Type of Organization

Combination Fire Rescue Department

Job Function

Firefighter / Paramedic (or Other ALS), Retired

Years in Fire/EMS:

20

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Brevard County Fire-Rescue

Years With Department/Agency

12

My Training:

EMT, Paramedic, ACLS Instructor, CPR Instructor, EVOC Instructor, Fire Officer I Certification, Fire Service Instructor Cetification, Hazardous Materials Technician I, Police Instructor Specialist (First Aid, CPR)

About Me:

I am a native, Floridian, yes there are a few of us, who came from a fire fighting family. My Grandfather was one of the founders of the vollunteer fire company in his community and my father was the Fire Chief for the city where I was born and raised. He didn't want me to become a fireman and being a typicle kid, I didn't listen.

I originally wanted to be a cop. A friend of mine talked me into joining the vollunteers with the same Department my father was the Chief untill his death. I worked for the police Department as a Part-time Officer untill Hurricane David set his sites on us. I had to make a decision on the Police Department or Fire Department. It was a no-brainer, Ride out a potential catagory 4 hurricane in a fire statin or in a cop car holed up behind a shopping center and if it came to having to evacuate do I want to be in a 3600 pound car or 12 ton truck.

I went to the Fire Acamey and was hired full time for the Department for which I vollunteered. I was elected President of IAFF Loccal 2411 after the promotion of the sitting president to Assitant chief.

I went to EMT then Paramedic School and worked for the local EMS and a private ambulance company in the next County to gain experience. Our Department did not run EMS but looked like we were going to get it soon. After a couple years of killing myself working three jobs and the City Commission hem-hawing around, I decided it was time to move on and went to work for Brevard county, Florida Fire-Rescue. Again, I was elected President of the Union Local.

I had a good career with BCFR untill and off duty back injury forced me out of the fire service.

I have missed the fire service every since and would kill or die to back into it.

Relationship Status:

Divorced

Facebook or Other Online Profile:

http://myspace.com/firedoc1980

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

My father was a Fire Chief and my grandfather was a founder of a vollunteer fire company in his town so it was predestined.

Top Issues Facing Responders:

Safety, training and brain-dead city/county administraters.