Surviving low call volume

Hey,

I work for a real small rural volunteer department and we have a tiny call volume. In an incredible year we might hit 400 calls. We run with set crews and depending on the week, I'm on duty at the station for 12-36 hours. Even with that schedule, my last call was June 28 and my last one before that was late April. I've been running 12-36 hours per week for the entire year I've been with the department and can pretty much count the number of calls I've seen on one hand.

This coupled with a few other issues have caused me to become really bitter towards the department and extremely unhappy. I've gone from loving being at the firehouse, to now dreading anytime I have to go up there. The only thing that makes me come back is the thought someone is counting on me.

Can some of you guys from rural departments spare a little advice on how to survive the low call volume and the incredibly wonderful world of small town politics (the world of double standards and different rules depending on how well you know the Chief)?

Thanks guys
Stay safe

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Permalink Reply by Tiffanie Pettis on July 23, 2009 at 6:03pm

in candor we have less than 200 calls...far less because our fire and ems run seperate. So on the fire and of it we average around 100-ish calls a year. most of us go to the station to hang out and talk and once in a while to just do maintenance or whatever when it is realy slow...it helps sometimes,but it is still slow. that is one of the down sides to being in a small department but on the flip side it also means there is no tragedy or loss for that time, and sometimes that is the way i look at it when we all sit around saying "man, its about time for a call! we have been SO SLOW!" ... but trust me i love a good call as much as any one else does!!!

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Permalink Reply by Kenneth Holley on July 23, 2009 at 7:35pm

400 calls . We already passed that 2 months ago. At the rate we are going it looks like 1000 will be are final for this year. Most are medical calls with a few fires thrown in for fun. As for what to do during low call volume. Training comes to mind. Not the get out and get wet kind. There's always the mental kind. Try doing some what if's on a white board. Maintenence also comes to mind also. Leave the politics, just let that go untill it affects you. I go by something my father told me: You go by the rules untill you get to make the rules. Stay safe.