Not for the faint of heart...

So the reason I actually started writing this blog was due to a frustration I live with and wanted to write about. Its in regards to the all time most heated fire service debate...Volunteer Vs Paid...Since the beginning of the fire service when paid guys were first being introduced there has been a rivalry. And the reality is it will always go on. Just like Fog Vs Smoothbore or Truck Vs Engine these arguments will forever go on. However my strong feelings are not based on wether or not paid guys are "better" than volunteers, this is not the case at all, because it is not true, lets clear that up right now. Heres my issue (put your sensitivity on hold): Ignorant, untrained, unwilling, unmotivated, and complacent "firefighters" who in my brutal opinion do not have the right to step foot on an apparatus or put an air pack on. And the reality is I see volunteers with this mindset more often than not.

http://www.kentland33.com/news/index/layoutfile/home

Take a step into Kentland volunteer station 33...An almost myth-like station in a district known as Kentland that is within Prince George County Maryland. This station as you may see on the website is 100% volunteer 100% of the time and guess what? I guarantee you they will Firefight circles around you, paid or not. These guys are the bees knees when it comes to firefighting and I would not for a second question their abilities compared to big paid departments such as NY or Indy.

 So whats different? How is it that a 100% volunteer station is so well put together with formal SOPs and whose members are receiving medals of honor? Well besides the fact that they are one of the busiest stations in the country and occasionally have 3+ working fires in a shift.......they care. Simple as that, they care. They have a passion for the job they do and have an obligation to keep that area of town as safe as they can, all for free. They dedicate themselves to training regularly, constantly perfecting their craft, and providing the best dang firefighting around. The secret? An aggressive, smart, trained, and confident mentality.  A mentality that seems to be absent in the fire service. Especially that dirty word "aggressive".

So heres to my problem. The other day i was perusing Instagram and typed in the hashtag "firefighter" to try and find some cool fire photos to look at, I then saw the hashtag "firefighterlife" and thought id click on it, what I found made me sick. Picture after picture of young (some appeared to be in high school) boys and girls each standing around their local apparatus in a bunker coat making an atrocious "duck face", throwing a peace sign, or holding a halligan like they knew how to use it. They had captions such as "just doing what i do", "firefighter life",  or  some other ridiculous caption that let people know they are the real deal, real salty dogs who eat fire and slay the dragon. When in reality (and im judging lots of books by their cover here) most of these people I saw guaranteed dont know what its like, and wont. The majority of these pictures were of volunteers. They have been pacified and brainwashed by society today so that when faced with a situation taxing every one of their senses where not only their lives but others are in the balance, they would shut down. They dont have the first clue as to how to force a door, handle a smoothbore, throw a 24' alone...but you better believe they can wear that fresh out the box turnout coat and shiny helmet in their room to pose for their mall prowling group later and be the crazy friend whos a firefighter (as if the 487 stickers on their car didnt let you know to start with).

WWKS? (What Would Kentland Say)? They probably wouldnt say anything, because the great ones never do. They know theyre good, they dont have to tell you. Im sure they would be just as disgusted as myself and the fire service warriors long gone who are rolling over in their graves at todays pacified fire mentality. But the reality is they are too humble, I speak from experience here because the gentleman who got me interested in the fire service was a paid member of PGFD for many years and never spoke of his accomplishments. I only found out here recently of his accolades and accomplishments. Trust me when I say he was salty, he was salty.

The disgust gets more personal than online. I am absolutely appalled at the number of both career and volunteer firefighters whos main goal in a 24 hour shift is to see how many movies we can get under our belt, or who will take off of work that conveniently coincides with the training calendar for the month. When people say how they are glad they were off because we had a busy shift or had training to do, I have to walk away because violence is not allowed in the workplace.

Our job isnt an office job, or a warehouse job, or a fast food job (absolutely no discredit to any of those jobs) but our job is one that entails life risk on such a level where we will face death eventually undoubtably because of our career. Wether it be a LODD or cancer from exposure, the numbers are real, and the reality is this job requires us to strive to be the best we can possibly be every day, on and off. Volunteer or career. Fire is fire, and fire kills.

When I see career firefighters who have been on the job 15 years and cannot tell you how many GPM the nozzle we have to pull on a pre-connect has or have no clue we had hydraulic spreaders on the truck (true story), but you better believe they can tell you who got drafted in 1967 to what team, how he played, what he played, how much money he made, his middle name, etc I feel an emotion that I didnt have until I joined the fire service, Its a mix of anger, rage, disappointment, confusion, and did i mention anger?

Now dont get me wrong, having outside passions and desires is not a problem, I enjoy many activities I enjoy that I feel am very knowledgeable on. The problem is when you know this passion inside and out, and dont have a clue how to do your job. This is a problem because guess what? I am forced to depend on you. My life in partially in your hands, and that scares me.

So I look ahead into my future career with the fire service and wonder what all will change. How soft and complacent will we get? Where will the salty dogs go? Will we stop going inside structure fires because the word "aggressive" scares us? Where does it end? I honestly believe the end of the true craft of the fire service is nigh. And im just starting my long journey down the road to retirement.

So I ask, Volunteer or Paid are you giving everything you have to your calling or are you just here because its cool? Do you train to perfect and hone your skills or do you avoid anytime you have to put gear on? If you have lost or never had the desire to improve not just your skills but the others around you, then get going or get out. Either wake up, get combat ready, and make a difference. Or turn in your badge and go home, now. Why? Because, not only do you not deserve the badge, But I dont want you here, and when my life is in danger because of your complacency im ready to see you change or leave. So get the pacifier out of your mouth, learn how to use a halligan, take classes, learn from the older guys (especially the quiet humble ones, theyre the first to pull your butt out of a fire), man up, learn the craft, and never stop learning. You cant ever know it all, and when you think you do its time to go.

So back to the debate, Paid Vs Volunteer? Whos the top dog? The answer? Its up to you...are you the better firefighter or not?

Our job is dangerous as is. Lets not make it more so with our actions.

PS...Smoothbore or nothing and if your not on a truck company, youre on the wrong apparatus.