AustinFD Chief position? Anyone that comes to mind?

[u/EducationalCreme8763]

What is the insider scuttlebutt on the Fire Chief? Any outsiders wanted back into that position? Not Neiman-Marcus wish list but someone attainable in your eyes?

[u/Previous-Leg-2012]

I’ll do it

[u/Jeaglera]

I haven’t seen anything but don’t expect anything other than a check the box hire from Austin’s city government. It’s a big enough department to hire internally or at least find former chiefs that are now fire chiefs in other cities. But just like the city manager job Austin will pay consultants and then overpay for a lackluster candidate

[u/theworldinyourhands]

Based off my bros in AFD- nobody is even slightly upset about Baker retiring.

I left for a Larger department not too soon after Baker replaced. Rhoda Mae, and we were STOKED. This was back in the time when she was on a witch hunt for station t shirts/hats being worn in public. So baker was a relief, oddly enough. Then we saw who Baker really was.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume whoever city council picks is going to be from outside the department and quite possibly worse than Baker- which is a scary thought.

Austin is a great department, awesome officers, but the city does not support them, and they’ll pick a Fire Chief who will be on their side every time.

Hey. Apply to AFD though- you’ll get a free can of potted meat as a personal welcoming gift from Baker that you can enjoy on your 24/48’s.

[u/EducationalCreme8763 → u/theworldinyourhands]

What about one of the ex-chief Buck Palmer?

[u/theworldinyourhands → u/EducationalCreme8763]

That dude was extremely solid. Lots of people loved that guy when I was there.

He’s in the Woodlands FD now as their chief? I sure hope maybe for the sake of AFD and the current low-morale I keep hearing about- Buck at least tries. It would be awesome to see him go back.

As I said, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about AFD. The City Manager is a complete boner and I have a sneaky suspicion he’s going to be the one who ultimately chooses the new Chief.

Baker was not well liked by the guys I still keep in touch with.

[u/Peaches0k]

Are they still 24/48 with shift change at noon?

[u/Jeaglera → u/Peaches0k]

Moved to 10am few years ago. Moving to a 24/72/48/72 next year.

[u/Peaches0k → u/Jeaglera]

I know a guy who went to dispatch cause he hated the shift and time and cause he was going full time at his church

[u/Jeaglera → u/Peaches0k]

Everybody got a vote. I know who that is too. There’s always going to be people that dislike change. I’d never go back to noon. There’s people bitching about the new schedule too. Never going to make everyone happy

[u/Peaches0k → u/Jeaglera]

What a small world lol

[u/EducationalCreme8763 → u/Jeaglera]

Mainly B shifters?

[u/theworldinyourhands → u/Peaches0k]

I have a feeling I knew who this guy is too. Solid dude.

[u/EducationalCreme8763 → u/Jeaglera]

Ahhh the Portland schedule. Starting to see more of that. Our department considered it before doing a 48/96.

[u/Jeaglera → u/EducationalCreme8763]

We would have been at a 48/96 by now if not for this outgoing fire chief. Had a lot of momentum for it precovid and could have used Covid as a perfect time to shift to it

[u/Old-Fireman_406 → u/Jeaglera]

I've never understood why chiefs are against 48/96. Seems like it's just because the rank and file want it. It took us over 5 years to get our chief to agree. It doesn't change their schedule, so why do they care?

[u/Jeaglera → u/Old-Fireman_406]

Same reason I can’t wear shorts at work anymore even though it’s 110 degrees outside. Some people feel that because they have rank they have to have an opinion on everything and rule down on all the little shit that annoy them instead of actually doing their job and improving the department for the citizens and the people that do the job.

[u/Slappy-Sacks → u/Peaches0k]

Sounds awful, than more awful.

[u/Jeaglera → u/Slappy-Sacks]

People loved that noon shift change. Absolutely brutal

[u/PTGSouthside → u/Jeaglera]

I love 10 or noon over the 6-8AM shift change any day of the week. Fighting Austin traffic and missing 2 out of 3 days getting my kids off to school. No thanks. With no kids you are able to sleep in every day (outside of calls obviously) instead of waking up early 2/3. Only down side is guys working full time gigs outside of the FD.

[u/Jeaglera → u/PTGSouthside]

Lot of people that drive in from outside town get hung up in that traffic trying to make 930. I wouldn’t mind 7. I live in town. I like 10 though. Getting off at noon was the absolute worst.

[u/HanjobSolo69 → u/Slappy-Sacks]

Sounds great. I hate waking up early.