TX Volunteer Firefighter Resigns Following Social Media Outcry

A Wichita County volunteer firefighter resigned after a fiery weekend social media post generated a strong reaction.

After viewing a post that he considered critical of volunteer firefighters, he responded by leveling an allegation regarding how quickly career firefighters would arrive at a house if they needed assistance.

The news site Texomas reported news of the resignation, then spoke to volunteer firefighters for their reaction to the social media storm as well as general misperceptions about volunteer firefighters.

Specifics of the online dustup, including the firefighter's name and exactly what was posted, were withheld in the report.

Bowman Fire Chief John Strenski told the news site: "Being a volunteer firefighter is a sense of community. It's a sense of dedication to your fellow man."

He noted how volunteer firefighters face their own unique hurdles while on the job. At a fire at Lake Arrowhead, for example, he related how some volunteer firefighters had to leave work early -- one volunteer, a senior in high school, had to leave class early, as well – before they could even do battle with the fire.

Volunteer firefighters put their lives at risk just like other firefighters, he added. Even though they are volunteers, they too can be badly burned and even killed while doing their duty.

Still, Strenski added, residents may view volunteers as “goofs” who spend their days “drinking beer” in local firehouses.

To the contrary, he told Texomas: "We are professional. We hold ourselves to a professional standard.”

Wichita County Sheriff David Duke, who served for 28 years as a volunteer, highlighted the fact that three-quarters of America’s fire departments are volunteer-based.

“One bad apple doesn't spoil the bunch, who for the most part are dedicated servants,” Duke told Texomas.

Both volunteer firefighters view criticism – whether on social media or anywhere else – as offensive.

In fact, “We take great offense, great offense to anybody in the public that says otherwise,” said Stensky.

Criticism “does affect me,” noted Duke, who added that he knows guys who “lost their lives in different ways, not just here but in other cities. It's definitely a God's calling."