FireFighter Nation is NOT a training institution.

Seems like a simple enough statement, but there are those who think that it is, or should be, and would have everyone believe that it is.

What is FireFighter Nation, or FFN, as we like to call it? It is a Social Network for FireFighters and our EMS brothers and sisters. It is a virtual gathering of Firefighters from all across the U.S., and the world, in a sort of on-going Social Hour. Like the first hour of a Firefighter’s Ball.

When you log onto FFN, you are entering a vast meeting hall where dozens of conversations are taking place at once! If a gathering like this were to take place in the real world, we would require a very large convention center indeed!

As you enter you will find those who only want to discuss the important stuff, such as fire ground tactics, Firefighter safety, Firefighter fitness, LODDs and similar subjects. These are important topics and we should all stop to listen-in on the conversations happening there and even share what we know. We can all learn something by following the conversations of those who have more experience than ourselves.

As we move-on from that group, we will encounter people showing off pictures of their Prides and Joy! There are pictures of Kids, dogs, fire apparatus past and present, working fires, Firefighter Challenge and Firemen’s’ Musters, favorite motorcycles, favorite tattoos and even a swimsuit picture or two. These folks are enjoying themselves!

We’ll pass groups of Teens who are looking forward to their day on the Hose! They can’t fight fires yet, but they’ve seen fires, and they know Firefighters and they are excited about their future as Firefighters. So they compare notes about their Junior Firefighter programs, their Explorer Posts and the sometimes they complain that the “old guys” just don’t “get it.”

As we leave them we’ll see flickering images on the wall. This is from some folks sharing their favorite fire videos, there’s music in the air too and that’s the playlists some people are sharing. There’s a bulletin board with the latest news from around the world of Firefighting and EMS posted on it.

There are more conversations happening all around us. Sexual Harassment, The Super bowl, some folks are playing a word association game, some are spending “ten minutes in the street” and talking about what to do if a large house were to burn in their district, some talk about their service to our nation in the military, and others talk about their schools. Some talk about pay, some talk about patient care, there’s some talking about CAFS, and some talking about Sprinklers, there’s some talking about mentoring and some about hose loads; some are even talking about the lights on their POVs. There are in fact about 8,000 conversations going on at once in this great gathering!

The beauty of FFN is that we are not limited to only one conversation at a time; in fact we can participate in as many conversations at once as we want to. We can talk about the important stuff like Firefighter survival, while also talking about less important things like the color our of station uniforms. We can talk about every tool of the trade be it a Halligan, an axe, a flashing light on a POV, or a SCBA.

My point is simple; FFN is the Forum for all of us Brothers and Sisters in the Fire Service to talk about ALL aspects of the job, both the serious and the not-so serious. We’re here to share and pass-on knowledge and relate our experiences, but we’re also here to socialize, make friends and have a good time as well. There’s room for everyone, and whether you’re here to learn, to share, or just get to know others who share your passion, there’s room for everyone.

Welcome to the Nation.

Greenman