Type of Organization

Fire/Rescue Department - Volunteer

Job Function

Assistant or Deputy Chief

Years in Fire/EMS:

14

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Ford River, Michigan

Years With Department/Agency

14

My Training:

Firefighter I
Firefighter II
Fireofficer I
Hazmat Operation Level
Incident Command
CPR / AED Certified
Arson Awareness
And a few others

About Me:

Well, I joined my current department when I turned 18. I went my first couple years as a regular firefighter. After about 4 or 5 years I was voted into office for the Secretary/Treasures Job. I held that position for about 2 or 4 years and then I was voted into the 3rd Assistant Chief Position. After about 4 years I was voted into my current 1st Assistant Chief Position. I have seen some crazy fires over the years and have grown with our department as the times change.

Day Job:

I am an Advertising Assistant

Relationship Status:

Single

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

I grew up around the fire hall because my dad was on the volunteer fire department and I was always down there with him. Over the years I became more and more interested and seen what it was like to be able to help people in their time of need.

Why I Love Fire/EMS

Satisfication of helping others

Top Issues Facing Responders:

Lack of funding for equipment and training. It has gotten to the point around us, that the majority of the training for volunteer departments actually falls right back on us, the volunteers. There is such a lack of funding available to put on FFI and FF2 classes, that it has become the responsibility of the Departments to train their new members and get them to the point that the new member can take the FF1 and FF2 Challenge test to become certified.