Type of Organization

Fire/Rescue Department - Paid

Job Function

Fire Chief / Chief of Department

Years in Fire/EMS:

30+ years

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Currently unemployed

Years With Department/Agency

No longer with a department or agency -unemployed

Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations

Kodak Fire Department- Laid off after 25 years in the service, due to budget cutting. Also lost most recent job as Fire Marshal @ Nuclear Power Plant

My Training:

Associates degree in Fire Protection technology, Bachelors degree in Fire service/ Emergency Management, N.Y.S. certified Firefighter, N.F.P.A. Firefighter 1 & 2 certified, N.Y.S. E.M.T.-D certified, Haz-Mat Technician certified, N.Y.S. Rescue Technician certified, Confined Space Rescue certified, High Angle Rescue certified, Water Rescue certified, N.Y.S. Pump Operations certified, N.Y.S. Pump testing Operations certified, N.I.M.S./N.Y.S.Incident/Command Post Operations certified, Foam Operatrions certified and probably much more I just can't remember right now.

About Me:

I've been in the field for 30 + years and have seen some very interesting, terrifying and funny incidents. I've been at calls that have looked like they are straight out of a Hollywood movie and calls that have happened right next door. I've saved some lives and lost some lives, sadly that's how the field goes. But the saddest experience, was being forced out of my career by an un-carring company at a point when I should have been looking forward to retiring in about 10 years. Now I have to start all over again at an age when your viewed not for what you bring to a department (experience and education), but rather how much time a department can expect to get out of you!

Day Job:

unemployed

Relationship Status:

Married

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

I wanted to make a difference in the lives of people and I am interested in fire apparatus.

Why I Love Fire/EMS

helping people

Top Issues Facing Responders:

Don't allow the careers of older firefighters to be thrown away because of circumstances, they have a world of education and experience to be drawn from.