Do You Want Fires?

[MemphisE34a]

I am a firefighter to do my job. I get up, walk to the truck and do what I have been trained to do. I do not get excited. I do not whoop and yell. I do my job in a professional manner.

There's guys like that around here too. That explains perfectly how we arrive on the scene first when we are 3rd due on the ticket. I am glad that now I have a better understanding. Instead of looking negatively towards them and thinking they just really didn't want to get on the scene first -because they might have to make some kind of decision and enter a fire building, I will look upon them with compasion while realizing that they are just slow out of the house because they are reflecting on all the tradegy that callers must be facing as they are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the fire department.

Doesn't make sense. Everyone on here in it "just to help my community" doesn't get excited or in a hurry to help them when they need it most. How does that help? Which visit do you think Ms. Smith is going to appreciate the most? The one from two weeks ago when you told her to clean up and change her battery or tommorrow night after she calls for help and you arrive on the scene quickly and do all you can to protect her and her property.

[MrYuk]

Well what I have come to see in the 221 posts in this thread, of the two sides (wanting fires, not wanting fires) all comes down do one thing, just everyone is wording it differently and most comments are taken out of context. We want to help others plain and simple. I don't want anyones home to catch fire, but when it does, I want to be there to help them. I think most of us feel this way just we all say it in different ways. Look at us, we are all brothers and we are arguing over something stupid. I enjoy fighting fire. I enjoy helping people. I hate to see the devistation fire causes people. I would never wish for someones home to burn. When I say, I want a fire today, I mean that I know a fire will happen and I want to be there to help the people. That is it. We all want that. We all sound like a bunch of idiots. What would the public say if they say this thread? I am proud to want to fight fire, it does not mean I wish for someone to loose their life or property. I do not know how many times it needs to be explained but I am done. It's been interesting guys but i'm ready for a new thread.

[Resq14]

So does a Marine have to go to War/Conflict/Battle to prove himself worthwhile? That means that all the ones that never made it to battle are worthless? Yes, a pretty silly comparison.

No no, that was not the comparison, nor is that the converse of the comparison. Apples and oranges.

Could you imagine if the US military adopted the motivational techniques some of you on here are espousing for use in the fire service? Telling a Marine that a War, conflict or Battle demonstrates a failure on his part!

I agree with jmitchell. It seems like people are confusing the questions

DO YOU WANT FIRES?

with

DO YOU WANT TO FIGHT FIRES?


Same question? Or slightly different? Semantics?

I don't want fires -- but with respect to this, it's largely out of my control. I want to fight the fires that happen -- that is something I can control. If I could predict the future and say, "IN THE NEXT 25 YEARS YOU WILL NEVER RESPOND TO ANY TYPE OR KIND OF FIRE, RESQ14".... do you think I'd still want to go through the motions of maintaining skills and collecting a paycheck? I would not. I would do something I enjoyed where I could put my skills to use and make a difference.

[LaFireEducator]

RadRob

That was a typo. I meant to say "I DO not want fires. I do not wish for fires."

Guess I should proofread a little better.

[LaFireEducator]

Memphis ....

Taking your post as an insult.

As I walk to the truck we are listening to the page, which takes about 30-40 seconds to complete here, writing down the address and deciding who will take which trucks, as we have several at this station and we are not assigned to specific apparatus. What we take changes with each call and location, and it's tough QUICKLY discuss who is going to take what as you are running down the hall.

We do not lollygag but we do not run. We get the apparatus out usually in 45 seconds or less (and that includes the trucks not parked in the "main station" building as well) and are on-scene in the core area of our 130 mile district in less than 4 minutes.

I do not get excited. There is no point. it will not help your performance but does have the potential to hurt it.

And your point was ?

[MemphisE34a]

You didn't answer my question. Answer it and I will have made my point.

For the record, I think alot of this may be semantics as well.

LA- You have explained your situation. That is not the situation here. We recieve a station wide broadcast of runs as well as a printed run ticket that lists where we're going, why we're going, and who all is going. Around here it is very apparent who does not want to go to fires - they get there last - even when the address is right down the street and you stated what I see when I work overtime or sub in some of these stations.

I inserted your comment into my world and got a little flustered! Hope you didn't get too flashed.

[pvfire424]

This entire thread seems to be the difference between a pessimistic point of view and an optimistic point of view.


LaFireEducator, I understand your point, that we as a fire service in general should spend more of our enthusiasm towards prevention. I will agree that most smaller departments can spend more time doing those actions. For the urban companies who are not tasked with any prevention duties, if in that situation, then yes I would much prefer to get some real work, rather than polish poles, mop floors etc.


I beleive that we can ALL agree that nobody in here has expressed a desire for anyone's lives to be ill-altered in any way. What most have said, is : When it happens( and we ALL concede it WILL happen), I(they) would just rather be on duty at the time.


There ate those on here , that have been there done that, and are basically indifferent.(When it happens it happens, when it does I have a job to do). There are yet others who in my opinion are just being pesimistic, and focusing on the negative effects many fires have on their communities. That is not necesarily a bad thing. It is just a different way to cope.

And lastly, there are those on here who just plain enjoy the taste of the sole of their shoes.


Bottom line is: This job has got to be done by someone, and We are that someone!



Kampy out !

[FFFRED]

Why can't you do both? I would rather fires be prevented. But if one happens, I fight it to it's end.

Thats what we've all been saying. But no one seems to understand that. I don't hope that someone dies or has a fire...however fires happen around here although in some neighborhoods more than others...if you don't want to go to fires...it would be best for you (and us and the civilians) to take the PD, or sanitation exam.

If there is a fire in the next Battalion over...I get a little upset that we aren't on the ticket, most guys would.

So does a Marine have to go to War/Conflict/Battle to prove himself worthwhile? That means that all the ones that never made it to battle are worthless? Yes, a pretty silly comparison.

I hardly think so as I don't see how your argument follows mine. A Marine just by signing up and succesfully completing boot camp has demonstrated his worth to his country many times over. The argument was posed by the other side of the discussion that if a fire occurs somehow it is the firefighter's fault! I propose that the situation, that it is far from the solider or sailors responsiblity or ablities to prevent war.

However my conscience bears no weight or guilt in regards to any fire innocent or malicious in origin that occurs in my City, Division, Battalion or 1st Due area. I can't babysit everyone or hold their hand and I can't account for their lack of common sense.

In this city if you want to see fire you don't fill out a CD-30(transfer form) for the slower Battalions or the houses that virtually never see fire...You transfer to places like the South Bronx, Flatbush, Brownsville, Mt. Hope, Harlem, Bushwick, East Tremont, Jamacia, Corrona, Hollis etc. I imagine the same goes for all the other urban dept members on this forum.

If you don't want to go to fires...you don't want to work the places I just mentioned...because especially at this time of the year it is beyond proablities that you will be going to a fire at some point. Sometimes multiple times in the same day.

If you come into work with the attitude as proffesed by some on here the efficency, morale, and abilities of the men and company in turn will suffer. That is unacceptable and is the reason why...anyone who doesn't want to go to a fire doesn't belong in an fire company. Lives of the men hang in the balance.

No solider wants to kill another human being. However as part of his training he must be drilled to recgonize the human accross the field as the "enemy" and that he WANTS to kill him without pause or thought...a reflex. The solider must WANT to go to war...must be aggressive. Imagine if a soilder didn't want to fight??? Where would we be today?

Just the same no fireman Wants to see peoples possesions or lives destroyed, however in order to motivate men to go into a fire time after time...the Dept must want firemen who WANT to go to fires.

Call it an internal conflict...a catch-22...or whatever you want to. It is what it is.

FTM-PTB

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

Thats what we've all been saying. But no one seems to understand that. I don't hope that someone dies or has a fire...however fires happen around here although in some neighborhoods more than others...if you don't want to go to fires...it would be best for you (and us and the civilians) to take the PD, or sanitation exam.

If there is a fire in the next Battalion over...I get a little upset that we aren't on the ticket, most guys would.



I hardly think so as I don't see how your argument follows mine. A Marine just by signing up and succesfully completing boot camp has demonstrated his worth to his country many times over. The argument was posed by the other side of the discussion that if a fire occurs somehow it is the firefighter's fault! I propose that the situation, that it is far from the solider or sailors responsiblity or ablities to prevent war.

However my conscience bears no weight or guilt in regards to any fire innocent or malicious in origin that occurs in my City, Division, Battalion or 1st Due area. I can't babysit everyone or hold their hand and I can't account for their lack of common sense.

In this city if you want to see fire you don't fill out a CD-30(transfer form) for the slower Battalions or the houses that virtually never see fire...You transfer to places like the South Bronx, Flatbush, Brownsville, Mt. Hope, Harlem, Bushwick, East Tremont, Jamacia, Corrona, Hollis etc. I imagine the same goes for all the other urban dept members on this forum.

If you don't want to go to fires...you don't want to work the places I just mentioned...because especially at this time of the year it is beyond proablities that you will be going to a fire at some point. Sometimes multiple times in the same day.

If you come into work with the attitude as proffesed by some on here the efficency, morale, and abilities of the men and company in turn will suffer. That is unacceptable and is the reason why...anyone who doesn't want to go to a fire doesn't belong in an fire company. Lives of the men hang in the balance.

No solider wants to kill another human being. However as part of his training he must be drilled to recgonize the human accross the field as the "enemy" and that he WANTS to kill him without pause or thought...a reflex. The solider must WANT to go to war...must be aggressive. Imagine if a soilder didn't want to fight??? Where would we be today?

Just the same no fireman Wants to see peoples possesions or lives destroyed, however in order to motivate men to go into a fire time after time...the Dept must want firemen who WANT to go to fires.

Call it an internal conflict...a catch-22...or whatever you want to. It is what it is.

FTM-PTB

to quote my esteemed colleague and fellow Crusty hfd66truck....

Bing-freaking-oh!

[2andfrom]

Todays lesson is Geography. PFDTruck18 in particular listen.
New Zealand is a very long way away OK? In particular it is even further if you come from London England where the River Thames is!
B28 "B" as in Bravo-28 is a very busy LONDON ENGLAND(Small island where lots and lots of very brave American troops went from, to free Europe in 1944-"D" day)Fire Station. I have never been a member of the New Zealand Fire Service-my wife has(Senior Station Officer Rank)

I emigrated out here from LONDON once known as Londinium by some crazy Italians who invaded us in 56 BC. If you all read my original post way back in the beginning of this thread it is all there---the fact that I live here means nothing to the fact that I lived there.

Look at post #24

[pkfd7505]

To me it is a job, volunteer or part-time, because I approach it as a professional.

Fire Fighting is not what I do, it was what I am. I do not go to work and be a Fire Fighter, I'm a Fire Fighter 24/7. If I see someone in need regardless of if I am in turnout gear or not, I will do my best to help.

I guess we all have our opinions, and we are entitled to those opinions, but to look down on someone that has passion for what they are is ate up. You go on with your career in the Fire Service, and I'll go on being a Fire Fighter. Enough said.

[LaFireEducator]

FFred ...

Just want to make a clarification. I never blamed the firefighters for a failure if a fire occurred, I stated quite clearly that the FIRE SERVICE as a group (with some exceptions in very progressive districts) is to blame many times for not educating the public as they they should. Education is a primary obligation, which IMO is just as important as our supression responsibilities and unfortnatly is it currently viewed by far too many in the fire service as a secondary function which currently is getting the "leftovers" from supression.

The statement about supression personnel in Europe being more envolved on a day to day basis was made to illistrate the difference in culture between us and the rest of the world. Now, with better funding for pub ed fires would be reduced, which would allow US firefighters to be more envolved in day to pub ed operations.

I think everyone agrees that we as a service generally do a poor job in educating the public. The fact that we only spend 1% of our budgets on public education as compared to the 15% to 20% the rest of the industrialized world makes this point quite clearly. My point was that if we directed more resources to public education, and less to supression, a significant number of the fires we respond to could be eliminated. That should be our goal, and the rest of the world has proven this approach works. That is the failure I was referring to .. the failure for the fire service in general to provide the educational resources we have an obligation to provide. And the failure of the fire service in general to make a serious, aggressive and properly funded assault on fire through public education, codes and legislation.

And quite simply, if it came down to a choice between a fire in my district or the next one over (no fire is the best choice, but that's not an option in your statement), I would much prefer it to occur in the neighboring district. I want to spare my residents as much grief as possible. As I have stated, my enjoyment for fighting fires is not as imporant as thier well being.

[E229Lt]

Oh well, Perhaps the description of Toby McGuire running into the "Pleasantville" Firehouse yelling FIRE...FIRE................Cat?

[2andfrom]

So you think you can compare New York or Philly to New Zealand. My guess would be that you could add the entire population of a handfull of their largest cities and not make up Philly let alone NY. If your telling me that an engine in New Zealand in a city of 300K or so is running like E82 from the 60s and 70s, well lets put it nicely and I'll just chuckle. Heck, I would be that some of the more populated locals in NY have more people than some cities in NZ. Not to knock NZ, I hope to travel their it appears to be a beautiful country and hey, they got a WRC round.

Do you now know why you got the geography lesson? Take foot out of mouth grin sheepishly-sulk.
Please travel here-but unlike a lot of your countrymen ,please realise that we are not a part of Australia
And Australia is not in Germany-Austria is.

[captjab]

How about this!!

Do you want to earn your pay by doing what your trained for?

or

Do you want to collect your pay training for what your hired for?

[E40FDNYL35]

^ bma ....

[E40FDNYL35]

I hope I never see another FIRE!!!!!!

So Quit RUBBER

[ChicagoFF]

I knew some crack head would say that, so I specifically stated "The thing is, the guy that walks in wishing for fires is one step away from being an arsonist, not to say that all guys who say that will be arsonist." Perhaps if you stopped only reading and seeing what you wanted to see and started comprehending what is being said you wouldn't be so screwed up. And I'm being nice...

Could you please inform us which one of the many that responded that want fires is an arsonist? I actually thought it was PFDTruck18, but I could be wrong. Maybe it's Kayakking, yeah, very suspicious name for a firefighter if you ask me. I think it's him!

Gimme a break!

To echo PFDTruck18, everyone in my battalion and the neighboring Battalions would say the exact same thing.
Are we all one step away from arsonists???
We are in these areas because they burn!!!!!!!!

[E40FDNYL35]

^ bma...

[ChicagoFF]

Actually, I don't sit on the couch in the station, I sit on my couch at home. And when the tones go off, I realize it is my neighbor and/or friend who is in trouble and needs my help. It isn't some stranger who is having his house burn down so I can have something to do that day, and show off my skills and abilities. To us, they are real people with real names who live in our tiny little community.

So when the alarm goes off I don’t get the adrenaline rush from knowing I get to strut my stuff, I get the rush from knowing my friends are in trouble.

To answer your question Why are you a firefighter?. It's to help people in need. Why are you a fire fighter?

Why didn't you phrase your reponses in this thread more along these lines - if you had you might not have half the site all over your ***. You could have said this, and then maybe even "If it wern't so personal, i would enjoy fires more, but I live in a small town and know everyone" Wouldn't that have been easier than calling us all arsonists who hope people are hurt and killed, and that their surviving relatives are homeless, and that more FF and civilians are killed in a devastating terror attack? Wouldn't it?