Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Burrow, Riverside County

[@FireMN_Gamer]

Wow, beautiful said. I am a Current employee in the same county, same fire department! He’s hitting the nail directly on the head.

[@luismatheus1304]

I had an opportunity to work for Calfire riverside and I believe they are the best firefighters in the world but the atmosphere and family life balance is not worth it. It’s unsafe and you guys deserve more. What a great leader to step up and bring it to the table.

[@willvelasquez4592]

It takes a lot of courage to speak the truth. Well done Chief!

[@toddchristensen1825]

Thank you Jeff for being brave enough to speak the truth. I work with Jeff in riverside for 18 yrs with cal fire. I finally left for just the reasons he speaks about. The men and woman of Cal Fire deserve so much better then how they are being treated. I encourage everyone that can, leave for the sake of your family and personal mental health.

[@GypsyRose5273]

I'm so very sorry to the Chief and Calfire firefighters. Y'all work so very very hard saving everything you can possibly save, lives and homes. Y'all don't deserve this. The California government just doesn't seem to care about it's first responders or citizens. Hence why my family and I left. I understand why y'all are leaving your post. Personally, I want to thank all of Calfire in Riverside County and surrounding counties for all your hard work and sacrifice. And thank you so very much for saving our family home and small mountain town of Idyllwild from the terrible fires the last many years (The Mountain Fire and Cranston Fire). You're all truly amazing and selfless men and women to protect so much for so little pay or thanks. I want you all to know there are folks who care and appreciate you and your sacrifices. Please stay strong, you are all so very very necessary. Prayers for all of you.

[@vjc4502]

Your honesty is appreciated. Your honor is noted & I hope the politicians are listening. Thank you for your service and dedication!

[@robertrodello6425]

Jeff, I was there too. I know what you're talking about. I left Riverside 1992. My kids are still mad at me for not being there when groing up. Keep the head up brother.

[@nolancragun529]

I work with Chief Burrows and he is a great man, and a Firefighters Chief

[@nataliefoley2925]

Thank you for being so brave and speaking out.

[@alexmunich86]

Lets open more eyes and ears to our struggles! We have 10, 12, 14, or more day stretches (forced overtime due to lack of staffing) at station with 1-2 days off then back to the station we go. Safe? Absolutely not. Continue the fight, Chief. Thank you.

[@boostinmk7ca853]

This was my biggest dream to be a Firefighter but now I have a food truck I'm soo sorry to hear that you guys are going through this God bless you all from Lenny's Tacos And Grill all first responders receive one Taco and drink daily if ur ever in palm springs or Joshua tree 🙏

[@aliveandwell2078]

My son is on his second year with Cal Fire. Everything I’m hearing and seeing in these posts are correct according to my son

[@maxsmith695]

I am not buying that.

[@rustyclaymore1105]

32 years with CDF/CAL-FIRE. Great people and incredible experiences. Sad to say this is state more or less in all 21 Units. Watched folks in CZU walk across the street to a local government station to do the exact same work for double the money and a shorter work week. It's not sustainable.

[@richeagan9451]

That’s a chief telling it like it is right there.

[@loveme77527]

Much respect for speaking the truth...💞🙏 Thank you for many years of hard work & dedication! May god help us all...

[@spicolinails4185]

Respect for speaking the truth chief!

[@ecaseyburn]

100% accurate on every single word! Zero embellishment!

[@rikardpetersen5434]

Listen to what this man is saying. For the love of god

[@nataliefoley2925]

Exactly. It’s terrible.

[@pismo6111]

Yep,retired 10 years ago bacause of that and other reasons.They started to tell me you have to work this day and so on.It started to get worse,I had 30 years in and said see ya later.Could of went five more and made a killing/$.I hear its really bad now.Its the best job if run/staffed correctly.Met lots great and talented peopleThis was San Diego City.

[@pyrofighting10]

Well done brother!

[@theandersons9959]

Worked in RRU for 10 years. Was called back from home once for the chili (forced overtime). My then 8 y/o Daughter opened up her piggy bank and offered me the money so I wouldn’t have to work overtime and be gone….again. CalPERS now and loving it. I’m making up for a lot of lost time. I love this State and absolutely hate those that have mismanaged it. That goes the same for “Can’t Do Family” CDF. We can do better…..

[@christinemeleg4535]

So many think that being a firefighter is so easy, Hey all they do is sprinkle water on a fire right? Not so. Long days lot of time away from home and flat out dangerous! He speaks a sad truth.

[@SquareMilesfromCA]

Quitting was the best thing I ever did despite making less money.

[@bubag1010]

Where can i find the full interview?

[@macmccullar]

It's tough to be dedicated to the job (been there done that) 3,4, or even 5, 24-hour shifts in a row and then only off for 2 days. I was divorced after about 5 years on the job. I'm not from CA but it's the same in this field. People dedicated to the job are a special breed nit require no recognition. We're just there as best we can be.

[@thecasper911]

I have a couple of legitimate questions ! First is this an agency wide issue or just a specific range unit/contract county issue? Also is this a issue for the wildland firefighting side, or for the all hazard side?

[@erdropoff]

First its multi agency wide. Numerous depts are suffering from shortage of people. And second he is speaking for the all risk side

[@toddchristensen1825]

This isn’t just Wildland side, this is a department issue with cal fire. Riverside is beyond belief the worst hit. That are an all risk department with department mission first at all cost. The mission comes before anything else. Great department but they absolutely do not take care of the employees. I wouldn’t be surprised if more firefighters don’t try to commit suicide ona. Regular basis

[@FireMN_Gamer]

This is a STAFFING issue, Not an incident related issue. the department is being held up by Cal HR, by our staffing modules, and by policy in place. Not to mention the laws that require employees to remain on duty or be fired.

[@schoolofhardknock3376]

My cousin has been with cal fire along time ten plus years he has PTSD so bad he was on ¿Eave and they called him back because manpower shortage it's sad these guys go 24 plus hrs sometimes with out no relief

[@pepper6528]

thank you for speaking out

[@teresalenaandprincessthedog]

Oh well you guys are our heros thank you 😇🙏🚒🌻🧡🔥🥑 sorry

[@cdfe3388]

Everybody always says that, yet the situation only gets worse. People calling you a hero only goes so far.

[@CDFCaptain93]

Retired BC here. I agree with everything he just said. I did the math and retired three years early because it was just not going to be worth it to stay. I be lying if I said I didn't miss it.

[@maxsmith695]

There are many jobs that take husbands away from the family, such as military, being a doctor or CEO.

[@intosound913]

Thank you for your dedication, and sacrifice. I'm so sorry to see true legendary men get broken and chewed up by the bureaucracy of an organization. I hope you get to reconnect with your family and find some kind of balance.

[@maxsmith695]

Now imagine life without Local 2881.

[@diogenes5381]

Thus, riverside has doomed itself to cinders.

[@kbanghart]

LOL not really

[@jordonnalobese5609]

I messaged you regarding interviewing.

[@pattiwest5984]

This sadly is a self-inflicted wound. I participated in the Changing Face of CDF in the 90's. The dept knew then about the large number of up-coming retirements/staffing issues. NOTHING was done!!!! I did 25yrs with this dept and it took its toll but now I have to watch the destructive effect of "ignoring the problem" on my son who decided to make Cal Fire his career

[@danam4017]

...but Riverside County is like some kind... catastrophe... some kind of historic event. People moving in created a huge demand for industry and traffic grew. But technology and politics do not keep up with each other. Living here has been more of sad experience in life and friendships. I expected a lot of help from our county, but the system was abused. Hence, it didn't put forth, and my mate died from inexperience. She had no food, she didn't know what was going on, she kept getting lost in here. I left here and sought a temporary life homelessness in the other nearby coastal counties. I sought and managed to receive welfare. I came back here and started work with a car. To think that so many others would die trying to climb out. Trying to find the bus that takes to a place on time. A ride. Some actual welfare services for when you need it. Like when your family struggles or right when you get thrown out on the street. She found none of those things. Her mind was already gone when I got through to my little friend. We hung our for only a year or so but in the time, I solidified, everything I learned about failing here in Riverside County was real. Somebody else could do it. I tried to stop it. But the loops that put me out on the street didn't matter to the system. She was treated like a 'woman', someone or something that just holds on, someone who doesn't need to look for work right away. I'm sure the sheriff can turn his mic off... but suing is what I want to do. We need to redraw the junk. I'm pretty upset now. Something that needs work is more upsetting than you can even ever imagine. I thank you for your service. Don't move.

[@jamesbottoms6912]

How about a job in the California Oil Industry??

[@austinmccormick1777]

Its f$&ked that hes speaking for his dept, but it applies to so many in the nation

[@kbanghart]

Time for people to look for better jobs

[@NothisisPatrick-oe9fv]

😂😂😂😂making 300k I can’t go home cry cry

[@keithperdue4993]

I guess we've shown CalFire how much we appreciate & revere them, huh? Don't y'all just love govt agencies that respond to such needs of an essential service with such concern & reactions? Ahhh, good old 'merican bureaucracy, just love it!

[@maxsmith695]

Not everyone agrees.

[@user-ve7zd1si7u]

Explain why you don’t agree

[@opsec175]

Let's take responsibility for this cluster. There's how many military installations in California? I was trained in the Rangers to fight 🔥 on a naval ship. Use active and reservists, if you want to rotate in to give your team a break. Sounds like you need a national guard. It's what we use to rotate and maintain high level command. No. I cannot personally help today fight 🔥. But let' tap into our returning military and rotate them in...Chief. There is a better way and it starts with not sending 3 firefighters on a roof to die with a chainsaw. Yes the better way. Blow a hole in the roof and fly a drone in. Let the drones be used to save fire fighters from ever dying. Ever. No ever. Get AC130 thermals to assist so when firefighter fall's their team are alerted to medivac. Get medivac support from PJs and let's let our military get real training supporting emergency services. #vettalks

[@maxsmith695]

This is not about the military or rangers.

[@randygravel2057]

Why is he complaining? Nothing has changed with CDF or chained dragged and fucked. It’s always been that way. It’s always been a place were a high percentage of people leave for more money and less hrs.