Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by PFC Harmon on February 18, 2009 at 8:49pm

I cant go. I work for a gas utility and have to be at work to respond to cut gas lines and leaks. Like other people have said if I didn't have my day job I couldn't afford to volunteer.

Permalink Reply by Joel C Kelley on February 19, 2009 at 3:25pm

I just started a job where I work a three day shift consecutively, so I have a four day weekend to keep my pager on.

Permalink Reply by Brandon on February 19, 2009 at 9:32pm

Almost all of our firefighters are able to leave work when needed. The employers understand how important a FD is to the town and that in order to run a vol FD, you have to be able to leave work to respond.

Permalink Reply by Mike Young on February 20, 2009 at 12:38am

Ohio has a house bill that was introduced several years ago based from our department. Some of our members ( me included) are village employees. Coucil approved that the employees could leave to answer a call and still get paid. Then the county commissioners followed allowing county employees to do the same. When both of these hit the papers Charlie Wilson a state rep. introduced the bill. Alot dont know about it.
Myself, Im the Chief. Im the Asst. PD Chief and a Probation officer. Ive been known to pump a engine or command a scene while on PD duty. If Im at the Probation job I leave with nothing said.

Permalink Reply by Stacy Snow on February 20, 2009 at 8:01pm

Well currently I stay at work for fire calls (no pay) but I leave for squad runs and hazmat calls(paid). My last job they paid me for "any" call I went on. Talk to your employer and see if they would pay you full pay or a reduced rate make it sound like they are the ones giving to the community and not you, makes them feel better. Most companys will give something to the community why not an employees time.

Permalink Reply by Stacy Snow on February 20, 2009 at 8:06pm

Mike I would like to know more about this house bill I am from Ohio. thank you.

Permalink Reply by Lt. Ballinger on February 21, 2009 at 7:18pm

My full time job sits in the middle of our city but was never annexed in so it was technically county protection area but made an agreement with the city fire dept to let the fire dept. members leave on calls in trade for fire protection. Over the years the building was annexed but we are still allowed to leave for MVA's, structure fires, and other calls determined to be something extra manpower is needed. If we are at work and leave we get paid while we are gone up to 8 hours pay if we don't return to work. If we leave and come back to work then we are paid the whole time we are gone within reason. If we are gone 12 hours and come back to work 3 more hours then we usually don't get paid for the whole time we are gone. A couple of other dept's used to be able to leave for their calls also until their members got caught sitting around the station BSing for hours before coming back so their privledge was taken away. Usually H.R. will come to me to find out what the calls were people left for and if the people who said they were going to the call actually did or not. We have a good thing going with the company and I don't need some knuckle head ruining it for the dept. since we don't get many during the day.

Permalink Reply by Bobby on March 3, 2009 at 6:07pm

in our dept work comes first. If you rode on a truck and need to leave for work then sorry but i many times have left from a call early to get to work and usually still smell of smoke. And it doesn't matter if its training controled burns or actual calls YOU ARE EXCUSED and not expected to make it.

Permalink Reply by Brandon on March 12, 2009 at 2:23pm

If employers didn't let firefighters leave work to respond, then volunteer fire depts wouldn't really work.

Permalink Reply by Terry Page on March 12, 2009 at 4:28pm

I work for the city maintenance, and I'm pretty lucky I get paid from the city while at any calls during working hours. I agree with ruger2004 you must work for some A**holes. Cause here in are small town we have a big corporation and they let there guys go and they even paid like I do during working hours. Are small town is all about helping each other out so most of the employers pay the guys while on a call during working hours.

Permalink Reply by Cole on March 13, 2009 at 11:05pm

i only leave for working structure fires or 10-50 pin ins that are bad enough that we have to set up an LZ to land Air Care. I want despretly to run every call but i cant afford to lose my job

Permalink Reply by Michael Simpson on March 14, 2009 at 1:37pm

it is good that you job lets you go. i cannot myself but always remember as much as we are family your main family comes first with bills/food/ect. i know it not fun i work directly across the street from my building and have to watch them go. had house fire yesterday because not all jobs will let you leave. i have had both but always remember you have to take care of home first or you wont be doing the department any good.

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