What is your departments attitude toward weekend work days?

[Dibbs12]

Does your Department treat weekend differently then regular week days. At my current department there is a mentality that you do you housework and rig checks and then your done for the day unless you get a call, it's like pulling teeth trying to get people to train if it's not during the a weekday. Is every department like this or are we the exception?

[BoxAlarm187]

Sundays are considered "off" days for us with no expectation by the department for training and other activities to occur, but the company officer still has the option to do what he likes.

EDIT: We still complete daily apparatus checks, house duties, meals (of course), and other essential duties, but there's no training required, but it is optional.

[FFPM03]

All days are considered work days. That being said, there are less duties to be done on Saturdays/Sundays. Most weekends we keep busy until about 12 or so.

[Engine2308]

We usually take the weekends off. We do inspections, pre-fire plans, weekly training, and fire prevention through the week. Its nice to have the weekend off from those activities.

[FyredUp]

Saturdays are the thorough portable equipment check days. Everything is run, checked for any problems, refueled, and back on the rig. Occasionally we will do a pre-plan or an inspection if we can;t get in during the week. Hose testing is done on Saturday like any other day of the week.

Sunday is EMS decon to include the squads, portable ems equipment, and the ems sink. We have done hose testing on Sunday.

Of course the station gets cleaned, dinner gets cooked, trucks get washed, and any other projects that need to be taken care of are done.

[mikeyboy411]

Our Department's environment is the same as what's posted here, weekends are not for "busy work." Most Crews will come-in on a Saturday or Sunday and do their vehicle checks, station details and then it's "down time" or a Crew breakfast.

I usually adhere to this, but today we've gotta catch-up on our sprinkler inspections because of some deadline critical tasks that we had to get completed the last (3) tours. I told my Guys already and they understand, after that though we're "down..."

[JHR1985]

its a sunday and we trained 2 hours today...

its laid back still but you still got morning work to do.

You also got football to watch

[len1582]

Weekends are a bit laid back, but still work days. Sundays are generally when companies would do drafting and/or ladder pipe training since there are less civilians in the areas we do it. Many multi unit drills ( 3+ companies) are also usually on weekends.

[RFD21C]

Nothing Offical as far as differences on weekdays versus weekends. We have our normal duties we do everyday regardless (house cleaning, truck checks, daily training). Saturdays often times we will do multi-company training if it is planned. If it something comes up on a sat or sun we do it just like any other day.

Unoffically the captain has set the house chores up so that Sunday is just a general cleaning day, no special details. Obviously we try to get things done on other days so that saturdays and sundays are less busy (it is football season). An example of this would be Saturday is grass day, We will cut it on Thrusday (day before we work on Saturday) if we have time. This frees up some time on Saturday so we can watch the game. We typically do brunch on Sundays versus lunch (tradition).

Bottom Line we do what needs to be done when it needs to be regardless of the day. Saturdays and Sundays tend to be busier call volume wise in my district especially saturday nights.

[adam015]

Sat and Sun are more low key

Morning check offs are done, breakfast and whatever knick knack stuff needs to be done.

[Firemedic 61]

At the main station where admin is, weekends are more laid back. At the out stations its just another day.

[jmoulton]

any sort of detail may be scheduled prior to noon on saturday after that we have "ready alert" time where we are free to do what we want as long as we are there to take calls. We do have to make sure that truck checks get done and saturday is decon day for the ambulances.

[RangerJake72]

every day is a work day, but we generally don't have as many things to do. Sunday is usually housekeeping day, Saturdays are vehicle and equipment washing (if we aren't doing a fire prevention program somewhere)

[Theaxemancometh]

Give your people some incentive! In my department, like the others, equipment and apparatus checks abound. The crew looks forward to breakfast, brunch and much needed workout time. Then IF there's time, they love to watch sports, especially playoffs. Generally, it's a little quieter weekend mornings and afternoons.; a much needed escape from the drills, calls, tours, fire prevention and other activity of the week. Perhaps it's the way you present the drills?? Perhaps building some fun and friendly competition into a drill may garner more interest and anticipation. Give the crew something to look forward to. Don't hang an ALL DAY of drilling over their heads.

I work on a hazard materials unit, so weekend drills are common because they're time intensive. But I will build something into the drill to make them kind of competitive or fun. We end up getting our mandatory workout, equipment checks, yard work, station clean up and drill all out of the way to be able to sit down as a crew to brunch and then an afternoon of some great football!! As long as the priorities are taken care of and the crew knows the expectations, everyone works together to get the priorities done! And uhhh....there's no grumbling either!

"The Axeman"

"Purpose, Truth and Passion Yields POWER AND DOMINION IN ACTION!!!"

[firefightinirish217]

At the dept I was with we had the weekend off unless we wanted to train. Usually saturday was a training day, hardly anybody wanted to just sit around on saturday. Sunday on the other hand, we'd usually take it off, but sometimes we'd train on Sunday's as well.

[JT_Fire_2000]

We use saturdays as the deep cleaning day. The entire station and all of the equipment and trucks get a deep cleaning. Training is up to company officer. Sundays are usually low key, with minimal on our training calendar.