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Comment by Ken Wagner on December 6, 2008 at 2:57pm

When was the last time that you saw a Fire or a person in need of our assistance DISCRIMINATE between a PAID or a VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER.
I have never seen this once. There is absolutely no differance what so ever. I have to agree with the other comment why don't the paid personnell help to educate the volunteers so that we all may have the same training so we can do the job we are supposed to when the need arises.
In my mind if we are all firefighters then we are all professionals. We should not need the UNION label to be called a proffesional!

Comment by Robert Venable on December 6, 2008 at 12:14pm

The reason paid positions came available is because of not enough staffing from vollies.Thse people have chosen to make this a career just as the vollies have in their jobs.The problem comes when the vollies lleave things to the career guys just because they get paid to work.Our paid guys do alot of work for our station the we as vollies wouldn't have time to do,but whenever we are there we pitch in and help.If we have a crwe available when we get a call we will run it and leave the paid guys back to cover the next call and they don't mind.Our Chief sets the duties for the career guys when they are on duty at our station.This usually consist of daily and monthly equipment checks and cleaning various parts of the station on certain days.I believe its a blessing to have these guys because I know when I get to the station to run a call everything is ready to go and when I get a piece of equipment to use at a scene, I have more confidence because I know is't been checked and is ready to go.Most of the vollies at our station don't have time to do these things because of work,family,training,fundraising.committee meetings,etc.We are fortunate to have the help from our career staff,otherwise it would put more strain on the core vollies that respond to most of the calls,do the funraising,etc.We have about 100 members with only about 25 being active and about 15 doing the bulk of the work.

Comment by Cathy Shipley on December 6, 2008 at 11:28am

I can so understand your anger here. Its been going on for yrs. I'm paid with my ambulance service, and volunteer with my fire company. I've done 10 yrs as a volunteer on the ambulance prior to being paid. I do this just for the love of what I do. I have been an advocate against the fighting among services since the beginning. We are all suppose to be here from the same number 1 reason..to save, and protect! Thats it! I DO NOT care, what service you are with, what color your trucks are, or who's territory it is..if I'm there, I'll do the best job that I can, and if I need help, just come and help me. Lets just all work together and get the job done people!!!! No matter how you look at any senerio, there is still and always will be 1 goul..do the job, and going back home safe. I pray I'm around to see the day that all of EMS comes together as 1..God do I pray for that.

Comment by FIRE BEAR on December 6, 2008 at 10:17am

I AGREE SO MUCH WITH WHAT YOU SAY TIM FIREFIGHTING IS NOT THE TIME AND PLACE FOR IT I COME FROM A PAID DEPT AND AM NOW ON A VOL. THERE IS NO DIFFRENT TO ME . IF YOU DO IT FOR THE MONEY TO BEGIN WITH SOMEONES NOT MAKEING VERY MUCH I DONT CARE IF YOUR PAID OR NOT I GET TRAPPED (GOD FORBID) IM NOT GOING TO ASK FOR W-2 FORM BEFORE YOU GET ME OUT

Comment by Paul Montpetit on December 6, 2008 at 7:28am

Tim, I can't answer this...maybe it is fear of job security...maybe it is jealousy....maybe it is the attitude...hey I do this and they pay me therefore I am better at it than you..?? who knows.....I do know it is the worst thing in the world for BOTH sides...We have a neighboring Department that runs paid...they do not hesitate to call for mutual aid and we all work well together....Stay safe and keep the faith.......Paul