Up early

showcrop · Jan 21, 2019

I am usually on in the morning around 6:30 soon after Jonfmn has posted his daily funny. Today I beat Jon. The fire tone went off at 3:00 for a smoke detector activation. By the time we got to that remote corner of town and found it to be just a bad detector, then back and hose and squeegee the trucks, it was 4:20, and by the time I got in the house it was 4:50. Too late to go back to bed and the wife was up. The response was disappointing. I know that it wears on the chief. Out of 25 active guys and gals only five of us came out, and three of us are old guys who are drivers only who came back on after the town select board fired the old chief. The chief is a younger guy who is full time in the state's largest city, so if there had actually been a fire he would have had to put an air pack on and turn command over to one of the "old guys".

marloweg · Jan 21, 2019

we have the same problem young ones just don't get involved anymore at 67 i had to do a water rescue in Nov and during the day time it is real bad everyone works out of town and we have no farmers anymore

Destroked 450 · Jan 21, 2019

Not many young farmers left today and most of them have day jobs, todays young don't want to get involved in community support like in years past.
I stepped down as chief back in Sept, don't pack up often because I'm the primary tanker driver.
Not many hydrants in our area so water delivery is a priority, any time a engine rolls a tanker follows.

544hydro · Jan 21, 2019

Being a volunteer fire fighter takes a lot more time now days with all the training and drill. It's a tough time commitment for a lot of two working parent families.

VicS · Jan 21, 2019

We had that problem till we got a charismatic Chief, and boardmembers that would spend money on equipment. Now we have 3 Firehouses and plenty of volunteers. They have teams that have hours they are on duty.

marloweg · Jan 21, 2019

we have a very good Chief and EQ. that is all with in 7 years of age 8 units in all two engines, two tenders, two grass trucks, 1 squad, and rescue boat all top of the line 20 scbas, bunker gear all new we have it all that any dept could ask for a ISO rating of 5 we get paid 25 dollars per meeting 25 per call for the first hr. just no young people. we have spent a ton of money on gear for some women but they but they move on

Rollie NE PA · Jan 21, 2019

My department is in the same boat. During the day we are maned by us old timers. I am 68 one member is 69 and another is 72. If we have a confirmed structure fire 2 younger guys will respond if they are not in the middle of milking. All of the departments in my area rely on mutual aid during the day.
This afternoon we were dispatched to a MVA. Postal delivery vehicle slid on the ice and hit a guide rail. Only one other guy and myself showed up. The only injury was when the driver exited the vehicle. She fell on the ice and hit her head.

Up early

showcrop

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marloweg

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Destroked 450

Well-known Member

544hydro

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VicS

Well-known Member

marloweg

Well-known Member

Rollie NE PA

Well-known Member

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