Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Leigha on March 25, 2008 at 12:00am

Since no one ever answered you, i will.

Explorers will seem more similiar depending on the department. Volunteer vs. paid departments will run explorer posts differently. I am an explorer and we have no volunteers at all at the department, so we are as close at it comes. But we dont get pagers, or show up at station to catch truck for a call. We sign up to ride, 1 or 2 explorers, per station, depending on how many men work that day. then we just go on all the calls the station runs.

This is where it gets a little confusing. At a volunteer department, you can becomae the volunteer at age 18, Paid departments though, you dont have that option. You stay explorer until 21, then you have the choice of leaving or becoming advisor, and teaching. No volunteers are explorers, but explorers arent exactly considered volunteers, but its as close as it comes. We chose to volunteer our time, and attend trainings, just as volunteers do.

Permalink Reply by Michelle Robertson on May 15, 2008 at 3:15pm

You both have made some very good comments. YOu must be a great assest to your Companies. I am an Advisor for our Post and we can def. use more good kids like you. Keep up the good work.

Permalink Reply by Marc on January 19, 2009 at 11:47am

Ok, in LAFD we have both Explorers and Volunteers. Explorer get to do SO much more. Volunteers only show up to HUGE incidents and work only at re-hab passing out water. Explorers go to all calls and get to man defensive handlines at fire, work re-hab, help with command, basic first-aid, swap out bottles, and so much more

Explorer Marc Hurwitz
Los Angeles CITY fire Department

Permalink Reply by cody benac on June 19, 2009 at 11:23am

at my explorer post we get to do as Marc said plus we get pagers but we only get to go on cetien call nothing that some one has died no heart call but we can go to fires, some MVAs, and Some EMS call Band-aid call ie Bullshit calls, we can't use the husrt tool which i fully understand y, and we can't go in to burning building at a real fire but we can in a training site, no climbing ladder at the fire scene but we can in training

Permalink Reply by Aaron Smith on June 19, 2009 at 12:22pm

My department is 100% volunteer so any active explorer is just as dedicated and VOLUNTEER their time like anyone else. As for code 3... Explorers can run lights on scene and firemen can respond code3

Permalink Reply by Andrew G on December 24, 2009 at 5:01pm

We are a volunteer dept, we (explorers) get a pager and minitor, we are able to go to calls after we have the training. we can basicly do everything but interior firefighting and operating the pump.

Permalink Reply by Adam 47-20 on December 26, 2009 at 3:07pm

I am a exploere i wouldnt mind wearing a t-shirt that says I am a firefigther