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What if there was one single, united fire department for the nation?
This has always been known as the fire service. In my mind its refered to in the same way as the military. Were both paid for by taxes, so why not? Take away ego and geography and this could work. having a standard for training that you can't fake, and spreading the wealth around so that areas that are volunteer wouldn't need to be. But I beleive if this is going to happen it has to be at the national level. A single organized entity that doesn't have district lines.
FF Fuselier
FF Fuselier
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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"One fire department, under me, with straight streams and red fire trucks for all."
I would be the chief and my staff would be selected from here.
Jake and Vinnie would head up the Rescue/Task Force group.
TCSS.
Art
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Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on
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Yep Tony, that's the incident I was thinking of. Your system may not be perfect, from your point of view; but from this side of the world it borders on Utopian.
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Permalink Reply by T.J. on
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Thanks for the info Joe, I never knew that, tell now, it sounds great though:)
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You're asking for something similar to the way our "democracy" runs.
One guy at the head. A house of deputy fire chief making policy. A board (Supreme Court) to over see administrative/legal issues.
How's that working for us so far?
I don't think that it's even about egos.
It's about getting fire departments to the same minimum level of preparedness.
As long as neighboring districts are fighting with each other; unless you can pull an "eminent domain-like" authority, they will be the two that will keep the rest of the nation from forming under one.
It will have to start at local level, then state level, then get union buy-in, then get federal funding and then find the Dali Lama who won't be influenced by anyone other than those he leads.
To dream the impossible dream, to fight the unbeatable foe....
TCSS.
Art
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Your right on there Art, plus departments are all different in what there type of calls are and personell, so could you imagine the SOP's on that!!! WOW............ it'd be bad:(
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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on
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if money wasn't a problem, there wouldn't be much need for change nor down-grades
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We have something similar happen with the overall control of the entire country called a President.
Look what thats gotten us.
"nuff said"
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Damn you Art, I tend not to read the responses before typing my own answers. You beat me to the punch
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Permalink Reply by Jay Nicholson on
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The federal government can't even consolidate their own FF forces. DFG, USFS,BIA, DOD all operate their own FF service.
Try to merge just 2 of your local depts. Even with a VFD I think you would be hard pressed to unify them. Then multiply that problem by the # of depts. in your county, then by the # of counties in your state, and finally by 50. That's a # far to big for me to comprehend.
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Permalink Reply by Christian on
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As far as one national fire department, never happen. As far as national training standards etc.., it is happening. How about firefighter I and II, how about ICS, nfpa, osha, etc.. It is far from perfect but standards are becoming more nationalized. I wish that every piece of apparatus in this country had a thermal imaging camera and co detector, but it is pretty much unfeasable financially. Municpal fire departments can't keep up with fire districts that set there own taxes. Politicians always talk public safety, but fire, especially where volunteers are concerned, are the first to get cut. Even paid services. How can a city have one rescue truck to cover the whole thing? Now let the Bushites and Clintonites at the total budget for all the fire departments ,and watch your new gear that you have waited 10 years for, turn into night vision goggles in Iraq or foreign aide for South Korea. Sorry, national won't happen.
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Permalink Reply by Allen Wahlstrom on
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Are you F'n kidding me???
OK this is not Australia, England or even Sweden. Other than Australia, all are the size of average startes in the US.
Lets forget the incredible scope of land area covered, or the 300 million plus civilians and 1 million firefighters to deal with. And lets face it, we are a handfull.
Now lets take away the traditions and history of many departments who would suddenly be nationalized (are we really even broaching this subject?) and we have a nightmare.
OK lets get to the tax issues and "spreading the wealth around"
Many live in small towns to escape the big city taxes that pay for career departments nad new equipment. This means the small towns have to raise money thru donations, pancake breakfasts and other "on top of firefighting duties" events.
So you want us all to have the same budgets per capita...or no, is it we all get an equal share of the pie?
Robin Hood hasn't worked in the school systems and it will not work in the fire service.
Now, I am a federal firefighter, and we have a national fire service.
It consistes of firefighters from forestry, DoD, VA, and FEMA/HLS. Do you think we have the same budgets or even the same rules...not a chance.
If you have a good chief who can politic, you will be a have. If you have a lazy over promoted or more fairly a chief who has no political skills, you will be a have not.
Nationalizing is not the answer. A national standard would be great, but how many volunteers would be forced out due to lack of certifications.
Here is the minimum standard for most Federal Firefighter positions:
FFII - About 450 hours of training at an academy
HazMat Operations (Tech is the target within 1 year) - 100+ hours
Driver Operator Structural (ARFF, Ladder, Tender if the department has those) - minimum 40 hours per cert
EMT-B MInimum 150 hours
How many new volunteers are going to have 700 hours of training just to get on, lets not forget Rescue, Officer 1, Inspector 1, etc...
The Chief, now that would be a political appointment who would change every 4 to 8 years unless we have another Katrina and he gets fired for not getting it done, which is not out of the question.
Every Chief has his or her ideas
How in the hell are FDNY guys going to work under a Chief from LA, Chicago, Seattle, Ft. Worth, or Denver? Or better yet, lets say it's the head of Forrestry who becomes the Super Chief...He so understands line firefighters in municipal departments...right?
For that matter lets take a Fire Chief from an Air Force Command (since a nationalized Fire Service would suddenly fall under the current federal fire service) that has seen 2 fires in a 30 year career. His idea of what the day should consist of will lead to all out revolt from guys in busy departments.
So how much do you want your taxes to go up?
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