Tell Me the Good ... Tell Me the Bad

[LaFireEducator]

Would love to hear the two things you love about your departments operations or SOPs and 2 things that you hate .... I'll start it off.

Loves .... The fact that the cabinets on the trucks are set up in a very similiar manner.
Loves .... The flexiability I have in designing my own public education program without undue "advice" from above.
Hates .... The fact that we bunker up enroute in the back of heaving, tossing truck rather than in the station before boarding.
Hates .... The fact that we have no policy mandating that a charged , manned hoseline line is standing by during extracation operations.

Hopefully this will generate some discussions on the goods and the bads.

[martinm]

GOODS,
Well supported Risk Assessment programme, which identifies areas/premises of risk, and what we should be aware of prior to arriving, as well as out Dynamic Risk Assesment procedure for OIC's to assist in dealing with all varieties of incidents.

Minimum rider (4) policy on all appliances 24/7. (If theres 3, the truck does'nt leave station). Keeps health and saftey up.

Multi tasking role. (All front line fire crews respond to all calls, no specialisms to compete for).

Feeling valued. (believe it or not)

Bads,
Lack of off station training experience & opportunities, due to finanical constraints.

Beauracracy.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

You forgot the uglies!

[Dave1983]

Good: All our first out apparatus is less then three years old.

Bad: Our reserves are in BAD shape as we have a habit of running a vehicle into the ground before replaceing it as front line.

Good: We do have a training program.

Bad: To much of our training is on stuff that has nothing to do with how we operate.

Good: We have a TIC.

Bad: It is OLD and only works when it wants too.

Good: We have a VERY experianced and competent fire chief.

Bad: He doesnt seem too be interested in fire prevention.

I could go on, but its a Sunday and Im supposed to be resting

Dave

[mcleoud151]

Heh heh, sure, why not!?

Good: Excellent, well maintained, proper apparatus and most equipment.

Bad: SCBA that is ancient and nearing the unsafe point. (read here: the brass don't go in the fires, and the public doesn't know the difference between old scba and new scba, so we still look good to them!)

Good: almost unlimited opportunity for outside training. We put in for it, and we pretty much get to go.

Bad: Dept seems to be stuck on FFI training. Gotta' go outside to get pretty much anything else, unless someone on my crew teaches it.

Good: SOGs that leave flexibility for operations and conditions.

Bad: Officers who aren't competent/comfortable enough to use that flexibility.

There ya' go. Oughta' be interesting to see if any of this gets back to the chief. Next thing you know I'll be gettin' a talk about my "attitude problem" again!

[SteveDude]

Good

Like Martin,
I also like the fact that after seeing so many of our forefathers killed and injured, mostly for no good reason we now have identified safe systems of work that see Risk is properly assessed and managed, there is minimum manning of 5 where a Station has one Fire truck and 4 (each truck) where a Station has two. We know have one of the lowest Firefighter LODD and injury figures in the World despite being among the busiest.

I love being a UK Firefighter, where like in the US it is still a bit special and where there is a real feeling of brotherhood. I have been to Fire Stations all across Europe and in a few States of the US. A flash of the Badge and a few few translated 'Bomberos' or 'Pompiers' (where they don't speak English) always means a big smile a friendly welcome a look over the Fire trucks and a cup of Coffee.

Bad

I hate political influence that is now a big part of 21st Century Firefighting. Instead of Seasoned Fire Chiefs making policy we have Young Ambitious local politicians on their way up to National Politics 'making good' on the back of PC policies that do little for the Firefighters or the communities they serve.

I hate the feeling that we are everyone's best friend until we dare to ask for a little more, then we are treated like trash by the media and the politicians line up to kick us in the head and give us no right to reply.

Unlike Martin, I don't feel scure and valued... I am now in fear for the future of the UK Fire Service, my conditions of service and most importantly after 18 years my pension that I have recently seen move away from me; from retiring at 50 I now have to wait until 55...only another 18 years!!! And then it may not be a final salary pension, just an average Salary.

[emtbff927]

I'm sure there are more, but here's what I've got so far...

Good: Most apparatus are less five years old. Apparatus and equipment checked every day and maintained well. TIC on every engine and with captain. Great training and training officer...inside the dept. and outside training available regularly. Great prevention programs and officer. Nice, intelligent, experienced chiefs. Community is supportive and friendly. Opportunities to help the dept. in many different facets.

Bad: Don't feel needed, nor as valued as I should. Some members and officers of the deptartment need to learn more about respect and/or get an attitude adjustment. New FF/members needing field training officers who will actually help them. Newbies to the dept. can feel confused as to their roles while on duty. Need more department events or something to bring everyone together in a casual and fun way...maybe start some traditions...

[LaFireEducator]

This is great guys and gals ... keep it up ... I think it's important that we see that we may share common successes and problems.

And Gonzo .. I skipped the ugly because I didn't want anyone mentioning my name .....

[firepics]

My turn;

GOOD-- Our district commisioners leave us wanting for nothing. We have the best of everything. Apparatus on a ten year replacement plan, and all are now under ten years old.

GOOD-- Great bunch of young, gung-ho guys.

GOOD-- Local county training center, offering every imaginable class.

GOOD-- Officers that(with the exception of one or two) really care about the way we operate.

BAD-- Those same gung-ho guys (about 15) are the ones that seem to do everything, need more support from the rest of the members.

BAD-- County switched over to FF1--Teaching basics of some stuff we DON'T want a new guy doing.

BAD-- Most of the community thinking we are paid. They are very unfamiliar with the town they live in.

This could go on for a while........

[Lewiston2FF]

Good
We get the equipment we need. Need being the key word. No need to spend money to keep up with everyone else. If apparatus is in need of repair it gets taken care of. If we can justify the need for equipment we get it.

The training opportunities available now that the state as made the move to FF1 curriculum seems to have made a larger variety of courses available to FFs at the county level. Also the state is bringing courses once only taught at the State fire academies out to the firefighters.

A group of new gung ho firefighters interested in learning. They are not afraid to ask questions and are always willing to lend a hand.

Bad
The 20/80 rule is in effect. (20% of the people are doing 80% of the work) Apathy is probably the best way to describe it. Personnel are not taking advantage of the training opportunities made available. There is a general lack of motivation to figure things out as well. People just complain that there is something wrong and leave it at that, no attempt to diagnose the problem, no attempt to effect a repair. ( I am not saying untrained personnel repairing the breaks on the apparatus, but at least make the attempt to figure out the real problem when the O2 cylinder leaks not just throw it in the storage room and tell someone about it.)

Infighting and backstabbing that seems to be breaking down the morale of the crew.

[fftrainer]

Good

A govt administration that supports us. In fact gives us ideas of things we should have (within reason)

All equipment is as new as it needs to be with the exception of one piece but its replacement is ordered

Number of fires is down this year

Membership is up as of this writing

Implementing mapping, GPS, etc in apparatus for hydrant locating, driving directions, hazmat, etc. Replacing the binders and orange guidebook

Completing an upgrade from low-band to high-band radio system

Implementing an officer qualification program to help eliminate the popularity contest that our elections have been in the past.

Bad

We are also subject to the 20/80 rule when it comes to getting things done or when it comes to BS calls (CO, AFA's, etc) Boy do they turn out for the structure with flames showing

2 of 4 officers have a vested interest in improving the dept the other 2 are comfortable with status quo and don't really see need for improvement

While membership is up the number of qualified apparatus drivers has not increased

Doing too much with single pieces of apparatus (rescue pumper to be specific) - this will hopefully be addressed if our request for a Heavy Rescue makes it through this budget cycle

While quantity of fires is down 'quality' is up - higher dollar loss and life loss this year. I don't think its a trend since the high dollar loss was generated by only 2 fires, but I am keeping my fingers crossed regardless.

Radio upgrades are only half funded this year (paging will remain low-band for another year)

Apparatus without headsets - if O-seat is empty driver must talk using mic tying up a hand that should be on the wheel. No noise suppression for all occupants.

No wellness/fitness program

The ugly...

You have to see some of our members at zero dark thirty