Type of Organization

Fire/Rescue Department - Volunteer

Job Function

Lieutenant, Firefighter

Years in Fire/EMS:

7

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Vineland, NJ

Years With Department/Agency

7

Dept. Web Site:

http://www.southvinelandfire.net

Web Site:

http://www.rvfr.org

Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations

Bridgeton Emergency Ambulance Association 2002 - 2005
Upper Deerfield Emergency Medical Service 2005-2007

My Training:

FFI, EMT-B, Building Construction for the Fire Service, CEVO II - Fire, CEVO II - Ambulance, Extrication Awareness, Extrication Operational, Extrication Technician, FAST I, FAST II, FAST III, FAST IV, Ladder Company Operations, ICS 100, ICS 200, ICS 300, ICS 402, Incident Safety Officer, IS 001, IS 003, IS 230, IS 235, IS 240, IS 241, IS 242, IS 244, IS 275, IS 546, IS 547, IS 700, IS 800, Hazardous Materials Awareness, Officer Development, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Personal Accountability Systems, PHTLS, Pre-Incident Planning, Public Works for WMD Incidents, Pump Operations 1 - Booster Tank Ops, Pump Operations 2 - Hydrant Ops, Pump Operations 3 - Standpipes and Sprinklers, Pump Operations 4 - Drafting Relays, Respiratory Protection for EMS, Strategy and Tactics for the 1st due Officer, Waterous Pump Operation and Maintenance,

About Me:

I have been a member of the South Vineland Fire Company since 2001. My grandfather served for 41 years and my father served for 12 years. Two years after I joined, my younger brother joined. It is a family tradition. After completing my Firefighter I training, I immediately began taking additional training courses offered to further my education in the fire service. In early 2002 I attended EMT school and was the first class from Salem County EMT school to take the National Registry test. They have since stopped issuing that test and only issue the NJ state test. I live a half of mile away from the fire hall and try to spend as much time there as I can. We have a great bunch of people down there and of course the bad apples. Overall I don't think I would change it for the world! I am also a volunteer with our county emergency management (OEM) department - since 2007 but served on the Vineland OEM department as volunteer from 2000-2007.

Day Job:

Network Administrator

Relationship Status:

Single

Facebook or Other Online Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/fireguy2emt

Why I Love Fire/EMS

Being able to help the community while spending time with the "family" on emergency calls and partying with them in between.

Top Issues Facing Responders:

A recruitment and retention plan that works! Once we get them in we have to keep them. Then we need to train them properly - there is never enough training offered. Conflict between paid and volunteer firefighters in a mixed community also brings its own troubles to the table.