Volunteer Fire Fighting

An interview from BGSU of a volunteer fire fighter.

[@1patrat]

I joined our local volunteer dept 2 weeks ago and I'm surprised at the amount of training it takes. If you join be prepared for lots of class room hours and also meeting lots of great guys and girls with the same selfless desire of being a volunteer firefighter.

[@dillon52ful]

Lots of classroom? I went through NYS Fire 1 (BEFO/IFO). The vast majority of it was hands on especially once you get into IFO.

[@thekentuckyhillbillyengine8434]

Yes it is about 12 months for firefighter 1 and 2 then about 4 months for emt basic

[@lindanwfirefighter4973]

@@dillon52ful How can you do hands on if you don’t have classroom time? 😳🤔

[@joeburros4878]

Its the same job as paid dept

[@billblackwell5453]

I wish her the best of luck , I'm a retired firefighter/inspector in Casper Wyoming, these fire stations need more ladies joining their departments , it's a great way to serve your community either as a volunteer or paid employee , the rewards out way a paycheck

[@brianmccall928]

Volunteer Firefighters are the greatest, I was a volunteer for over 20 years I have the greatest respect for the many men and women who put their lives on the line every day saving lives and property. Keep it up people you are doing a great job!!!!!!!!

[@henrypena2547]

Super Awesome Keep it up I did 20 firefighting and loved every minute of it .

[@henrypena2547]

Yesr forgot to put that in lol

[@DnitschEMT]

No, each state has different rules. Some states allow only "courtesy" lights which are blue or green and the use of an electronic air horn may be allowed. In these states all rules of the road must be followed, and drivers do not necessarily have to yield the right of way. In other states, such as Texas, volunteers, with permission, may run red/white/amber and sirens in personal vehicles. Different state, different needs.

[@cowboycody8094]

In Wyoming to my knowledge you are only allowed courtesy lights but they can't be blue because that's the color that snow plows and law enforcement use. I don't think we can have sirens and it depends on the county. In my County we are not allowed to have lights honor povs because firefighters abused them.

[@thtboii5884]

@@cowboycody8094 in my specific county in Texas we can run full code 3 after we get our EVOC, but we are only allowed to drive on the city loop and in the county with them. We can’t run code 3 within city limits unless it’s on the loop. We can fully deck out our vehicles with whatever lights and sirens we want as long as they are red, white or amber.

[@truckboy59]

I passed my FF1 and was able to leave class if they requested more than one apparatus. My school was close to the fire station and the principle allowed me to leave. Its a small town and sometimes we have hard time getting out volunteers from their day jobs. Hope it helps and stay safe! Update* that was last year my senior year of high school now I am in college and not on the station anymore! I will when I get back from college

[@erinecater]

In Ohio as a Volunteer FF you are allowed to have red lights and sirens on your car. You must have both - not one or the other. If you have lights and sirens you do not have to obey the rules of the road but we are limited to going 25 miles over the speed limit and all other emergency vehicles have the right of way. I am the FF in this video.

[@cowboycody8094]

Just out of curiosity what are you doing these days have you achieved your dream of becoming a flight nurse? Are you still on the volunteer fire department?

[@areaddiaz3988]

Love you

[@truckboy59]

Nice Job on the video, im a volly also from CT and we only can run blue lights but the pager perks do come in nicely. Even though I just graduated high school, I used to leave class and go to calls during school. Keep going on the fire department and Stay Safe!

[@razrramonel4077]

I was a volunteer firefighter in Kentucky, hoping to become a volunteer firefighter in Indiana.

[@magicsuperman13]

Fortunate for you. We get lights, but have to follow all laws on our way to the house. Sometimes it's a little frustrating if it's a major alarm.

[@robertsteele925]

Im now 44. I helped out the volunteer fire det. Since i was 13. Grass fires. Then i moved my way up to trainning. I was 18 in grade 10 lol i failed 2 years. But i kept doing what i love. Trainning. So as i turned 19 i became a full time volunteer fire fighter. My cheif szid Robert im so impressed with your work your in imdeatly. Got my pager. And still in school. Now im sighning in for a full time fire fighter for the city. Still gotta take full school here . But im proud of all the young volunteers. Always for ever. And for ever and always.

[@brandweermanb]

whats the name of that song at the begin? i i'm searching for that song a long time!

[@4133EWvianen]

My respect to Erin.

[@rizwanmohammed3079]

what happened. seem like the Mic is turned off

[@stankerfilmes]

im a volunteer been doing it for 4 years this march since I was 16 and where I live you don't need to have a license to be one, the youngest age where I live is 14 to join

[@billblackwell5453]

I was 13 when I joined as an explorer ,we went on all the the calls fighting fires and going on medical calls

[@69devmar]

I have my Orientation on Wednesday next week for my city. Can anyone give me an idea what to expect after the orientation? There are 3 spots open and i was told there 22 applications.I do have experience and training i retired from the Navy in2011,20yrs of service but ship fire fighting and civilian is different. Mountain Home,ID is a small town, so you gets the redlight and siren also.

[@lindanwfirefighter4973]

Only 36 hours to be a firefighter? Here it is 120 hours for Level 1. Maybe because it was so long ago?

[@josiahrickens4556]

Im a former vol firefighter here in east TN

[@BeytekinConstructionMachinery]

I think it's the same in all states: volunteer firefighters or ems personal may use only red/blue/green lights inside or outside theirs motorvehicles without any kind of sirens. Or isn't?

[@sassy3217]

Keep up the good work you and many others are needed.

[@engine225]

Where is this department located

[@allforgood7977]

This interview delves into who the typical volunteer firefighter is.

[@jroogden8749]

well my step dad and my step brother are in wild fire training and they just passed their first test today but they still have a long ways to go and training me is in Salem Oregon I am so proud of my step dad and stepbrother to that means this summer they'll be doing firefighting ❤️🚒🔥🚒❤️🚒🔥🚒❤️

[@robertspencer703]

West Virginia as a volunteer firefighter we are not allowed to leave work

[@znovosad555]

state law in CT requires non essential jobs or less essential jobs to let volunteer firefighters or EMS to leave without any repercussions for an emergency call. however in most instances people work further out of town and it’s harder for them to be able to leave due to distance. when i worked in retail there was only one time i left work for emergencies and that was because there was a ton of calls all at once. now i work as an EMT so i can’t leave for that. But most other jobs legally require volunteers to be let out if need be.

[@Dan_Bender]

WRONG! WEST VIRGINIA CODE CHAPTER 21. LABOR ARTICLE 5. WAGE PAYMENT AND COLLECTION. §21-5-17. Employers prohibited from discharging employees for time lost as volunteer firemen or emergency medical service attendant. No employer may terminate, or use any disciplinary action against, an employee who is a member of a volunteer fire department or who is an emergency medical service attendant and who, in the line of emergency duty as a volunteer fireman or an emergency medical service attendant, responds to an emergency call prior to the time he or she is due to report for work and which emergency results in a loss of time from his or her employment. Any time lost from employment as provided in this section may be charged against the employee's regular pay or against the employee's accumulated leave, if any, at the option of the employee. At the request of an employer, any employee losing time as provided herein shall supply his or her employer with a statement from the chief of the volunteer fire department or the supervisor or other appropriate person in charge of the emergency medical service entity stating that the employee responded to an emergency call and the time thereof. As used in this section, "emergency" means going to, attending to or coming from: (1) A fire call; (2) a hazardous or toxic materials spill and cleanup; (3) a motor vehicle accident; or (4) any other situation to which his or her fire department or emergency medical service entity has been or later could be dispatched. The term "employer" includes any individual, partnership, association, corporation, business trust or any person or group of persons acting directly or indirectly in the interest of an employer in relation to any employee. Any employer who willfully and knowingly violates the provisions of this section must reinstate the employee to his or her former position and shall be required to pay the employee all lost wages and benefits, including seniority, for the period between termination and reinstatement. Any action to enforce the provisions of this section must be commenced within a period of one year after the date of violation and the action must be commenced in the circuit court of the county wherein the place of employment is located.

[@kyleburkhart]

Bowling Green, Ohio

[@bsanchez3179]

You can only use lights only

[@dillonperrine8728]

For one it is not called the jaws of life in the fire department they r called cutters, sperders, and the ram

[@richardvincent7041]

+Dillon Perrine Haha, No They are still called the Jaws Of Life.

[@znovosad555]

Depends. We just call ours the Phoenix tool

[@dillon52ful]

@@richardvincent7041 Haha, Nope a lot of departments use the technical term of them. because some only cut, some only spread, some do both. Out of curiosity, are you a firefighter?

[@cowboycody8094]

Honestly I don't care what the heck she calls them I understood what she meant. Not everyone watching this video has a firefighting background and knows the difference or all the technical terms but they do know what the jaws of life are.

[@GhostSpider174]

Just wondering, how were you able to leave class to go on-call? Because if you're 18, then you could, but wouldn't you have to either go through the fire academy or pass your FF1 and FF2 tests etc.? Just curious. And yes, this is a legitimate question.

[@cowboycody8094]

She is a college student and so they don't really care whether or not she leaves. Or rather they have no control over it. You need to pass firefighter 1 and 2 only depending on the type of cuz you go on and what department you're on. I'm on the volunteer department in my area and all they require right up front is IS 700 ICS 100 and is Piper Hazmat training I believe. I don't have my structure fire cert so I don't go on structure fires but I do have my red card for Wildland firefighting so that's what I do.

[@michaelstevens1574]

I love the fire gear

[@kyleburkhart]

do you really have to comment on this youtube video?

[@ffjsb]

It's 240 hrs. for fulltime firefighters. And then it's 54 hours every three years of continuing Ed.

[@cbarnes94]

shit 36 hours would be great. going through 220 hr New Jersey FF1 now, state police haz mat awareness, operations, confined space awareness, FEMA ics I100, I200, I700

[@Joejoe-fd9xt]

cbarnes94 yea im an nj firefighter the academy was pretty long

[@gearreviewwithswampy5794]

🕺

[@raimundheinecke3403]

The Concept of having Emergency lights and a siren on your own car for when you get calls is really crazy to me. In Europe we dont allow that :/

[@ffbryant]

wow..i didnt know that!

[@delbertkalista6082]

I have 4 fire stations

[@robertbowman7465]

Where I am to be a junior fireman u have to have to b 16

[@robertrife8037]

What state is this in

[@cowboycody8094]

Ohio.

[@SaltyNationalist]

It's called "Fire"...

[@dgerm7210]

how do you learn how to put out fire in 36 hours the 1403 classes alone are more then that

[@areaddiaz3988]

Love you 😍

[@firemanrick79]

This would be much better if we could hear Erin.

[@connersanbers2279]

Good dang

[@JLieseke]

I would really like this vid more if you could HEAR the interviewee

[@ffjsb]

Your statement that "you do not have to obey the rules of the road" is misleading. You MUST operate with "due regard" for other vehicles.

[@MrGamecatCanaveral]

@kyleburkhart Yes, yes I do.

[@bcfirefighter3]

Hate to break it to you, but you DO have to follow ALL the rules of the road. By using lights and/or siren you are asking permission to proceed through a red light, drive faster than the speed limit etc etc. If you do in fact run a red light and hit someone you are 100% at fault.

[@MrGamecatCanaveral]

I don't know what college students do nor do I give a fuck. Thank you. Take care.

[@MrGamecatCanaveral]

@kyleburkhart I do both man.

[@MrGamecatCanaveral]

Do u really have to mention that u drink?

[@ChathamFireDeptfan]

Lucky

[@gradsadanceteam2284]

248

[@jdas2727]

wait you dont need firefighter 1???

[@robertfields6955]

Sorry to tell you Kurtis but smoke is also dangerous and can kill you also!!! I don't know what dept. you belong to but you better get retrained!!!

[@dannyhaley7610]

erin cater is very pretty.

[@kyleburkhart]

Erin you are famous ;-)

[@thegeek1226]

Well I'm guessing that since she's in college, that she's over 18, which means she's an adult. Maybe some of you should read the description and quit acting like neanderthals! In other words, grow up and act your age.

[@dontworryaboutit1909]

It's funny how someone gets a light and siren and they don't think they have to obey the rules of the road. Being a firefighter myself, I can tell you if you think you're above the law just because you have lights and sirens, you'll get pulled over very quickly and have your light/siren privileges revoked on the spot. And you'll receive a citation. Please don't think that you're above the law because you have a silly little light and a siren, because that state trooper thrives off of whackers.

[@lockheedload]

Dontworry Aboutit depends on the state. In Texas, when responding to a call with lights and siren, your pov is now an official emergency vehicle and no, you don't have to obey the rules of the road. Hope this helps.

[@sbs146]

She is slow as...

[@kyleburkhart]

LMAO get a life or a drink

[@FF12EMT]

^^ amen to that.. especially at the volunteer level.. i cant believe they give everyone red lights and sirens to begin with.. Dont have to obey the rules of the road?? so your saying its okay you blow threw red lights going 25mph over the posted speed? Stupidity

[@cowboycody8094]

State laws vary from state-to-state no one said it was wise to go through a stop sign add / 25. There's also a certain amount of common sense that should be used in any state regardless of the laws.

[@jonathansnyder8686]

hard to watch because it's so scripted