Firefighters - A cut in services

As another former firefighter, I can tell you that most professionals are well educated. It is not easy getting passed the hiring boards for a professional fire department. And the education continues throughout their careers. Many are also required to be licensed paramedics now. I myself have a Masters in Fire Science and I did maintain a paramedic license, and there were other firefighters on my professional fire department who were more highly educated in the field.

That being said, your point about being able to handle small fires yourself is a good one, especially for rural people. If you can knock the fire down early you may just save your house. Here's a good company that sells firefighting equipment to homeowners, mainly for defending your home against wildland fires, but could also be used for interior attacks: http://www.homefirefightingsystems.com/.

I will second that hands down!! I lived in So. Fulton for approximately 5 years... and all I can say is WOW.... I know there are good people living there, but the government and officials of that town and of Fulton KY make life very difficult for everyone!! So glad to be outta there and living here!

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Tami

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

We have all volunteer fire departments in all the small towns around me. We don't pay any extra fee, it is included in our property taxes. The small town (pop:1600) I live outside of just built a brand new fire station. Looks like one you would see in a big city (at least to me it does). They were operating out of a 2 bay garage.

All the VFD around here support each other and back each other up if they need help. Just last week in another town (pop:4000) we had 2 fire trucks responding to a call crash as they were trying to get into the driveway. 5 firefighters were hurt including the chief. One has 2 broken legs and is having surgery again today. They were all serious injuries but not life threatening but they will be out of work for awhile.

The VFD that my son-in-law is on in another town (pop:450) is the one that backed them up and responded to the initial call. My daughter is a full time EMT and they responded to take care of the injured. My SIL is also an EMT and can sub if they need it. All of his certifications he does for the fire department is paid by him, all out of pocket.

Well we beat this to death back when it happened . I know the whole bunch This is State Line area a 911 call is anyones guess on who you get .
There are a dozen or more fire depts in a fifty mile radius i counted them .This town is ran by Larry ,Moe & Curly the workers at City Hall is Darell, Darell & his other brother Darell.

Another house in the area caught fire and the responding Dept said by law they had to put it out the man said let it burn they didn't .

This was not a budget deal it was a big shot power deal . Also in this area a fender bender will get you a ambulance, EMS, and the Fire Dept if you want it or not . They want money

Next my house insurance will pay a $500.00 fire call

That town is broke dew to stupid not even a gas station there two places left to get a job other than the City which has a Few MILLION dollar municipal complex . They need to give it back to the county but don't think they want it .

All City positions are filled by who you know .

If i have a fire and you don;t help stand in the neighbors yard that is a quarter mile away any closer might be to hot

Wait a minute ... the two trucks crashed into each other as they were going into the driveway?

As a very proud wife of a firefighter/paramedic/haz-mat technician with double CPR instructor accreditation, I'm sure you know what my thoughts are to the insult.

Continuing education, bi-monthly training exercises in multiple situations is only a part of this department. There is little room for "flunkies" as you say, each firefighters life depends on those around him.

I'll not continue commenting, because as another PP said, this is close to my heart. But I will say, in painting with cheap paint and a broad brush sir, a lot sure shows through.

Yes, the first truck missed the driveway, then had to find a place to turn around and head back, the second truck came from the same station but went out a few minutes later. (remember, volunteers! had to wait for the rest). It was 4am so still dark. The driveway is kinda hidden and on a slight curve and downhill. They hit almost head on, but not quite. I know the road very, very well, and when they showed it on TV and I saw the stretch of road and driveway I knew who the owner of the home was that was on fire even before they said it. They later interviewed him on the local news.

And yes, I had the same thought when I heard it. Unfortunately, I think in the end they will find one or both of them at fault. The second truck most likely saw the headlights of the first truck but didn't know that they had missed the driveway and had to turn around. Second truck was probably going faster than they should have and with them going down hill may not have been able to stop in time when they saw the lights of the first truck. The fire chief was probably trying to get there faster as he knew the owner, too. We all grew up and went to school together.

They haven't released any findings on the accident yet but with the SIL being on the VFD and my daughter an EMT I will hear about the findings, even if unofficial.

I think you might eat your words before this thread goes by the wayside. My dad was not a flunky. He was a volunteer for years before he got on. Then he had to do 5 years in an ambulance. He retired a chief, with extensive master training in haz-mat and bomb disablement. His last 10 years or so, some people could say he was pushing pencils at a desk, but the reality is he was flying all over the country teaching haz-mat to newbies and bomb disablement to the navy. That was after spending 25 years in burning buildings, raising 3 kids on his own.
He spent his 10 days in New York digging body parts out of the rubble, and he spent a number of years being a fire jumper. His entire career he was a member of Indy Task Force One and flew out at the drop of a hat any time there was a national emergency. He is 5'4" and might weigh 140 on a fat day.

I have a great deal of respect for my dad. He was a very devoted firefighter. In 35 years, he only missed one scheduled day of work, and it was in the last couple for emergency surgery for a kidney stone. He cried.

In 2002, I went out for the department. There were 102 applicants. 96 men and 6 women. I placed 6th. It was by far the hardest physical thing I have ever done.

Firefighting is dangerous and it's no joke. Don't knock it till you try it a time or two dozen.

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www.angorafiber.com
Licensed ARBA Registrar

Sigh. Clearly all fire departments are not to be judged by the buffoons in my local area. I retract my statement, bow to public opinion and issue forth a heartfelt apology.

I'm sure glad everything worked out on this thread.

I bet some areas of the country have less effective volunteers than the other areas. That is what I gather from the posts here.

Angie

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"Live your life, and forget your age." Norman Vincent Peale

Had you just left out the insult to start with, you could have made your point just fine. But as it is, nearly everyone missed the point.

The mouth runs away with the fingers sometimes.

Yeah, I know. I do it regularly myself. I was just disappointed the way the thread went because I thought it was a good point for preparedness, not only because local governments are broke, but because so many people here live far enough out that the fire departments will get there too late anyway.

Its really a shame that people have to be forced to pay a yearly fee to keep the departments open. If it wasn't mandatory in a lot of areas, no one would contribute and there wouldn't be fire service at all.

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www.angorafiber.com
Licensed ARBA Registrar

Doesn't it make you wonder how people survived back in the days when all the homes were made out of wood, they'd never invented flame-retardant building materials, and all fire departments were on a volunteer basis?

Ernie, if it makes you feel any better, ANY fire dept that would not help a person in need is not much of a department. I never saw an incident where anybody that I knew could have not helped their neighbor or friend regardless of any tax or monies due to any department. It just don't happen in this neck of the woods. Brothers helping brothers !

Apology excepted,
Tarheel
Retired 16 years ago (Fireman)

Oh no...the cone of shame...

Apology accepted...thank you...

Those were the days when a whole town could burn. Virginia City, near Lake Tahoe, is one such. Almost all the buildings date to 1871 I believe it is, they were rebuilt after a major fire. San Francisco mostly burned after the big earthquake. Even Laura Ingalls Wilder lost her first home to a fire started from the cookstove. Fire prevention and suppression has come a long way.