Volunteer fire departments worried about next fire

[@daleurban4059]

These small town volunteers are some of the best most dedicated people you will ever meet.

[@jamesbailey6865]

I'm a former volunteer firefighter, it's sad that someone that can dribble a ball, throw a ball, or catch a ball can get paid more in one year than most of the vfds in the country would see in funds to pay for equipment in 40 years. It's sad that a sports figure is worth more than saving families lives.

[@rickfrank7934]

the gov. does not fund pro sports. Not sure what you are getting at.

[@jamesbailey6865]

@@rickfrank7934 I could go into a long story about it but

[@johns4306]

Hey Rick it's about what is more important to you. For me I would like to have my home saved from a fire than watching some knot head play ball.

[@rickfrank7934]

@@johns4306 this is rather interesting but okay.

[@flyingled3176]

Rickfrank , look into who's paying for the huge stadiums. You and me pal the taxpayers

[@flyoverkid55]

This is exactly what is wrong with the manner in which funding is determined at the State and Federal level. While millions receive monthly subsidies for the foolish behavior that made them dependent upon the government, entire communities struggle to get adequate funding for emergency services that benefit the ENTIRE community. It's wrong, and everyone damn well knows it.

[@mikegaskin5542]

You think poverty is caused by foolish behavior?

[@flyoverkid55]

@@mikegaskin5542 In far too many instances, yes. Tell me you had no idea that " single parent families " [ read teenage pregnancy ] isn't foolish. Clearly not every case is predicated upon poor choices, but a disturbing number are.

[@johnanderson1384]

@@flyoverkid55 Doing something that could cause you to have a kid before you are ready to have a kid is called a poor choice. 😉

[@flyoverkid55]

@@johnanderson1384 Which is precisely what I said in my response to Mike. Those choices are based upon either ignorance, selfishness, or stupidity. Take your pick.

[@usernameredacted439]

@@mikegaskin5542 regardless of that, people relying on government handouts to get by is 1) foolishness 2) a form of socialism 3) unpatriotic. "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." JFK

[@NoName-ms8jb]

Make laws that make fires illegal. It works for guns.🤷

[@maybenot5811]

lol

[@mrobsolete530x4]

hahahaha

[@406fish1]

The worst part is those are newer trucks, there are departments still using 1970s fire trucks with little to no issues because they actually keep there trucks up to maintenance.

[@wildmodsedits4962]

Mizzy your amazing person. Glade i meet you

[@abingham3747]

God Bless this Fire Dept. It is ran on the goodwill of good people. Their run volume might be low but what they respond too matters alot. I hope they get the funding they need. If I had money I would make sure they would have what they need.

[@wi11y1960]

Our VFD doesnt want just anyone to volunteer. They only want people that have lived there their whole lives. If you moved in recently and you do join, the old timers make the new volunteer feel unwelcome and they leave. Only ones that are staying are friends and family. The rest need not apply. So many of us whom would like to participate can not while the old boys keep it in their club.

[@rascalpup5237]

I would like to point out this is not all departments. The department I joined was very welcoming, what I did not enjoy was the politics that were involved. I had a bit of friction with the chief of one department, and the other department had friction with paid crews doing stupid things. Still not all departments are bad. If anyone in interested in joining their local fire or first aid squad do your research and learn what is involved. Talk to the membership a bit and learn what they've been through, what training they needed, why they joined. Base your decision on that.

[@jimmypearce9323]

The fire department in the city where I used to live is all volunteer....new members are welcomed....but you have to pass rigorous training to be accepted....they are the best volunteer FD in the state...and probably most of the USA....their latest insurance fire class rating was 4.....that's excellent for any FD....especially an all volunteer one.

[@hotpig27]

I tried for several years to volunteer for the town I live in. I never even received any type of official follow up from these guys even though I know most of them. I did hear that preference was given to guys that work in town and can leave work for fires. Many of their guys don't.

[@hsmith3844]

Nepotism and closed "Good Old Boys Club" I fought when I joined a VFD. I'm from NYC and a southern Dept did not want me. At 48 I out worked and out ran the 20yr old punks that got me an EMT Ticket and a Lieutenants hat with all the schooling to go with it and I paid for some of my own schooling. Vollys are at 70% of FDs in this country and most paid FFs look down on us vollys.

[@lebronjames8544]

H Smith just wondering, if you're from NYC why didn't you join the FDNY?

[@skylareidsness4631]

If I lived there I’d put in an app immediately I’ve been doing wildfire for 3 seasons now and I want to get into the structure side as well and to all of you small towns stick with it because at the end of the day y’all are the lifelines of your towns

[@henrymiller7242]

west odessa needs volunteers they dont care where you're from they are one of the best volunteer fire departments in texas next to gatesville texas

[@nickferderer2585]

Henry Miller I live right outside of Waco in Lorena and we have a pretty good VFD too probably not as good though

[@jimmypearce9323]

Cleveland, MS has an all VFD....perhaps the maintenance engineer is paid....but they were just rated Fire Insurance Class 4....quite good for an all volunteer FD....

[@victorbailey6233]

Station 51 in Parker County at Midway rd and Tx 199 between Azle and Springtown Tx are the best along with Chismon trail fire and rescue in Lockhart Tx

[@Biffo1262]

Even the UK retained service is government/local authority funded There are very few volunteer fire stations in the UK and most are in Scotland with the notable exception of Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade. They are a registered charity plus receive some grants. They have never been allowed to get into such a parlous state and I very much doubt they ever will be. The local community and the authorities that rely on them need to ask themselves 'can I do more?'.

[@wiley8976]

Volunteer departments across the nation are disappearing. Unfortunately these communities need to start merging together and becoming one department that covers the whole county and make strong mutual aid agreements with paid personnel

[@brennancrumb835]

Legend has it they got toned to a fire right after

[@cushman11firefighter18]

I am a brother in red I will help in man power

[@southronjr1570]

Gee, they should come over to my department to see what broken ass trucks look like. We have a mainline tanker that can only be filled 70% because when you fill it above that you get to see geysers shower from all over the top and upper sides of the tank due to all the rusted holes in it, did I mention also that it's speed is limited to 45 due to the major steering and brake issues it has. It is over 40 years old but since certain county officials would rather give under qualified road dept workers millions of the budget to buy brand new tractors and paving equipment they dont evem know how to use, but refuse to replace delapidated fire equipment.

[@usernameredacted439]

wow, that sounds like a bad situation. have you looked into hiring a grant writer?

[@southronjr1570]

@@usernameredacted439 We have written and recieved several grants only to have our county commision refuse to accept it due to having to add a small fraction of the total for matching. We were told to stop writting any because they would be refused. Their reason for this is "it wouldnt be fair to other departments that didnt recieve anything" same reason they returned the federal covid money for hazzard pay saying that they couldn't pay ALL the departments the extra money so it wouldn't be fair. Never mind that the fucking roads and bridges guys havent worked but 1 day a week since this covid plandemic began. Did I mention roads and bridges only requirement to get the job is a cdl and are paid double what. Emt's start out at

[@pandaman3367]

@@southronjr1570 Hmm, this is a tough situation. Might I suggest getting second hand apparatus from other towns? Or maybe even lease a few rigs, I suggest talking to a representative of a fire apparatus company, he might see where you're coming from and lease you an engine or something.

[@robertducat-qp7qy]

I understand totally

[@robk1310]

Why are they not getting taxpayer funding for equipment? All VFD's in NYS get tax money for training and equipment.

[@jcraigshelton]

Somewhere around 80% of fire departments are volunteer only.

[@KMRN-nx8hw]

It's actually more towards 70%. But what's your point by saying that?

[@mrobsolete530x4]

@@KMRN-nx8hw That volunteer firefighters are important and underappreciated. A little over 70% of firefighters in the United States are volunteers. In my state, over 84% of the firefighters are volunteers.

[@josiahrickens4556]

I'm a former vol firefighter and would do it again

[@teacher555555]

would volunteer fire departments like to learn how to get money, new equipment and members? then i invite you to come to delaware. there is not 1 PAID fire deparment in the state. its all 100% volunteer with a few exceptions like the medics.

[@joemiller5527]

I think you might want to reconsider your statement. Wilmington DE pays their firefighters.

[@teacher555555]

@@joemiller5527 no the don't, look at their site. Wilmington volunteer or community fire company as the have more than one is volunteer fire company.

[@teacher555555]

​@@cmritchie04 well thank you but 6) proves you are not from delaware and dont know how the fire departments run here so let me teach you. 1) the siren does NOT have to be on the roof, it just has to be on or near the fire department property. 2) what is the difference between a paid and a volunteer fire department building? the rental hall. you will rarely see a hall of any size in a paid company as they dont need to bring people in to spend money to keep the fire company going and just the opposite for volunteer. the more people they can put into a hall the more varitey of events they can have. 3) uh for most of it, its called the ladies auxilary but they still report to the board members of the fire company ie president, VP, Treasurer, etc. etc. but they are also the high ranking members of the department such as chief, vice chief, captain, etc. etc.. 4) you would be correct but look at most volunteer fire fighters, they are people who own or work for local businesses so most of the time it is the buddy who gets the job and not the lowest bidder. 5) you are right in this as the only major purchases are made by the board members and the officers of the department as the need to know exactly what to get since the only majr purchases just happen to be the fire trucks that they need. 6) i dont need to say more than look up delaware paramedics but i will. the vehicles you see in delaware at the fire station are th fire trucks and the ambulances. you are right in that EMTs ride in them but here the EMTs and paramedics are the exact same. both are paid by the state but the ones on the ambulances live in the town in whoch they serve and the paramedics are stationed at a central location until a call. 7) you are right and wrong. you are right in that volunteers show up to the station but just recently have blue lights started being allowed on these vehicles with most still not. for most its still that you have to have your 4 ways (hazard) lights on when responding to a call and you still have to obey all traffic laws such as stop signs and red lights. paid fire fighters dont have to repsond to the station because they are already there. they have living quarters for them and are usually on a 24hr shift depending on the department of course. 8) and so do paid fire fighters. most are like i said on a 24hr shift in which they work 24 on 48 off and goes on like that. some have longer like you live there for a week and then go home for 2 weeks or whatever but you still live with your family at home when not on the clock. 9) already covered. like i said, its clear you are not from here as some of your info is correct but i suggest you plan a visit here and come see for yourself in how it really in is the rural farm lands that is kent and sussex counties in delaware.

[@teacher555555]

@@cmritchie04 well i am not talking about delaware county. i am talking about the state of delaware not pennsylvania

[@lookingglass9175]

Hey buddy.......you are 100% WRONG. There are many full-time fire departments in Delaware, not sure where you got that info but it’s not right.

[@julioguzman7347]

Texas is the biggest state and they are the state with less or poor fire deparments

[@HoboRoadrunner]

Yes let's keep sending billions to Ukraine instead of giving it to departments like heart of the pines

[@dalejablonski436]

Start charging for your time and equipment time.

[@benjaminmckee5041]

Pay. Them.

[@usernameredacted439]

that would be nice, but as a volunteer myself it's hard enough to get money just for the equipment we need, much less us actually getting paid.

[@running.s.fabrication]

There ways to Bill these fires for equipment

[@matthew9513]

Why do payed departments get sate funding while volunteer departments get nothing not fare at all.

[@jameswatson521]

I understand they want volunteers but when does the fire departments have the right to have child backgrounds checks done just to be a fire fighter

[@MrTenor-ch5gs]

They have background checks to make sure they aren’t hiring a fucking serial killer

[@A7exandersca7es]

@@MrTenor-ch5gs pedos too. Wtf?

[@jameswatson521]

When you want to be a firefighter the company makes you feel like criminals an asks that you do everything they ask of you but they still don’t want you but they take the money for your application fees

[@A7exandersca7es]

You ever hear of punctuation?

[@randalllochner5409]

Each county and city should collect taxes for fire fighting along with the property taxes.

[@KylesRV]

They can in Texas. It is called an ESD. They need to get the voters to approve an ESD.

[@allanxxx8789]

A Vital Emergency service having to rely on volunteers and with very little central funding is in my opinion disgusting...For gods sake you are one of the worlds richest countries, and your government pay next to nothing for a fire service ???? Pathetic set up...

[@MrCheckitout123]

it is called call volume. you can't fully funded and paid fire dept if you have limited calls.

[@Joe-fe4xi]

allan xxx I know, here in Merseyside we have a full time department with a couple of volunteer stations.

[@allanxxx8789]

In the uk we have whole time stations in populated towns and cites. and retained stations on an pager system in smaller towns and rural areas...The retained guys get paid a retained payment for the commitment and to cover a weekly drill/training...then get paid hourly for each time they get called out.We don't have volunteers...The retained guys have the same equipment, the same training and run with the same rules and regs etc as the whole time guys.Our fire fighting methods and procedures are the same over the whole country, so you don't get a conflict of operations or command confusion when two or more stations or cross county turn outs are needed.

[@Joe-fe4xi]

allan xxx Where you replying to me??

[@allanxxx8789]

I just replied to a reply sent to me....I assumed it was from you as you came up on my youtube in box

[@genemilstead]

That reporter is hot as hell