed. Very insecure, so he drove out the five senior guys. I have always been an adrenaline junkie and I never found a better way of getting a "fix" than having the floor collapse from under you while the ceiling caves in on you, while you are getting burned through turnout gear by 1200* live steam. And now they pay them to do it!!!!! imagine that!!
 
34 years in the vol. fire dept. 16 years Chief, 18 years Asst. Chief. It is very hard to recruit new members. More training is required every year and alot of people just don't have the time to volunter.

Here is our web site if anyone is interested. www.jacksonfire.com
 
2nd year for me. My wife is a first responder in the same department. my hat off to those who have made a long term commitment to it.
 
32 years on the vol fire dept, last 20 as Asst Chief. State keeps adding new rules making it harder to get young folks trying to make a living to take time for training, but thankfully a few do. My son is in his 3rd year on the dept and I get real proud watching him and the other young guys pick it up.

Be in a damn sorry state if we let that kind of volunteerism get pushed aside by the politicians and the insurance companies. In Iowa, I think 85 out of 99 counties are all covered by volunteers.
 
Just started my 49th active year--was an Emt for 30 of those---Long Island NY
live 600 ft from firehouse so I am still the first to respond--mostly just operate the engines now.
 
I was the Assistant Fire Chief for the Gerald R.Ford International Airport Crash Crew Grand Rapids,Michigan for twenty years.Not too many crashes,..but lots of Medical Alerts. Heart attacks,employees getting hurt on the job etc. Learned alot and enjoyed it also.
 
30, going on 31 years. Fire chief for 28 years. Small department in the middle of Kansas. We cover 104 square miles of territory. 80% is grass land. Have ate my share of grass smoke over the years on the front bumper of a Ford F-350 4x4.
 
10 years--had an awful year last year due to the drought. fingers crossed this year sees a little more rain. glad to see so many volunteers on the board. ya'll stay safe out there.
 
I'm one of the young guys just getting started in my fire career. I'm not quite 2 years into it on a VFD. My hat's off to those of you who have been at it for decades. I hope that I'm fortunate enough to make it that long.
 
Although have been retired from the fire service for 16 years, still involved in the non-fire related activities of the department. Joined in 1968 as a volunteer and was on paid staff for quite a few years. Really enjoyed the many people that I met and continue to enjoy the commaradie and fellowship. atended two meetings this week at the department.cheers
 
Certified KY firefighter since 1987. Assistant Chief 10 years now. Thinking about giving it up in the next couple of years. I don't get over those "all nighters" like I once did. It is really hard to find the kind of dedicated people it takes to make it happen with all of the regulations and training requirements now days.
 
42 years and still going strong it's the best free job i have. was chief at one time now just watching the young guys so they don't get killed had two close calls over the years worst was melted the face shield off the helmet just a little to hot but that's because with all the gear now days you get in over your head before you know it. still love it
 
Not a firefighter myself, but a former boss, 3 co-workers, & several friends were volunteer firefighters.
Average response time for a year was 2 minutes from alarm until first truck out the door. Policy was 4 men to station & GO!!! Boots, coat, helmet etc stored on the truck, so if anyone missed truck, drive direct to scene, gear will be there. They did cheat a bit-
Main station at city hall, city janitor, bar owner across the parking lot, tire shop guy across the street, funeral director a block away all came running.
Satellite station- my boss across the street, father/son team from lumber yard across the tracks, elec motor shop guy a block away.
In my not so humble opinion, there is no group more dedicated to their task then volunteer firefighters. Full time paid departments come in very close.
Willie
 
i did it 13 years firefighter and EMT in indiana for local dept,started before we had kids then 4 kids, work was busy and dad was getting to the point of needing more help on the farm and he started to turn it over to me and i started to back off, and now part for the dept is paid. enjoyed helping people and learned alot.
 
I just joined in brook park, mn as a volunteer about a month ago and just started my firefighter 1& 2 classes it's been a lot of fun and quiet the experience so far!!
 
Not a fireman; burning a brush pile is as involved as I want to be. But I've always wondered: which is worse, fighting a fire when its 110 or when it's 20 below?
 
The answer is both depending on the weather ...we forget when we are complaining.

A fog / fan pattern to the nozze will pull LOTS of air from behind you, it sure helps alot.

In cold weather you can huddle near the flames if you have the right job.

The best option is being hard hearing, and not hearing the page go off.

It is very important for us old and grays to watch the young folks for issues you have seen several times before. Often you have to just get in their face to overcome their extra confidance in their abilities. Keeping everyone safe is at the top of the list ALLWAYS.

A young person has no clue what will be expected of them when they sign on.
 
Been in for 17 years in a rural fire department in Southern Md. Of those 17, 8 were also spent as an urban firefighter in Washington, D.C. I believe that the current generation will witness the death of the fire service as we know it. I have seen such drastic changes in just 17 years, it makes me sad.
 
14 years volunteer, 10 years career. still do both and love every minute of it! and i get to farm on my days off from the station. talk about living the good life!
 
6 years as a volunteer, then 33 as a paid firefighter, Deputy Chief for the last 10 or so. Volunteered some during the 33 years. Retired one year ago and began volunteering again (not at the same department). Best job I could have ever hoped for.
 
Primary problems we have with the young guys is they will run into a situation before properly sizing up the scene. Or get tunnel visioned and not get out in time.
Freelancing is another bad habit to nip in the bud.
 
true story - had our newest two recruits grabbed the ladder to start ventilating the roof (we did ventilation training the week before). they were in our quick attack rig--us old fellows were pulling in behind them with the engine- took one walk around the house and noticed a ballast smoking like crazy, luckily stopped them in time before we had to pay for a new roof--needless to say they learned a lesson in size up.
but we are glad to teach every new firefighter we can, funny thing is I can remember doing most of the same things when I first started
 
Joined in 04, our department is combonation paid/vol
Joined rescue squad in 05-06 it's paid/ vol.
Enjoy what I do at both organizations. Actually quit my second job to do more on fire/ rescue end and times got hard so had to go back to working a second job. My one regret so far is I wished I would have joined sooner.....
 
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