The future of firefighting?

[WannabeintheFD]

What do you want to see happen to fire departments in the future, when you become a firefighter?

[WannabeintheFD]

Or what do you fear will happen to the fire department?

[EoneTiller]

Originally posted by wannabeinthefd
Or what do you fear will happen to the fire department?

people will lose respect and trust in the FD, less people will join the FD. more of these stupid sex scandals and suff. more of the drinking in the firehouse. fireman will do things stupid to embarrass the FD. oh the list goes on....

[MVFD81]

Re: The future of firefighting?

Originally posted by WannabeintheFD
What do you want to see happen to fire departments in the future, when you become a firefighter?

Well my department is working for a new Fire Station. I would like to see that happen.

[Engine101]

I see that we will continue to look for ways to increase the level of service we provide to our residents, Continuing to take proactive steps to help prevent disasters as well as continuing to train and edcuate the residents and business owners in the City

I see us getting busiser we ran 3,600 calls last year

I fear that local politictions will continue to see the fire departmernt as a easy way to save a few thousand dollars

[MFDExplorer51]

I think that the ultimate future of Fire Fighting will be that Fire Suppression itself will become robotic, I know, its sad, but its almost beginning to become a reality. Robots can do almost anything else, why not build the technology to Fight Fires.

But I doubt that will be occuring within my life time, thankfully.

As for the more present times, I think the Future of Fire Fighting is bright, people are respecting us more, more money for equipment will be allocated for us, and the overall stance of everthing revolving around Fire Suppression will be great.

What I fear? The robots...

[WestvilleJr73]

SOme ppl in the county want to see a Paid full time dept that is county wide no more vollies but i dont think that is going to happen

[Guest]

my fear

In the future I see alot of people joining due to 9/11, it is allready happening, the classes at my local academy are filling up with people way too fast. The instructors also commented that people who are just doing it for the heck of it are stealing the spot from dedicated people who plan to go into the profession and plan to stay. I also visited a class which was in its last 2 weeks and there were alot of people forgetting day 1 stuff, like fire burns, keep your helmet on in a fire, and when your alarm goes off your out of air.

[manofire2]

What I see and fear happening is that we will see more and more 'degrees' hired to the detriment of the fire service. We have gone away from hiring people base on work experience and proven team ethic and gone to hiring, book learned/me oriented people. In my opinion the fire service was far better off when we hired labourers and jocks. Todays new breed of firefighter possesses great theoretical skills but lacks in the intangibles of teamwork and hands on experience.

[Guest]

I agree

I agree, all the college people are stealing the jobs from the dedicated hard working, old-school fire fighters. And what can a degree teach you about what it is like in a fully involved house, confined space, or a extrication. and will your degree help you cary yor fellow firefighter out of the basement of a building?

[drparasite]

Re: I agree

Originally posted by expvol
I agree, all the college people are stealing the jobs from the dedicated hard working, old-school fire fighters. And what can a degree teach you about what it is like in a fully involved house, confined space, or a extrication. and will your degree help you cary yor fellow firefighter out of the basement of a building?

Jeez, are you guys really that ignorant? I’ll tell you what a college degree means. It means you can be taught, and you can learn something. News flash, the fire service is evolving. It’s not as simple as it used to be. There are now training courses, courses that can give you college credit. HazMat courses are definitely at college level, and heavy into chemistry and biology. Associate's degrees are being earned in fire science, bachelor's degrees are being earned in emergency services management. The bar is now a lot higher than it used to be. Many career chiefs have master’s degrees in public administration. Many departments are requiring college degrees for a person to be a line officer.

What can a degree teach you? Well, aside from the entire fire science degree, the degree tells a future employer that this guy can learn. He can learn what to do when he's first due on a working fire. He has the analytical skills that form the foundation for him thinking how he is going to extricate this massive MVA patient who is severely entrapped. While a degree may not help if you need to go down into a basement to get your fellow out, unfortunately not much will.Then again, not much will. However, going to college means having to study for a test, and you need to develop skills for retaining knowledge. These skills might help you remember something from your "Firefighter Survival / RIT" training, so when your are put to the ultimate test, in this case, whether you live or die, you end up passing with flying colors.

[manofire2]

Re: Re: I agree

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DrParasite
[B]
Jeez, are you guys really that ignorant? I’ll tell you what a college degree means. It means you can be taught, and you can learn something.

Being able to learn is one thing being willing to learn and to pay ones dues is another. Experience too is a great teacher and the things that no college can teach are those intangibles. Things like loyalty, teamwork and humility. The fact is that many (not all) of the folks walking in with degrees think they already know it all and are not willing to learn from us ignorant old school guys.

I would rather work with a guy who has a trade and practical knowledge than some guy with a Batchelor of Basketweaving degree and a bad attitude.

I've worked with a lot of great line officers with little more than a high school diploma who know more about fighting fires than any of the know everything guys will ever learn because they don't respect the job.

[WannabeintheFD]

so your saying thoes of us that are dedicated but not yet firefighters should not go to college, just go looking for a department, and hope that they take us... that they would like us better cus we wouldnt be all books but because they feel that we care more for not going to college???

[FiRsqDvr45]

Gimme a break. EXPVOL did you lose out on a job to someone more qualified then you or something?

"In the future I see alot of people joining due to 9/11, it is allready happening, the classes at my local academy are filling up with people way too fast."

What is wrong with a class filling up fast? It is a good thing when classes and academies fill up.Would you rather no one joined? Sounds like you didn't get in on time so you are bitter?

"I also visited a class which was in its last 2 weeks and there were alot of people forgetting day 1 stuff, like fire burns, keep your helmet on in a fire, and when your alarm goes off your out of air."
I bet you never goofed during FF1 class ever. Wait, apparently you must have, an alarm on your SCBA means either your PASS is working or you are low on air,NOT OUT.

ENGINE101
"Continuing to take proactive steps to help prevent disasters as well as continuing to train and edcuate the residents and business owners in the City"
Proactive training and education in our communities makes for more prepared services and a more imformed public is always a huge plus. Glad to see you are progressive and openminded about the future! Bravo!

OK, let me ask this of those who have whined about the college kids taking jobs from the experienced people.

Where do you propose the college kids get experience unless someone hires them right out of a degree program or academy? Did you just instantly become experienced? I sure in hell didn't, I, like most members of the fire service are learning every day until we retire.

Wannabe, Get trained in FF1 and 2, grab your EMT, CDL, etc., go to college and get a degree or three if you want. Every little bit helps when you want to get a job. Your TRAINING and EDUCATION will give you and edge when you are in the interview process so you can get on the job and start gaining your EXPERIENCE. And what ever you do, don't stop asking questions or trying to learn something new everyday. Evveryone starts somewhere, usually on the bottom. Good luck, you know how to reach me if you wan to chat.

[WannabeintheFD]

thank you very much, i will surely be in touch!