Should Volunteer Firefighters Get Paid for Calls?

70% of the nations firefighters are volunteers who risk their lives everytime a call goes out. Some say yes because of the risk and some say no because it was a choice made to do the job, what do you think?

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Permalink Reply by Gregory Borg on May 24, 2011 at 4:54pm

As stated Tyler, getting reimbursed for fuel, gear and work clothes is not pay. if you get money for showing up and working you are a paid or paid on call FF. I volunteer for MDA, coaching kids, union public service events, that is volunteering. Or firefighting for NO pay. If you get paid you are not a volunteer.

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Permalink Reply by Robby Stables on May 24, 2011 at 5:15pm

Jack d/t

I like the last quote !! the $5 large is only if you respond to every call. not many of us do more likely 60-80 calls. we get paid every month and I guess we are technically PAID. Is the city (10,000) ever gpoing to hire a full time department not likely. Are we turning the pay back - Not me.
Do I think we should get paid for responding - yes, did I expect it when I signed up, no I was actually very suprised. Would I do it for zero dollars?, ya probably.
Is it a good deal for the city / tax payers to have people who will do the job as POC FF - ya there is a huge savings. Are we being used, probably, maybe less than a unpaid FF, but used all the same. Do we care, NO or at least I don't. Take the money away and just give me a pager, I am ok with that. Fire is now a part of me.
There are so many variations of the "Volunteer" fire fighter that covering it properly is a subject of a major government study all by itself. I like what I do, I like the cash, I would do it for nothing, I would have loved to be a career FF, had I known what I do now 30 years ago it might have been different. I am a Casual EMT, NFPA certified FF, and a Professional Engineer (day job).

Whatever their reason, as long a people will do the job for nothing, there will always be areas that will be unpaid, is it right, I do not think so. Is every community going to have a career dept - nope can't see it happening. Are we all doing it because we like it and want to help poeople, I would like to think so.

Stay Safe - Hold your Head up - be the best Volly - POC - Career Fire Fighter you can be.

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Permalink Reply by Andy Turnham on May 24, 2011 at 8:07pm

If I have a full time job and work part time in the local grocery store, because I love grocery stores, would I be a volunteer grocery assistant or a part-time grocery assistant?

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on May 24, 2011 at 8:21pm

If they paid you, and you had to drop everything from your other job to run sell groceries on a moment's notice, then you would be a "retained" grocery assistant.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on May 24, 2011 at 8:26pm

That wasn't the question. The question was whether or not vollies should be paid.

"You can still be professional and be a volunteer."

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Permalink Reply by Edmund Ford Power 3rd on May 24, 2011 at 11:37pm

Hi Gregory Borg! Did you mean me that I'm back? What do you think of the tornado(s) in the South? Also I'm getting ready to watch the Bruins tomorrow because I am a Bruin's fan. I am also praying for the tornado people.

Stay safe and Happy Memorial Day!

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Permalink Reply by Davin Eshelman on May 26, 2011 at 9:18am

They would be combination departments. I am very well aware of that.

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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on May 26, 2011 at 9:35am

"I think its a VOLUNTEER JOB for a reason. To serve your community."
Based on your statement, any firefighter who is paid is NOT serving the community?

It's a volunteer "job" because typically, the run numbers are low enough that volunteers can cover it "effectively" and/or because the community is unable to afford to pay for a full-time fire department.

Volunteering as a firefighter may indeed serve the community, but being a volunteer (as opposed to being paid) is the end result of need and ability. Were a (any) community able to afford a full-time paid department (based on need), most likely that is the direction they would go.

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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on May 26, 2011 at 1:29pm

They would be combination departments. I am very well aware of that.

Huh? Combination dept or career, the point is that one does not just "join" such a position as you alluded to, they are hired. Even on a combination dept there is a testing and screening process that does differ from the volunteer side of things. Also if a volunteer on said depts does want to become paid, they typically also have to go through the testing and screening process for the paid position. One just doesn't walk from a volly side of things and to the career side of things.