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Are paid and volunteer firefighters equally receptive to junior firefighters?
I was reading a post on here about junior firefighters and if they should be called firefighters, when a thought popped into my head. Are paid firefighters less receptive to junior firefighters? Are volunteer firefighters more receptive? Should that be reversed? or is it just a personal matter everyone needs to decide on their own? One man said as a volunteer he would be happy to have juniors out there doing the small jobs (packing hose, changing air bottles, ect.) so that one more firefighters could go in and help fight the actual fire instead of doing those jobs. Now as a junior firefighter from an entirely volunteer station i have a fairly one sided view of this issue so i am asking for your opinions. With this post i am NOT meaning to start up the "should we have junior firefighters" discussion or the "Is it better to be a volunteer or paid firefighter" one either. Thank you to all who post!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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Jessica, I would welcome you on my fireground to help out with after incident ops anytime.
CBz
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Well said John... one of the key points I caught here was your personal opinion and attitude. why? because it takes an adult to lead so people can follow and learn by example. I perceive you being one the solutions compared to many who are just part of the problem.
TCSS,
CBz
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Your post makes an exceptional case for why there may be an issue with respect. What I am seeing here in your post is basically chit stirring. I truly don't think you have much experience Barry with as many fire departments as you are eluding to with your statements about paid guys doing it for a living and explorers are there to learn.
I'm a paid guy and have worked for years with the volunteer departments that used to be around. There was never a riff, in fact, there was a brotherhood and we were all friends. You put me side by side with anyone who is a firefighter and for the life of me I could never envision anything other than mutual respect for one another.
Personally I find a "riff" between vol and paid in alot of places never mind FFs vs explorers
I find this statement offensive and inflammatory. Noting from your profile page your quote, "I wish people on this site would just leave the explolers/juniors alone on this site" Jan 2. If you post comments like the one above, did you stop to think that you might just be making things worse?
To be honest, a 15-year olds opinion just isn't worth much... No offense, but quite frankly, you need to focus on learning the job, not starting fights.
i'm not here to pick on you but for crying out loud, when you sit at key board and type out stuff like this, it's no wonder some folks are getting a little tired.
Your a good kid Barry but you need to learn the job and be a good student. To not do so means that you are never going to fully learn and appreciate the job. I want to see you succeed in all your endeavors but please, don't talk about something that you have absolutely no background or experience with. It makes you look, well... like a child.
I did make note Barry that you are getting ready to take a test involving hazmat ERG usage.
Rememer, the ERG can be just like me... an old NAG sometimes...
The ERG is divided into sections, starting with the numerical listing of chemicals using the UN Numbers. The next section is the Alphabetical listing of chemicals followed by the Guide Numbers. Now you won't forget the order and what's in the book...
Good luck Barry on your test and remember that explorers are there to learn from old cocky guys like me that really do truly care about you.
TCSS,
CBz
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Permalink Reply by John Dinnsen on
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I truely believe that there is a place for Junior firefighters in the fire service.....and a need for them. But there also needs to be a commitment from them as well. There is nothing more disheartning than trying to help teach the "future" of the fire service and the student doesn't care or make a conserted effort.
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Permalink Reply by Russ on
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Jessica: you are brave to bring up this subject and i can say that the biggest concern reguardless of paid vs. volunteer is any junior getting injured or killed on a scene. The level of involvement with juniors is a constant subject for debate and concern in every department because of liability issues. i myself cannot bear the thought of a young person getting injured or killed on a scene when they only wanted to be helpful. i also understand your want to be involved is so strong and that is to be commended. i wish i had a better answer for you but the bottom line is emergency scenes are dangerous and your adult leaders are allways going to be concerned with the safety of the junior's in their charge. when i was young there was no junior program and i had a friend who was in one and i was so jealous of him. (he's a retired captain now)
god bless and protect you, keep going and learning, and may your dreams be you only boundries
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Permalink Reply by Ben "Batman" Barry on
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First of all I do enjoy and welcome the opinion of senior members. As to "riffs" with vol vs career depts, never mind paid or vol. We are here for one purpose and that is to serve the people of where ever we serve.
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I have been in my share of riffs in a dept and have hated every second of it
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Permalink Reply by Lani on
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I may be a "new" volunteer to our district, but make no mistake I too have noticed a big "us vs. them" when it comes to the volunteers v. career guys....my question is why? I hold a deep respect for what everyone in our district does, from the explorer to the paid guy...after all we are really all in this for the same basic reasons for the most part.
My thing is, as many volunteers I have a full time job, it's a nice feeling for me that when I'm at work along with many of my fellow volunteers my home/family is protected by the career guys who are on duty. Without them, there may be no response in some of our areas during the day...that doesn't serve the community well.
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Permalink Reply by roy yoder on
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here is a short version of what has been said and will go a long way for nay of us. we are a SERVICE, learn to serve the public and those you serve with and you will find peace.
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Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on
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I've seen a gradual decline in willingness on the part of younger people to do community service - at least here in Texas. I hope that's not true everywhere. Any department should be very glad to have a young person willing to learn the trade. You'll find individuals just about everywhere who couldn't care less. But most will welcome the opportunity to teach and help the juniors. Thanks, Jessica, for all that you do. I hope my department will be blessed with another junior firefighter.
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My home town dept is the same way. My father is on the towns vol fire department. There are 5 paid 1 vol stations. During work days most of the time the paid guys will cover for the vol guys and we do the same for them when needed. Its all about the brotherhood.
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Permalink Reply by Jake Stoffer on
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I am from a volunteer department and we do value our Juniors. We consider them members of the department and in many circumstances, when one starts off as a firefighter, they will get more of the "grunt" work, mainly because they are new, have little training, and need to start in the station learning the basics of equipment upkeep and operation. Our juniors help out a lot when needed, and we do have them "help" with the hose, maintenance of equipment, etc. not to mention attend some training sessions. I mean "help" as in we ALL do it. This, not only helps our department in getting things done that need to be done, but also helps out the Junior FF in their knowledge so that they can attend the state classes as soon as they can and have a leg up while doing it. As far as calling them firefighters, our state law does allow them to help out on certain scenes and in certain situations. I consider anyone who has the passion and is willing to give up their time, put on gear, and willing to help out at an emergency scene a firefighter, whether that person is a junior or not
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