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Comment by FF337 on February 5, 2008 at 9:23pm

Kelly, I just joined the site to answer this question. But ill stick around, looks like some good folks around here.

We had or still have a problem with freelancing. It is getting MUCH better. Our problem was/is our off-duty and volunteer ff's respond from home without checking in with IC, they get packed up to go inside to fight the fire...then leave during or shortly after salvage and overhaul to get out of clean-up.

During a one occassion, I remember me and my partner searching the A/B side of a structure and then advancing to the C/D side of the structure where the fire was. While we were crawling, I bumped into SEVEN (7) people. There was NOBODY but the pump operator outside. The batt Chief and the ladder truck arrived on scene shortly after.

After this incident, my Batt. Chief layed into four people including an off-duty Volunteer Capt. This episode was brought to an officer's meeting to resolve the problem. And the department is working hard to correct the issue. Like I said, it is getting much better.

The resolution? NIP it in the butt ASAP. Bring it up to Captains, Batt. Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs, even the Chief. Speak to your safety officer etc.

Unfortunately, in this line of work, to learn is to study mistakes. Odds are that mistake took someones life.

Good luck.