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Comment by Fireman Larry on January 17, 2011 at 3:15pm

I'm surprised, their town has nice fire equipment, Equipment:
Class A Pumpers: 4 Brush Trucks: 3

Rescue Utility: 1 Rescue Boats: 1
most of it is late model, so there's money going into it, why're they not wearing gear.... here's another video, same problems....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cGyYs5wwfU

Comment by Marisa on January 17, 2011 at 2:59pm

Video has been Removed, I cant view the video. :(

Comment by Chris Kennedy on January 17, 2011 at 2:30pm

Thanks Jim, yes, I too make much better than average, but I am an exception and that is what allows me to put long hours in free service. Good luck in SC it is a beautiful state with big heart-ed people!

Comment by Jim Reaves on January 17, 2011 at 2:16pm

I agree 100% Geary, good points all with the possible exception of rural area residents having less money: I earn a rather good income and choose to live in a more rural area instead of a larger city primarily to be away from the congestion and to participate in the VFD, I just wish I had done it many years ago! My fiancee and I will be moving in about 2 1/2 years most likely to SC and I have already been scouting areas to live where I can continue my volunteer service. As for the rest of your post, that's a big 10-4....good luck and stay safe brother!

Comment by Chris Kennedy on January 17, 2011 at 1:12pm

Jim, as a 25 year vet of an Alabama department, with FF friends throughout all these southern states, I am not speaking to the wind. Yes, I agree wholeheartedly there are many ways to fund needs, but it all starts with attitudes (political) and knowledge (firefighting). Yes there are exceptions, areas that realize and have done much more (especially in FL and TX), but they remain, from my observations, in the minority. Re-read what I said before; I never stated this was a mentality issue, I said it was no money. Property is worth less in most areas, populations are more disbursed, rural residents have less income, and firefighting gear and equipment costs the same here as anywhere. My point holds, the primary equipment needed to risk our lives should be a part of the basic funding package with no need to hold special fund-raising events or seek grants to cover. But like you said, it is hard to get anything from a 14 sec clip. I was just defending the department's lack of turnouts with another explanation. I have worked very hard to insure that every firefighter in my department has the correct gear to do the job, and no one goes near the incident without it properly in place. Only 30% of my budget comes from taxes or mandated fees, the rest comes through as much or more time being spent on raising money as on training, otherwise we would not have the fuel to get to the incident. This does not make sense either, but it is some of our realities. Geary TAMU '84

Comment by Jim Reaves on January 17, 2011 at 11:52am

Geary, I don't know where you get off with the southern states mentality but that's a serious stereotype that really isn't fair at all. We here at our dept in Texas have gear or are getting it for all of our active members. There are many ways to fund a VFD for gear, training, etc and that may be the case here. We are all pretty much just speculating on what was a 14 second video anyway...

Comment by Greg Bartlow on January 17, 2011 at 11:51am

Breathing hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide is bad enough, getting burned at the same time, would make the outcome even worse.

Comment by Chris Kennedy on January 17, 2011 at 11:28am

Clearly they should not allow themselves into this position. Understand that they are volunteer which means, in most of these southern states, no money. You can't waste what you don't have. It was mid 1990's before my own department had any turnouts, it was late 1990's before we had an SCBA. Where the cost of outfitting one FF is more than the budget for the entire year, well.... We do the best we can with what we have. The expectation from the public remains the same however. No, I would never have allowed anyone on the roof or in the structure without PPE even then. This one video clearly shows the need for appropriate funding at all levels, but tell that to the politicians that think you can correctly staff, outfit, train and run a department on $20,000 per year.

Comment by Larry L Pond on January 17, 2011 at 10:59am

Any Firefighter should go through training at Texas A&M fire fighting school before they take on this type of fire. They can help but not inside until they are fully trianed. I have seen volunteers push fire from the front of the house to back instead of coming in the back and put the fire out in the front room they blow it and the water clear out the back. Lack of training cost all of us time and money.

Comment by Mario Bourgeois on January 17, 2011 at 10:48am

Well that says a lot... IMO

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