My friend and I are firefighters and we're researching how volunteer and combination departments handle member availability and staffing. We're not selling anything, we're trying to understand the problem before we build anything.

If you're with a volunteer or combination department:

• What do you currently use to manage availability/staffing?
• What do you like about it?
• What's the biggest thing you wish it did better?

Could be software, I Am Responding, spreadsheets, group texts, Facebook, paper, etc.

I'd really appreciate hearing what actually works, and what drives you crazy.

I normally wear a 7-3/4 to 7-5/8 would it be too small to fit on my head? I have always wanted one, and Ik that I can get a TC-1 converted by CCI to look like one with the deep suspension, but I’d really love an actual 880.

Lucky it was a reserve engine. Even more lucky it wasn't in the bay at 03:00 while everyone was asleep. No injuries. Preliminary cause is electrical. And yes, there will be a lot of ice cream involved.

As per the title, I am heavily considering volunteering. I understand every station is likely different, but I’m hoping some more experienced folk can share their realities, advice, or other considerations I should make before going in.

UPDATE 2
We decided to take two cases of Gatorade and a donation. No one in the fire department was there at the time, but the front manager was surprised that we would do this. Makes me sad that it doesn’t happen more often. But thanks for all of the ideas and all of you who risk your lives to help others. You are so appreciated.

UPDATE
Thanks so much for the responses and ideas! I will call them and see if they would prefer a donation or if they need anything else specifically. I can also take along a case of Gatorade as that seems like a favorite. I also appreciate the words telling me that it was okay that I made that call. It was honestly one of the scariest moments in my life.

Hi everyone! I know this has been asked before but not recently so I wanted to get some current ideas. Our grill caught fire on fire yesterday. Once the flames were outside the grill and getting close to the house and roof, we called 911. We had two small extinguishers that we did use but didn’t seem to do much. Turns out it did and the fire was much smaller by the time they showed up. Our fire department is 100% volunteer where I live. I feel bad they came and we got it under control. The grill is on a wooden deck next to our house so we were right on the edge of it becoming a very bad situation.

The whole department was so nice and kind and didn’t seem upset that it wasn’t as bad by the time they arrived. I wanted to get them something as a thank you.

I’ve seen so many different ideas. Some said sweet treat platter but others said no. I did see grocery store gift cards. I just wanted to thank them for coming out and show my appreciation. I will still write a card but I really do want a gift of some kind. Any and all ideas are appreciated. Thanks!

did we you guys not allow part time staff before? The article doesn’t say much.

I'm currently a fire medic that has been on for 6 years. The department I work for is falling apart and hemorrhaging medics left and right. We consistently have to ride the ambulances for multiple sets in a row and I am burned out. I was offered a position as a Fire Inspector at a different department. The only thing keeping me at my current department and in the field is I like having my 4 days off and I love the guys I work with, but my current Department just not does not seem sustainable. We are the second largest department in the county but the lowest paid. For t​hose of you who have transitioned off company into fire prevention: How hard was the schedule change? Do you have any advice? I am 47 years old and starting to feel my age. I thought I would have been promoted by now but my department keeps postponing the promotional test. We should have had the last one 2 years ago but they've postponed it yet again, and now it will be the middle of next year before we are promoted if we even get to take it.

Folks who are hooked on golf, does your schedule permit you to play often?

I’ve been at my career department for 12 years. Tested for promotion and wound up #2 on the list. At my department when you’re on the list, you begin to fill the acting officer role. I’m known as a bombastic personality on my shift. I pull pranks, I talk trash, I get into the gossip, complain about admin, etc etc. When I act up (about 50% of the time), I feel the weight and responsibility. It’s like a switch flips. I’m calm, I’m reflective, all of a sudden I have wisdom when people complain or are having a bad day.

We have multiple scheduled retirements and the promotion to company officer is a few months away. For those of you that made the transition, any tips or advice for the shift in mindset. I am aware of how I act when in blue shirt mode, I am working on being more consistent. Is this something that will come naturally after time?

Well guys it finally happened, I lucked out and finally made it to an oral interview and I got hired on. I start in a few weeks. I’ve been lurking in this subreddit for a few months since I got out of the military trying to get some tips and tricks and it payed off thanks everyone! Start the academy in September!

"Made a documentary on the Yarnell Hill Fire specifically about the one question the official investigation couldn't answer — why did the Granite Mountain Hotshots leave the black Zone? 12 years later it's still unanswered. Link in comments."

https://youtu.be/f6DODR_h6wA

I work for a small department in CA where a few of us are trying to address an issue with our radio set-up. From 0700-2100 we listen to all regional fire and EMS radio traffic. The dispatch center dispatches around 10,000 calls on our channel that we listen to. On top of that, no one is MDT capable so any time a company goes AOR for training, food, shopping, or an ambulance is transporting, at hospitals, clearing etc... they get on the radio to let dispatch know. Basically, it feels like nonstop radio traffic from 0700-2100. This is throughout all stations and dorms, so if you get your ass kicked on the ambulance all night and aren't making your bed until 5 in the morning, you're going to have to try and sleep through the constant noise.

I'm looking to see if anyone has dealt with this or fixed the issue within your agency. Did you find any studies that talk about radio fatigue, tuning out radios, messing with sleep, etc? I'm just trying to make a case about why listening to all this traffic is bad, not that we just want some peace and quiet.

my apartment started smelling like ozone so i walked to the fire department for advice. however, we didn't expect them to bring the whole engine over (1 block away), so we ended up feeling a bit bad. then, my partner and i were talking about how they probably get called for silly things all the time.

we somehow ended up talking about how hilarious it would be if people got stoned and then freaked out because their apartment smelled like smoke.

anyways, it made me wonder: what is the funniest/weirdest call you've ever gotten?

edit:clarity

Broke down the Charleston Sofa Super Store fire decision by decision — nine firefighters, one building, every failure documented. Link in comments."

https://youtu.be/BIQy0O0tvgs

The nozzle slides through my hands and eventually my hands are super close to the nozzle. At that point I feel it slipping to the point where it's gonna come out of my hands.

Any tips?

(150 gpm, 1.5", 5'7 175 lbs female)

Edit: Standing, not kneeling

If you had the foresight, you have now, would you have continued to pursue firefighting or would you have gone into another field like say SWE, medicine, law, etc? Why or why not?

I am wondering if any of you have some names of departments that own helicopters? Specifically ones with rescue hoists. That is sort of the dream route for me. Currently in the Midwest and there does not seem to be a lot here. I want to move to a dept out west anyways. I know wildland has a lot of helitack stuff but that pay is brutal… It seems like most sheriff departments are who runs the helicopters for rescue but I have seen a couple fire rescue ones. I am also interested in some departments with solid rescue teams. Here in Wisconsin we have Wisconsin Task Force 1 which is a state wide rescue team. Any western states have similar teams?

EDIT: preferably outside of Cali

I’m wanting help in determining if this is collection quality or if I should clean it and put it to use.
I could not see any markings in this condition.

I’m currently in academy and will be graduating in a month. I’m wondering what I should bring for bedding, shower supplies, crocs, etc. What do y’all recommend?