I know sometimes its optional. Actually I would like to know what everyone does with their gear. Do you keep it at the station, leave it in your vehicle or at the back door for all to trip over?
i keep all my gear in my truck since it is used as a response vehicle to scene i also kepp my first responder bag and radios and some hand tools and a few search and rescue tools and all my ppe in it
I have one set of gear and it stays in my truck but I live 0.8 of a mile from the station so I can get there less then a minute so I have time to suit up before someone else gets there to drive a truck.
Since myself and a few select others are the only ones to respond on a regular basis. I leave mine at station. No use going POV and not have a piece of equip show up. Our usual run is 2-3 ppl and that is all.
I keep my bunkers, Wild land gear, and my Rescue and O2 bags in my vehicle. You would not believe the calls I have run out of district just by having my equipment with me....
All our members with the exception of the Chiefs respond to the station so their gear is stored on racks. The Chiefs have their gear with them at all times.
I keep my gear at the station. Only the Chiefs Carry there gear, It's just how ower bylaws are written. We have three stations and the rual staions have turn outs at both stations but the city has two sets also.
Warm gear is a nice thing to have in the winter. I'm learning this winter it's not a fun thing to grab my gear out of my car after it's been there freezing for the previous few weeks. One MVA call I showed up for, I swear my turnouts were colder than it was outside. I got them on and then we were canceled but wow they were cold. Sure it had been close to zero the previous few days but I hadn't been thinking about my gear. So now when it's really cold I make sure my bag comes inside the house. Last winter my gear was in the station so I didn't have this problem. In general my bag is in the car any time I am in the district (not working) or I think I'll be close enough to respond. Usually if my pager is on me my bag is ready to go. I do take my pager to work with me but don't respond while I'm working. However since I work within the boundaries of the FD, I carry it to know what's going on in the district.
usually i leave it at the station but were im volunteer its not easy leaving it at the full time station theres just times when you have to take it with you so you have it.. and as far as leaving it at the back or front door wahts the use it just going to cut time off your response. what it takes you for time to get dressed at home will take you the same time at the scene.... so dnt worrie only bring it inside when it needs to be dried.. nothing sucks more then to have your gear get wet and then freez over nite in your vehicle it sucks trust me other then that just leave it in your vehicle.. it also goes by what your dept has for sops for having you gear in a certain place.
I keep my gear in a truckbed tool box. I respond from the house to scenes, and I ride out of several different stations throughout the county. The tool box stinks most of the time, but thats just part of the job
I keep one set of turn-out gear in My POV and one set at the station in my "locker".I also keep a complete EMS "jump bag" in My POV for on the road emergencies.Always keep disposable gloves and a CPR mouthpiece at hand.Flares are also a good piece of safety equipment to have at hand,and as usual for Us.....a portable radio and Minitor.Another good idea is to have all Public Safety telephone numbers programmed into Your cell phone,such as County Sheriff,State Police,Electric Company,Natural Gas Company and Dept. of Transportation numbers at hand.I have found them useful....numerous times.....
i keep my gear with me. i live about four to five min. from the station. so sometimes i just go to the scene if a truck has left the station. plus i can keep up with my gear better if it stays with me. i wash it at the fire station. the dept. i'm on has a wash for us to use to keep our gear clean. we have to wash it at less every six months if not sooner.
Many Volunteers keep their equipment in the truck so when they arrive on scene they have the equipment. Many volunteers here in the Philippines use a motorcycle everyday so keeping equipment in the cycle is just not practical.