I'm new.

[Severen]

I'm new at this place and I need an opinion on something.My neighborhood(Northfork,WV) recently had a fire and I don't think the Vol. Fire Dept. responded.We only have Vol. Fire Departments. They're not very good but they should have at least responded.The problem is, this shows this Fire Dept. isn't good at all.I want to join a Vol. Fire Dept. but I don't know if I should go to this one or one that is better but farther away.

[FireSlayer1098]

Staffing problems are affecting every dept across the country, both paid and volunteer in most cases. They may not have responded, or may have but not had enough help for this reason. That would almost be a reason for you to join that department, they could use all the help they could get. If there were other reasons people looked down upon that department, for example they were a bunch of drinkers that responded to emergency calls intoxicated and always messed things up worse, then that would be a reason to look further. I would look into the situation first before taking conclusions. And the fire you are referring to, was there no department that responded at all?? If that was the case, there had to have been another underlying issue there. Or if it was just the department that covered the jurisdiction that didnt respond, maybe they were out of service for one reason or another, which has been known to happen for different reasons. And they may have had the other MA departments on auto dispatch for them. Just my $0.02. Hope it helps ya.

[Severen]

Thanks for your opinion.Now that I think about it you make some good points.I think when i get old enough I'll go to the clooser one.I'm 13 now and you have to be 16 or have a license to be on the Dept. . When I graduate from high school I plan to go to Chicago and become a fireman.Thanks again.

[jmitchell]

you have to be 16 or have a license to be on the Dept. .

16? wow!! that sounds a little young.

[tbonetrexler]

16? wow!! that sounds a little young.


Someplaces around here it is only 14. You cant go to fire school until your 16(i believe) which is when i joined

[SeavilleFire]

We have a junior program that starts at 16. They can come to the drills and ride on all the trucks for any calls, except late night jobs on school nights. They can't do any firefighting or extrication but it's a set of hands. When they turn 18 they can go to fire school and become probationary members.