Wrong, you didn't read my post closely enough.

These are the volunteers that I respect:


These are the ones I don't:
I did not say that all volunteers are are like the second group. Those are just the ones that are most visible in this part of the country. Trust me, EVERY time I go into a store around here it looks like a volunteer firefighter convention in the parking lot. And there is no trouble finding them in the store. Most of the people wearing all of this stuff are 18,19,20 year old kids that don't have a clue. Do I feel like I am better trained then most of those kids? You bet I do. We have the equipment, superior training facilities, and training staff. This is my job. I have no other job but this. I have dedicated my life to this profession and I feel I am well trained and very well qualified for this job. I did not say that volunteer depts. are not trained as well. We just have more opportunity because this is all we do. And in a city with close to 300,000 people, we get to practice it often.

I am not knocking volunteer depts. and I'm sorry if that is how you take it. I'm knocking a certain type of volunteer just as you were about some of the people on a paid dept. And I don't disagree with you. There are eccentrics in every bunch. I also don't intend for this to become a paid vs. volunteer thread. Both are noble causes and needed. If I had my way, we would all be paid. This is my opinion and mine alone. If someone else feels this way or another way then they can chime in with theirs.

Take care and be safe.

Britt

 

wise words from an obviously WISE MAN......we do need each other, and i can say we wouldnt make it without one another.....my personall favorite is when i am on scene and a paid FF tries to tell me or my crew to go and do something.....my crew KNOWS better than to speak up and they all look at me...and wait......i usually take off my red helmut and look at it with that puzzled look on my face, then i look over my shoulder and say "Hold on let me check with our union rep," the FF gets all funny looking cuz there isnt anyone standing behind me, then i turn back to face him and say "WELL HE SAYS THAT ISNT GONNA WORK OUT FOR US" they get all mad and stomp off usually to thier Capt. and we all get a good laugh, usually because there capt comes back to me and says, THATS A GOOD ONE......sorry for my FF's DISRESPECT.

likewise, when my crew get all cocky because we wraped the head of a wildland fire and started working the flank a Paid crew is on and then work passed them putting out the fingers, spot fires they missed, and my crew starts piping up making comments....I PUT THOSE FLAMES OUT FAST.....there is NO room for personall glory and i pull them aside (NEVER CHASTISE IN FRONT OF ANOTHER CREW) i tell them that just like us they are only as good as thier weakest link.....and right NOW YOU JUST MADE US THE WEAKEST LINK with your cheap remarks......

i must say i feel lucky to be on a dept, that runs first out engines, we dont sit at home and wait for a page, we live eat and sleep at the station, we respond to EVERY situation, fire,ems,haz-mat,MVA's, heck last week we had a train derailment....(luckyly it was only two cars...idiot put his car in park on the tracks) but with almost all of those calls, except ems we have automatic aid agreements with one of the cities around us, that isnt to say we need them often times i will cancel them enroute, other times i keep them comming and they do the same on their calls, but when we need each other we are there and it is a good feeling.

ok back to the real deal.........WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE IN THE DEPT WITH A CUMMINS........way to many FERD POWERJUNKS....know wonder there are so many MECHANICS at our dept........lol

NCA

 

no offense taken....i was just pointing out that it is a two way street....the same can be said about paid staff......

and i DO agree....we have them also....usually the ones with a GOAT, PIG, OR DOG in the bed of there POV, responding MACH 10 with a converted shop vac, for a pump in the bed of that truck, telling everyone to STAY BACK 200 FEET CUZ THE FIRE DEPT IS HERE!!!!!!!!!

NCA

 

Evidently you’ve been to my Wal-Mart!

Take care!

Britt

 

the described 'gung ho' type of volly. FF is the kind i wont be. i am currently an EMT-B, i had only 2 decals on my Jeep POV. i had a small round decal that said Emergency Medical Technician and one American Flag Star of Life.

on my truck i have now i dont have anything signifying i am an EMT. the only organization that i belong to that i have a decal on my vehicle is Skywarn. i have that because, the EOC i work out of is a secured Fire Station, and my truck would be towed with out it.

i will run lights and siren if allowed, because i have heard of too many incidents where an Officer, FF, or EMT caused or was involved in a serious crash from not running lights or siren. we just had one recently where a State Trooper was hospitalized because of not running lights or siren while responding to a MVC.

i already have my setup planned and it isnt outrageous. i have a Federal Signal Hi liter bar to go on the roof, i would put 2 TIR3's front and back, and possibly one TIR3 on each side due to how tall my truck sits.

 

your reasons for wanting them are valid.....but remember.....per DOT (paraphrased).

as an operator of an emergency vehicle.......YOUR NOT GIVEN the right of way by running code 3.....YOU ARE ASKING for the right of way. THERE IS NO LAW STATING THAT EMERGENCY VEHICLES HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY ANYWHERE.

just because we go 60mph down a street with lights and sirens blairing...doesnt mean people HAVE to get out of the way....it is only a visual and audio aid to the rest of the motor vehicles.

keep that in mind and remember DEFENSIVE driving still applies to EVERYONE on the road.

NCA

ps...side note....fun fact for all of us out there that either currently drive, used to or will one day......

Who has the right of way at a 4 way stop if all vehicles arrived at the same time:

1. any form of police (chp,sherrif,local law) running code 3
2 fire apperatus running code 3
3 postal service delivering mail
4 ambulance running code 3

lets see some responses.....

 

spoken from someone with a little wisdom!!! now if everyone thought that way it would make life alot easier

 

ok sorry to get everyone in a tift, but it seems that most of the country is volly, but paid covers less area but more population.

I dunno, There are not many vollies around us, but every county in the metro area is all full-time paid.

And I wear my shirts even though I'm full time paid, but the only reason I do that is they gave us somethin like 10 shirts, and I'm too lazy to do laundry so I just throw those shirts on. not my uniform shirt, but just t-shirts.

yall take it easy and be safe out there.

 

yes, i am aware of the right of way thing.

also as it was phrased in my EMT class when we covered emergency driving, that as emergency responders even with lights on and sirens blaring, we have to drive with 'due regard' to the general public.

 

anyone run a good one today......

lets here about'em.

all i got was a general recall for staffing....something about a MVA which went onto the highway shoulder and the vehicles sparked a wildland......

diecided not to go.....shame on me!!!!!!!!

NCA

 

I don't have that option. Would be nice though. Especially during dinner which got interrupted again tonight.

Been pretty slow around here so far today. Only 4 runs so far. Just generic fire alarms which is good considering it was 101* today.

Stay safe

Britt

 

I don't know about the rest of you but we are not allowed to wear any part of our uniform in public while off duty. Nothing that says Fayetteville Fire Department. We can wear our IAFF shirts.

It's been a little slow around here the last 2 weeks. The University of Arkansas is here in Fayetteville and school is back in session, so maybe it will pick up a little this week.

 

we can wear our t shirts off duty which i normally do cause they are free. i'd rather wear something out that i got for free than something i paid for. as far as stickers and other stuff on my truck that identifies me with the FD all i have is my license plate. i probably wouldn't have that if it didn't save you from tickets.

 

nuthin today, all I have so far is a chest pain at around 1300. and I'm on the engine. so looks like I'm just sittin around doin homework for school. ewww pre-cal and chemistry. sucks with this 1 on 2 off schedule. oh well, I'll get through it I guess. feel sorry for me

 

We can wear our dept. issue caps and thats it. I've got a union sticker on my truck and IAFF plates. They've gotten me out of a ton of tickets

While we're on the t-shirt issue, if anyone wants to do some trading, I like to swap FD T-shirts. Im not a patch collector, but do like t-shirts, so if you're interested shoot me a pm!!