Relationships in the firehouse...what's your take?

My boyfriend and I have been together for 2 years now, we met at the firehouse when i joined, and we have successfully managed to (as i like to say) 'divorce' on the fire scene. even when he was in serious danger, i kept my cool and continued to do what i was told. I know not everyone can accomplish that. i was just wondering if anyone else is in or has been in a successful firehouse relationship or if anyone is completely against it?
what's your opinion?

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Permalink Reply by Kayla Rodman on March 27, 2008 at 9:37am

I'm not saying I am against it but I am not for it either. I think it makes it hard when you are both in the field together but it is nice when they can relate and then again its hard when its not there because you can't talk to them and they don't understand. Its really based on you. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa on March 27, 2008 at 6:55pm

I have been in the fire service for 7 years my husband has been in there 13 years .We have had no trouble with being in the same dept so I really don't think that it matters.Honestly I can say he has taught me alot.July 24 will be 9 years we have been married so it can work out you just have to work together.

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Permalink Reply by Nikki on March 27, 2008 at 10:40pm

i used to date a firefighter and he and i would end up on scenes together. we would do our thing as if we weren't even together. it was like we pressed pause on the relationship and then hit play when the scene was done.

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Permalink Reply by O'Kitty on March 28, 2008 at 12:58pm

I'm sleeping with the assistant chief.

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Permalink Reply by Mary Ellen Shea on March 28, 2008 at 1:44pm

Miss Kitty--
rotflmao....

Classic, and pefectly stated.
:)

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Permalink Reply by D.C. Sterbenz on March 28, 2008 at 1:46pm

I don't recommend it if you are on the line together, I work part time for a county department where my wife is the administrative assistant (secretary) at. This works ok for the most part but there is a problem with bringing work home and not knowing where to draw the line. I must say that if you have made it two years good for you but I would take the advise of the others and say run calls seperate when possible. Some of the biggest arguments that my wife and I have had have been work related but we are doing better at avoiding this all the time.
About three months ago I was injured on my full time job at Topeka Fire and my wife I found out later had been listening to the radio (against my wishes) and made a problem for us because she did not find out through traditional means. I don't want my wife to know what goes on when I am on duty let alone if something goes wrong.

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Permalink Reply by Rescuefrog on March 28, 2008 at 2:03pm

Before I became a firefighter I was on another serve the community team(still am). At some point my husband and I decided to divorce (he wasn't on the team) and I became close to a guy on the team who was emotionally supported. We began seeing each other and did so for almost five years. During this time we became volunteer ffs. We to were able to separate what we were doing on scene from home. During his first year he was hired on at another dept. Imagine my surprise when I learned he was having an affair with a volunteer ff at that dept. Some of the guys at both depts new but never said anything. We split up and then she joined the other com team we were both still on. That divided the team for the 5 months she was there. Although it didn't hurt emergency situations (she wasn't responding yet) it did cause complications at trainings and meetings and it was emotionally hard on me. Some team members weren't sure if they should be a friend to her, others hated her without knowing her, others didn't want to speak to him either. They ended up leaving the team after 5 mo. Not all in house relationships end like this, I have many friends that prove that you can work and play together and have a long lasting relationship. I have seen splits that both stayed friends and splits that caused problems. There are a lot of pros and cons to any situation, and you can't help who you fall in love with. Just use good judgment, keep an open line of communication and remember what's at home- should stay at home!

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Smith on March 28, 2008 at 11:32pm

I think it is alright as long as you leave your relationship issues outside the station and become firefighters the second you walk in the door.

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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on March 29, 2008 at 12:20pm

Charges of nepotism/favoritism may come later if either of you attain rank.
Family dominated fire departments tend to cause problems, not because there are problems but because there is a "perception" of problems. Appearance is everything and when it appears that a fire department is controlled by family strings or whatever, good luck keeping members or better, good luck getting new ones.
When a real emergency grabs you, I will guarantee you that "FAMILY" will come first. You do not have enough strength to fight such a strong emotion. No one does. And anyone who says that they do is either looney or pretending.
Good luck.
Art

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Permalink Reply by Patrick on March 29, 2008 at 1:05pm

I would have to say that it would probably be better if you worked at different stations or on different shifts for the simple fact that some people may start pulling the " your doing her/him a favor because he/she is your boyfriend/girlfriend. I however applaud anyone who is able to keep thier relationship seperate from work.