Originally Posted by
Innocent bystander
Since this thread has taking a turn into public safety I only feel it is time to point out a few things.
1. Every hall has both highly trained and very new members. That's just a fact of life. We are not born into this world knowing everything. However the members take specific classes before they are qualified to be a internal fireman. There are classes to take before you have hands on patient care. Classes for auto accidents, scene safety, removing a person trapped in a car, traffic control, how to operate any of the equipment, and so on. If you feel you are better qualified, please come down and join your local hall.
2. Volunteer fire halls are just that volunteer. This people leave their families at home at times when they could be enjoying them. They train weekly and hold meetings to better their services to the town. The younger members join to learn and grow to be these trained fire fighters you want in your town. Once again please stop down and watch a drill, take a tour or join.
3. When a chief or any other member is out of town, well that is called life. Shouldn't everyone enjoy some time with family or have some fun? Also on that same note, do we need to set up a plan for when a chief is at his place of employment then? I mean he or she left district and won't be responding. How dare they leave us without protection we pay taxes for. Oh wait I believe I pay taxes that fund not one but three halls, so with that in mind, I'm sure someone will be there in my time of need. Once again if your worried about man power in your town, show up and join. Remember in politics you need to be a active part to solve a problem and not sit on the side lines complaining.
4. Every hall has young members, most even have junior firefighters looking to become a active part of the town. Everyone hates the police or fireman that is until you need them and then that's your first call. I'm pretty confident also that someone was there in your time of need.
5. Hanging out at a firehall doesn't mean your partying or doing anything wrong. People have bowling nights, softball leagues, dart, pool, leagues etc. these firefighters grow a brotherhood bond and hang out together. You depend on these brothers to save your ass if need be, and after seeing some of the horrific scenes and also being in these special situations together, they are also your support group. Many halls have club rooms and kitchens for the members to unwind in. Sometimes seeing cars at the hall late may also be that they are cleaning equipment, washing trucks, doing paperwork, cleaning the hall or doing routine maintenance on the equipment you depend on. Interesting tidbit for the general public, fireballs don't have magical staff to do these things for us. So besides responding to calls, cleaning, doing the paperwork after the calls, filing for grants, holding meetings, mowing our lawn, plowing, fueling trucks, washing trucks, and so on. Our free time and time we could have spent doing our yard work and spending with family we sacrifice to help the community.
6. As for this threads actual topic, I still haven't seen any proof of drinking or a raging party going on. If it was a few members having a Bon fire with their chiefs permission what's the big deal? I mean hey the hall was staffed and ready to respond. Also this time period where this hall left the town unstaffed and in danger, there was a call. A EMS call, and they did respond, in fact they beat Boston EMS by around 10 minutes to the scene. Actually they usually do. Boston EMS was actually second on the scene for a call at the town park, and the have staff on stand by at their hall. I've even seen Rural Metro beat them to calls. But my gripe isn't about any hall specific.
7. Lastly and most importantly, I didn't even know this site existed until two days ago, and I can honestly say, this whole thing is all about a pissing contest with people hiding behind screen names. I think it's all time we stop the childish name calling and blaming. Your only making everyone look bad and very unprofessional. Every hall has it's skeletons in there closets and pasts, move on and be professional. There is a reason members get voted in yearly to positions. Change happens all the time. As for members leaving halls and joining others, so be it. Who cares, the town is still safe and there is no tension in the hall then. So everyone reading this and thinking about how green I must be to the whole thing, remember I didn't call anyone out and I didn't attack anyone. I did make a general hit towards Boston EMS however it was only to show that even a staffed hall with members on stand by it still has no better response time.