IMHO; if you can do any type of firefighting without getting hurt or DEAD, then I think THAT's pretty "bad ass".
Each has their own nuances and it is unrealistic to compare the tasks of the two. They are different.
That's like asking military folks which branch of the service is "bad ass". The Navy would say the Marines, but others would say it's the Seals. Regardless, there will be differing opinions. I have not seen any data that would indicate scientifically which one is bad ass.
Art
Well as I see it....it is whichever we are responding to at the moment....LOL...I don't know too many Wildland guys that want my Interior job.....and I don't know too many Interior guys that want the Wildland thing....So I tip my hat to the Wildland people....and I do the same for my Brothers and Sisters that do the Interior thing.....Stay safe all....Remember to Keep the Faith.....Paul
BOTH ARE TOUGH JOBS, I DO BOTH! PERSONNALLY LIKE STRUCTURE THE BEST, BECAUSE OF THE RUSH, BUT THEN ITS OVER. WILDLAND TAKES A LOT MORE RESOURCES AND TIME, AND PEOPLE! SO TO EACH HIS OWN!
That's exactly it mate. We've lived with that stupid antagonism for decades, sensible people work to stop it.
Idiots who think they are better than someone else based on what sort of firefighting is done. They should grow up and get rid of their superiority complex.
We do them both also. Prefer structre fires. All of you who are only wildland FF's I take my hat off to you. You are the most dedicaed ppl I know. To hike out with what you need and no back up.
This is a silly topic, so I'll leave it with this silly response. After a good structure fire it's nice to take a leak in a bathroom, and go back to bed.... well in my bed. It beats taking a leak on a tree, sleeping in the bush, and singing Kumbaya around the campfire. So go ahead be Bad ass , I'm going to be comfortable.
I've know folks on either side of the aisle...career urban Firefighters called my dad (who was a Wildland Firefighter with the U.S Forest Service for 20 years) crazy for running into the woods to fight wildfires, my dad called them crazy for running into burning buildings haha.
Well this is tough, a structure fire fighter will tell you that those maniacs who run into a burning forest are nuts,. A wild land fire fighter will tell you that anyone who runs into a burning building is nuts. But being a wild land fire fighter myself of course Id have to say we rule. But those structure fire guys, man, if there is a chance that someone is trapped in a building they will run right in no hesitation,(im guessing),