Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chris Sterling on March 1, 2009 at 5:04pm

Unfortunatley, it seems to be the trend. Less people are volunteering, and less money is available to Vol. companies. You can recruit, and promote till your blue in the face, but the reallity of it all is, most people won't do something for nothing. As far as money, if it ain't there, it ain't there! I cringe every time I see the fuel gauge go below a half a tank in any of the equipment. We, sofar, are quite fortunate. We aren't in any real danger yet, but we could certainly use more firefighters, firefighters that are truley committed to staying around, and doing the job! Firefighters that don't just join so they can put a light on they're car just to say, LOOK AT ME!!!

Permalink Reply by Chris Rampulla on March 2, 2009 at 5:10pm

With the percentage of vol. firefighters totaling 75% of all firefighters, I think we will be safe. There are still to many of us that are dedicated to the job. I also agree with the statement that money is getting tight but all of that will turn around eventually. Until then there are grants and other funds to look into.

Permalink Reply by PFC Harmon on March 4, 2009 at 7:10pm

The number of departments might be the same, but the number of members WILL go down. People just don't have the time or the money. I know several of my firefighters have second jobs, have to conserve gas or can't afford a babysitter. Not only that but most small volunteer departments run mainly off donations or a small county budget. The public don't have the money to give like they use to, and when county governments have to cut budgets what do you think will be the first to go? Hopefully by twenty fifteen the economy will be on it's feet and this will be reversed. Stay safe.

Permalink Reply by Edward Stephens on March 15, 2009 at 2:06am

it's a shame but that's the way it is going to be.we ahve to many of us fighting each other instead of standing up as one

Permalink Reply by Dave on March 16, 2009 at 9:13pm

Probably very true. I can say from personal experience that, just look at requirements for training.
Fire fighter 1 here in Nebraska, takes 2 days per week, 4 hrs per night, for at least , 4-5 months. On top of that Firefighter 2 is coming around, and it will take almost 1 year to complete. That comes from 2 of the part-time instructors we are lucky to have within our own department. Like the others have said too, it's tight budgets, and a nother problem we have had locally for a long time, is, membership. Nobody wants to give up hours at a time any more for fighting, then come back clean up and wash hose, trucks and everything else. It hurts even more when your district 200 square mile area.

Permalink Reply by Alex on March 21, 2009 at 10:47pm

well what i think is that youll probly start seeing more vollie departments than paid pretty soon.Becasue youve gotta think that alot of small towns that are paid wont be able to afford to pay their fireman or first responders,especially with the way economy is anymore.So im sayin that youll probly see an increase rather than a decrease in Volunteer Fire Departments

Permalink Reply by Chris Dilley on March 27, 2009 at 4:37am

I would hope that there will always be a place for people to volunteer and augment in the fire service. More and more people do not have the free time to volunteer. Another issue I see is the "meism" mindset, where people are only concerned about themselves and do not care to help out others when they are in need of assistance. Most of my coworkers think I am crazy for volunteering with the fire dept. The first question many ask when they find out that I am a firefighter is how much does it pay? I hope that I will be able to continue in the fire service as a volunteer for many more years.
Chris

Permalink Reply by engine 15 on March 29, 2009 at 10:48am

This is attributed to one of the largest unions in the nation who clame they care about the citizens of their communities. A union that says thier members are true pillars in thier community but will not allow them to help thier communities if they happen to not be able to afford to or want to live in the community where they work. A union in these economic times believes if your community can not afford union firefighters then you should not have a fire department.
And even so we have small towns closing stations and relieing on help from further away Union fire departments.
My friends in the volunteer fire service, I dont believe its the feds who are all to blame, but the very if you want to call them leaders of a union. And a declining economy to blame for closing of volunteer fire houses.
I am not a union basher, I belong to a union in my full time job. But I do not agree with the leader of a union who is suppost to support people who want to help people, making it so in thier spare time they can not use thier skills to help thier nieghbors, and believes if you live in a small community you do not deserve a group of your nieghbors who want to take the training to help you do so.

Permalink Reply by Marty D. Ross on March 29, 2009 at 12:32pm

I have been hereing quit alot of conversation on this matter. A friend of mine is the chief of a fellow dept. He is trying to get our fire fighter reps. together with this guy in the house of reps. Who thinks that all volunteer departments need to be gone! He also said that we need to get so much training that it will shut the doors of many departments. The rep in the house is from New Jersey some where. It dosen't matter how well your group is trained it is not enough. They don't seem to realize that most of your carrier dept. started out volunteer.

Permalink Reply by Chad Furr on April 7, 2009 at 9:11pm

10 years ago I would have said NO WAY IN HECK could our town of 800 ppl afford 2 FT EMT's. Well guess what. WE have them now. I forsee in the not so distant future there being FT FF's at our station during the day when it is hard to get help. I am planning for this in a way as I am taking every class I can and trying to be the best qualified for the job if it comes around. TCSS

Permalink Reply by joe whitworth on April 8, 2009 at 9:10am

that may be ok in some places but in rural ky like some states with small cities the vol will be around forever

Permalink Reply by EYFD5917 on April 8, 2009 at 11:58am

Here in Ohio,two major cities are already looking at BLS EMS response from their FD's,citing that there is no need for ALS response after their studies on the issue.The money is simply not there right now to pay FF/EMT-P's,when they could be paying a FF/EMT-B less money.(I wonder if the medics will agree to a pay decrease).In tough times,tough decisions are made,and as stated by others,the Volunteer companies are operating on a shoe string as it is.I fear it will it get worse before it gets better.

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