Type of Organization

Fire/Rescue Department - Volunteer

Job Function

Retired

Years in Fire/EMS:

15

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Silver Grove

Years With Department/Agency

12

My Training:

Basic firefighter/EMT

About Me:

Currently retired from the fire service.

Primary activity is as a martial arts instructor.

Day Job:

Warehouse

Relationship Status:

Single

Facebook or Other Online Profile:

http://www.facebook.com/paul.schewene2

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

I was inspired by the TV show "Emergency!" and developed a love for the business and of helping people in general.

Why I Love Fire/EMS

What other job is there where you can be there to help your neighbors when they need someone the most?

Top Issues Facing Responders:

---Financial crisis causing cuts to budgets across the board, be those budges private, or public.

---Excessive training demands in an era where people are already having to work more than one job, or try to raise a family with both parents working, causing dwindling numbers of people having the time or wanting to become volunteers.

---New construction styles making the initial moments on a fireground response even more dangerous than before.

---The lowered numbers of fire apparatus, caused by departments cutting back or merging. Sooner or later we're going to pay for that. Response times of 'effective forces' already, are suffering in some areas.

Nationally, the wildland firefighting dilemma seemingly continues to grow. Large scale wildland incidents still tax our resources at all levels.

Greater federal involvement in emergency response causes greater bureaucratic pitfalls. Who can forget the idiots at FEMA offering trained volunteer firefighters, $25 per hour jobs, handing out pamphlets and paperwork during Katrina, rather than doing what they're trained to do, which is to preserve life and property?

Reducing wasteful spending in our emergency service management at the local, county, regional, state and national levels should be a real priority, if emergency services expects to have any money left for what they need. The 'money tree' that looks a lot like citizens, is drying up, and if actions aren't taken soon... firefighters are going to be losing their jobs and the ones that remain are going to REALLY find out how dangerous the profession can REALLY be without adequate staffing, and enough firefighters around to get on emergencies BEFORE they blow up into nightmare scenarios.