My Firefighter Nation
Melinda Horn
Female
Hot Springs National Park, AR
United States
Profile Information:
- Type of Organization
- Military/Federal Response Agency
- Job Function
- Firefighter / EMT-Basic
- Years in Fire/EMS:
- 10
- Primary Fire/EMS Department:
- US Forest Service AD
- Years With Department/Agency
- 10
- Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations
- I'm also a volunteer with Mt. Pine Fire Dept.
- My Training:
- I have had all the Modules and have taken Structure 1-4. I'm signed up for LP Gas & Flammable Liquids. That's the only one I'm missing for my advanced. I've had auto extrication, Hazmat Awareness & Ops. I'm a scuba instructor & I've assisted the Garland CO SO with Search & Recovery. I've had all the classes for advanced wildland firefighter. I used to go out on hand crews & engines, but I'm getting too old to dig line & carry a chain saw around all day. I think I was getting carpel tunnel, it was making my hands fall asleep. That's not good when you're a massage therapist. I go out now through the Buffal River National Park Service as a Radio Operator or as a Line EMT. I have my task books for Medical Unit Leader, ABRO (Air base radio operator), & INCM (Incident communication manager).
- About Me:
- I'm a Jane of all trades. I do stucture fires with 2 volunteer fire depts. and I go out to US Forest Service fires when called. I'm a licensed massage therapist in AR, & TX. I do permanent cosmetic tattooing & piercings. I teach scuba & karate. I had a friend that asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up and I told her that I wasn't going to grow up. I like having different jobs so I don't get bored with just one.
I will stop and pick up any stray animal that I see and find it a home or take it to a no kill rescue. - Day Job:
- Massage Therapist & Scuba Instructor
- Relationship Status:
- Single
- Why I Joined Fire/EMS
- Since I was a scuba instructor I had the DAN O2 class and worked in the county. A friend of mine was on Piney Vol. Fire Dept. and asked if I could join as a First Responder. I took the First Responder class at Camden and then went on to take my EMT. I later took my wildland classes and started going out with the Forest Service. I just got into Structure fires about 5 years ago. I went about things backwards I guess. Most people join a vol. fire dept and learn to be a firefighter then first responder. What can I say? I'm backwards that way.
- Why I Love Fire/EMS
- I get to travel all over the US to help people.
- Top Issues Facing Responders:
- I have to deal with rough terrain and weather out west when I go out as a line EMT. I just went through a hurricane evacuation when I was working on the Oil Spill clean up. Thank goodness Bonnie wasn't what they thought she would be.
WRFD 784
Take Care and Be Safe.
Jeremy Black WRFD
Sep 14, 2009
Cheryl Borum
Mar 19, 2010
Ray Edwards
Feb 13, 2014