Type of Organization

Fire/Rescue Department - Volunteer

Job Function

Training Officer

Years in Fire/EMS:

16

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Why Fire District Why, AZ

Years With Department/Agency

6

My Training:

Firefighter II
Tactics and Procedures
Rope Rescue I
Confined Space Rescue I
Industrial Emergency Response Team
Safety Officer
Fire Service Instructor/Evaluator
Basic EMT
Intermediate EMT

Relationship Status:

Married

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

To help others

Top Issues Facing Responders:

I have been a firefighter (volunteer) for 16 years. What I see is some career firefighters that will never give a volunteer a break. What I mean is that they just assume that because someone is a volunteer, that means they are a lesser firefighter. I just want to say that we volunteers have to fight the same fires, respond to the same MVA's, handle the same haz-mat calls, and run the same medicals that the career guys do - often with less equipment, less manpower, and sometimes with second-rate safety equipment. But we still respond and save lives and protect property. Don't lump all volunteers with a few beer-swilling goof-offs. I consider myself a volunteer professional!