The Volunteer Fire Service is Burning
This post outlines the struggles of volunteer fire departments, and one rural Tennessee department. Interpersonal conflicts, growing pains, and more with ideas to hit reset.
This post outlines the struggles of volunteer fire departments, and one rural Tennessee department. Interpersonal conflicts, growing pains, and more with ideas to hit reset.
Experience the adrenaline-filled, action-packed day of a volunteer firefighter as they combat a fierce house fire, highlighting the challenges and rewards.
Yesterday at the fire hall we had an open house and community day. The goal was to make visible, not only the Lone Oak Volunteer Fire Department, but also our emergency service partners that serve our community.
The volunteer fire service in the United States is in crisis. Small rural communities are struggling to keep pace with the growing demand for their services, while at the same time facing a decline in the number of people available to serve as volunteers.
Been thinking about this lately and looking at videos to best describe why we do it.
Well… tomorrow’s the day I have my state practicals and exam for FF1 certification. It’s been a long road for me (and my family) that began in August. It seems long but the sheer volume of information and training was concentrated. We could’ve spent a month easily on any of the areas we covered. That’s why ongoing learning is always going to be a part of me and should be for every firefighter out there. To keep not only themselves safe but also their team and communities.
We had some ups and downs as a team but came together. We learned, sweated, laughed and crammed our heads with as much knowledge as humanly possible. So on this day just before testing I’m feeling confident. Casually reviewing my study notes, tying my knots and flipping through my workbook.
Here we go!
One of the lieutenants at fire school sent this article onto me.
What are your thoughts on this? I know myself holding a day job when tones go out can be a bit tricky. My particular situation has flexibility but at times I’ve been finishing conference calls on the way to a scene and even shuffling things around due to personal reasons. I can only imagine those with jobs that you’re unable to leave and are simply stuck. With the US fire service made up of 73% volunteer departments this is truly an important issue.
Job activities can always be made up later with the priority above all being public safety. It’s good to see bills like this in Texas seeing the light of day. Take a look here.
What are your thoughts and/or experiences with juggling fire service and jobs?
Just this morning my wife had an unfortunate incident on a road near our home. The W Road down the mountain is a winding road with a good incline. She was following a truck loaded with stuff going slower than the speed limit. She remained about 3 car-lengths behind through the narrow curves. On one of the few straight-aways the truck put on his blinker and pulled to the shoulder as much as he could and slowed down even more as if he were wanting her to pass. She hesitated to make sure, he slowed even more so that’s what she believed he wanted her to do, so then she passed safely.
Upon reaching the truck and ready to wave a “thank you,” she was greeted with an angry man rolled down his window and started yelling obscenities. As much as he didn’t understand what she was doing or his actions miscommunicated to her to pass is there any real reason for this anger at a total stranger? What if she had been going to the hospital with a sick or injured child? My wife is the kindest, most loving and caring person you would ever meet. My response, upon first hearing this and to know that she was shaken from this event was to first lash out. “What an asshole! What’s his fuckin’ problem?” How hard must it be to go through life at that…. such anger at 10am. To live in that anger must be hell. But that’s not the end of the story, not the end of this incident.
She then said to me, “You know your firefighter license plate? The one on your car?” I replied, “yes.” She then continued, “He had that same plate. The same firefighter plate as you.” Then my heart sunk. This was one of my brothers acting like this. Representing all of us brothers and sisters bound together in the fire service. This action is a stain on all of us. We are better than this. We represent our departments, our brotherhood and the Maltese cross we bear.
When we wear a shirt, jacket, hat or vehicle decal, we represent something larger than us. A higher set of standards that meets our calling to help. Our actions speak to the public and our communities whether on or off duty. Be the high standard the public expects. Be the high standard that honors the brotherhood.
I had the great pleasure of being interviewed by Steve Greene of the 5-Alarm Task Force podcast and Dalmatian Productions. We discussed my philosophy and approach to fire hall and emergency service marketing and all of its aspects – image and perception, program planning, community education, fundraising and grant writing, membership and more.
Listen now, enjoy and share with your friends and colleagues today!