Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rick on October 11, 2008 at 3:52am

Apparently, not much.

(Haven't been in here for a while, but this IS a social network, and I haven't had much time for socializing lately.)

I am the training officer for a small volunteer department in Texas. I try to stay up to date by taking various courses from time to time, or reading related mags or even coming to the Internet. In a couple of weeks, I will be taking live fire training (Cottage Fire) at our County Fire School. I haven't done this in a while, and thought that I might learn something new. I might even refresh my old tired brain a bit on some old information. I am always looking for some new course out there to broaden my horizon, but sometimes, I think that refreshing some old training might do even more good.

I think that what defines me as an officer is the fact that I try to be the best firefighter I can be while showing others the information; and dedication to do the same.

Permalink Reply by Christopher J. Naum, SFPE on October 23, 2008 at 10:55pm

Thanks for the reply...stay safe

Permalink Reply by Michael Vito on October 24, 2008 at 5:08am

Hi my name is Michael Vito - Fire Officer-in-Charge (same equivalent rank for Lt. or capt.) of a volunteer unit in Pasig City, (15 km. away from the capital city Manila), Philippines. It is my 2nd year as a company officer. I'm kind of new to this job, but more than 10 years in all combined as a volunteer firefighter. Well for the last 30 days, as every officer would do. Try to watch over them and not let them down. We had several working fire already, in my country. It is our wildland season for us (the urban version), meaning typical row of houses got burn down when out of control.

Our pump broke down, supervise the repairs together with help of my engineer and our boys. Can't afford to be out of service because of this season, so we have replace temporary with a smaller pump. In the meantime, we wait for the main pump to complete. So far, we have evaluated the replacement of the small pump and did just fine for now. Not really good for aggressive fire attack but good in water supply.

It's pretty rare to have firefighting books here. So I took advantage from another volunteer from different VFB who is selling books from the states. So I bought the Fundamentals of Firefighting right away. It's my first real reference. So during my down time, reading it now for a refresh.

Me and my chief is trying to put together a course outline for refresher training in firefighting (back to basic stuff) next month.

Permalink Reply by Jenny Holderby on October 28, 2008 at 12:35am

We haven't had a lot going on as far as calls lately. We are concentrating on fixing some administrative issues right now. My department is having to "regroup" because some members resigned & other members came on board. Some of the "new" members are new FFs and some are past members returning. Trying to get everyone up to speed & into the new state system is a priority as well as getting the newer members into training. It is October now so we've done a lot more fire prevention & working on fund raisers & getting our tax levy renewed.

Permalink Reply by Stephen Russell on February 24, 2009 at 10:36am

I am fairly new to this group, but have gotten some very good insight here. I'm a lieutenant of a station with three people and we run an ALS also out of our station, some days its hard to get quality training in. Recently we had a shift shack up and I got two guys that are really dedicated and wanting to train, so here's what I can up with every shift one person takes a topic of there choosing and we train in house for at least two hours on that topic. It usually works great on days its raining or bad weather we tye knots, search the bays, do hydraulics on the board, and even some EMS topics and on good days we do engine, aerial ops, D/O training. The moral at my station is great right now and I hope it contines.

Permalink Reply by Francisco Ramirez on February 24, 2009 at 10:25pm

I am the newest of the new. I am a Lt. for a small town west of Chicago. I was promoted in October 2008 and recently joined Firefighter Nation.

In the last month, I have sat down with my guys and listened to what they have to say. If they had any problems or concerns they were brought to the table. Every issue was assigned a time line.

We recently had a shift change. The officers of station one were moved. So I sat with the new officer and talked about the expectations of the shift.

I think what I have done is established a good communication pathway with my guys. That is what defines my as an Officer.

Permalink Reply by John Schander on March 1, 2009 at 1:51pm

Completed instructor certifcation in auto extrication, and incident safety officer.

Permalink Reply by Capt. Tom on March 2, 2009 at 9:02pm

Good timeless question. It made me think about what I have REALLY done for my people that makes a difference. I am a Captain in a volley department of 4 companies. My current position is with EMS although I am fire Trained and just recently (last week) received my national certification as a fire service instructor, so "NO" I am not just one of the "blue coat guys".
In the past 30 days I have spent about 20 hours deflecting superfluous pressures from the Chief to make my people perform above what they are capable of at this point and negotiating a reasonable track of expected progress. I have seen that track be accelerated by the exceptional people I have asked for help. I have defended one of my problem members against unfair attacks to allow that member to grow into his/her own and do better without being badgered for past mistakes. I have provided administrative organization to prevent the Officers that follow me from having to re-invent the wheel. Everything I do, good or bad, is documented for them take take advantage of, or not, as they choose. I have given several of our newer members and 1 new Officer the freedom and ability to lead and make decisions on tasks that suit their level and have had the pleasure of praising their incredible success beyond what I could have reasonably expected. I have maintained my response level even though most nights I am completely wiped out from the afore mentioned activities. I have represented our Department at 4 wakes for brothers or sisters in the service and was one of only 2 to drive 600 miles to attend the memorial service for the only EMT in our state to be murdered on the job, and sent a heartfelt letter to that EMT's mentor expressing my personal support and grief at his loss. A letter which took me 3 days to write and proofread, and write again. I have spent hours on the phone and many emails lining up guest instructors for our Department to provide meaningful and new approaches to teaching. I have spent 2 nights every week teaching at other Departments around our County, thereby learning how things are done in other departments to bring good ideas back home.
Again, I'm just a volley, but I take this as a real job because the people that call us expect professionals to show up at their door. You can't tell a ptaient or a fire victim that "we are just volunteers". We need to be the first and the best on the scene and it doesn't mean a tinker's damn whether you get cash or a 'thank you' as payment. You can't say 'I have other things to do' when your neighbor is in desperate need. At least I can't. So as an Officer, you have your work cut out for you and you do what the job requires. You can sleep when you are dead, right?

Be sharp, Be safe,
Capt. Tom

Permalink Reply by Stephane M. Goulet on March 27, 2009 at 2:09pm

Got into town politcs and informed our voters / taxpayers our need for a new engine. 5 sets of full turnout, and 11 MSA fire hawk airpacks. and I am currently working on some state and federal grants for new fire equipment, communications equipment, and station upgrades. and since there is plenty of Obama money floating around I have some engineers and arhcitects designing a new station-1 for us. hopefully it goes through. but I am not getting our hopes up. spoke to our state reps and they are behind us on this project. lots of time involved. Im volunteer and the wife is not happy about all the meetings I am going to for the extra duty I am pulling. but it needs to get done. and she understands. thats why I love her.... stay safe and have a good weekend.

Capt Stephane M. Goulet
Wallingford Fire Department
Wallingford Vt.

Permalink Reply by Bull on May 28, 2009 at 8:07am

I'm the Captain and training officer of my small volunteer fire Department. I set up a couple classes, Pa-130 basic wildland firefighting, S-190 Wildfire behavior, Water Rescue Awareness, and Rural Water Movement.
I trained 3 guys to drive and operate our Engine, and 1 to operate the brush. I assisted in a combined Engine and Truck ops training session with neighboring department. I recieved my non-suppression Instructor card, now working towards becoming a suppression instructor. Other than that not much. Great question Chief!!!

Permalink Reply by Brandon Guttery on February 12, 2011 at 2:21am

In the last 30 days? as a paid officer looking after 5 volunteer brigades I have visited with all my Chiefs, and two brigades on their training nights.

Have started a project to align 14 local brigades onto one standard training pathway to standardise all our training.

Represented the volunteers at a strategic planning session looking at key projects, upgrades and repairs in regards to the long term budget including an appliance replacement programme (which we have never had in the past)

I get up everyday knowing that getting all the volunteers home safe at the end of an incident is my responsibility.