Males in the Firehouse

[mongofire_99]

I am the only 5'11" 215# male firefighter on a fire dept. (Captain on the first out pumper as well) of about 200 personnel. The 5'11"/lighter, 5'11"/heavier, shorter/lighter, shorter/heavier, taller/lighter, taller/heavier, stronger, weaker and the uglier guys and gals treat me with respect, I do my job, and there are no problems. What experiences have you had with 5'11" 215# male firefighters? Do you think your firehouse would accept a 5'11" 215# guy as an equal? Are 5'11" 215# men capable of doing the job? Please share your thoughts.

(I couldn't resist)

[ 07-01-2001: Message edited by: mongofire_99 ]

[fireman_387]

You go guy!!! Enough with the politically correct questions huh??

[FF24]

well said, not to mention VERY FUNNY!!!

[comwhite]

Mongofire,

I can foresee a few problems, but I do think you can overcome them with a little time. First, being the only 5'll", 215 lb. male, you may find some of the other firefighters lust after you and can't keep their minds centered on thier jobs. Thier conversations about sex or personal hygiene may stop in mid sentence, so as not to embarrass you. Due to your size, you'll probably be put at the front of the hose line all the time, and you'll never get to sit in the front seat of the cab. Considering your size, if the military has weight restrictions, don't you think it only fair that fire departments have those same restrictions? And don't get your feelings hurt if you overhear the words "macho" or "sexist pig" in the same sentence with your name, those are really words of endearment.
Oh, and I forgot, due to the fact that you're a big male, the standards will probably be different for you than most. The grenade you throw will probably weigh a couple of pounds more than the female firefighters throw.
You just do your job, hon, in time you'll be accepted, and who knows one of them may have to depend on you to save their life.

(Sorry Mongo, I couldn't resist either)

[ 07-02-2001: Message edited by: comwhite ]

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

Mongo..you have me rotflmao! Touche!

[enginecappy]

Mongo...

Don't sleep on your stomach.

[MikeHunt]

Mongo...I see your point...Sounds like you should be given preference for entry level examinations and promotional exams.

[Adze39]

touché

It might be a little rough at first, but after you provide years of hard work, we might come to accept you as an equal.

[larrycook]

Mongo,
if some of the smaller firefighters were behind you on the hose, they would have some protection if something exploded. most departments would welcome firefighters of your stature and abilities with open arms and grant you automatic passes on any type of test. keep up the good work.
LC

You did forget one thing, though, mongofire_99. I shall explain.

I am the youngest bald firefighter on the job, in my early 30's, I am almost as bald as some of the fellas with 25+ yrs on the job! So I think that the question should also include the amount of hair on ones head.

With a lot of self realization, I've come to accept my baldness! & Gosh darnit, so can everyone else!



(I, too, couldn't resist!)

FTM-PTB-EGH-RFB

[ 07-02-2001: Message edited by: Jolly Roger ]

[ntvilleff]

Mongo,

I think all posts should stop until we hear from the all-knowing, all-seeing, Althea Forhan, whose year (maybe two) experience as an explorer far outweighs anything we have seen in the fire service.

[hctrouble25]

hahahah OK OK I get the humor, especially since I am the one that posted the Women in the firehouse forum. I understand that you as men will never get what many of us go through and so to you it is all a joke or a big waste of time to discuss. I get the humor in this and appreciate it. But also feel that my forum was a good one. Hell, it is 10 pages long now so a lot of people had lots to say...both good and bad and generated a lot of good back and forth conversation (ok arguing, I was trying to be nice haha). Thanks again for the laugh!! Take care and be safe.

[Michelle Latham]

only 215#'s ????? I don't know if I'd feel safe hiding behind you unless you were at least 350!

[Althea Forhan]

"I am the youngest bald firefighter on the job, in my early 30's, I am almost as bald as some of the fellas with 25+ yrs on the job!"

Althea's mom says "Get ahold of Christine Lavins' CD that has the song "Bald-headed men" on it. You'll love it, just like some people love Patrick Stewart, Yuhl Brenner, Michael Jordan... the list goes on.

[mongofire_99]

OH - MY - GAWD

I had no idea there was such a stong base of support out here for me *sniffle*.

fireman_387

Enough with the politically correct questions huh??

Yeah! Way past enough!

ff24

well said, not to mention VERY FUNNY!!!

Who's trying to be funny? I want to be special and recognized for who/what I am .

comwhite

First, being the only 5'll", 215 lb. male, you may find some of the other firefighters lust after you and can't keep their minds centered on thier jobs.

So far it's just been the female-firefighters - and that one guy, but he didn't last too long...

Thier conversations about sex or personal hygiene may stop in mid sentence, so as not to embarrass you.

Embarrass? Me?

Due to your size, you'll probably be put at the front of the hose line all the time,

And that's a bad thing why?

and you'll never get to sit in the front seat of the cab.

But I'm the first due company officer, I can sit anywhere I want!

Considering your size, if the military has weight restrictions, don't you think it only fair that fire departments have those same restrictions?

Yes!

My FD goes by bodyfat percentage instead of the old MetLife or BMI chart, so at 11% I'm in good shape as far as weight restrictions. I could be 350 and as long as I wasn't over 20% I'd still be OK, and if I was 11% at 350, maybe Mr. Olympia!

And don't get your feelings hurt if you overhear the words "macho" or "sexist pig" in the same sentence with your name, those are really words of endearment.

OK! Thanks! 'cause that stuff was really starting to bother me. Lowering my self-esteem and all.

Oh, and I forgot, due to the fact that you're a big male, the standards will probably be different for you than most.

WOW!

They were!

When I hired on, the physical agility test was SOOOOOO hard! A two mile run, ladder carry, set and raise, hose pack up the stairs, all in 3/4 boots, coat, helmet, gloves and SCBA. Now it's a breeze, practically anyone can pass it.

The grenade you throw will probably weigh a couple of pounds more than the female firefighters throw.

I just hope they can throw it far enough...

You just do your job, hon, in time you'll be accepted,

Thanks, I wish you were close by so I could get a hug.

and who knows one of them may have to depend on you to save their life.

Again?!

(Sorry Mongo, I couldn't resist either)

I am a hard one to resist .

Captain Gonzo

you have me rotflmao! Touche!

Thanks Cap, you humble me.

BTW, did I ever congrats you on the promo? If not or even if I did, CONGRATS!

Phildabox

Don't sleep on your stomach.

Thanks for the tip. That'll help to keep me from drooling on the pillow?

And what does this mean?

FTM-PTB-EGH

MikeHunt

...Sounds like you should be given preference for entry level examinations and promotional exams.

Thanks, but I think I've promoted as far as I wanna go. Too much paperwork at the captain slot now. I ain't interested in an admin job at all. I'd rather stay with the crew.

A question for you if I may...

Is your real name MikeHunt?

Adze

It might be a little rough at first,

It was, but after nealy 20 years, things are starting to settle down.

larry cook

if some of the smaller firefighters were behind you on the hose, they would have some protection if something exploded.

What if it was me that exploded?

Jolly Roger

You did forget one thing, .....I am the youngest bald firefighter...

You're naturally bald? Awesome, I envy you. I have to shave my head.

Here it is again...

FTM-PTB-EGH-RFB

What does it mean?

ntvilleff

I think all posts should stop until we hear from the all-knowing, all-seeing, Althea Forhan...

Oh I hope we don't stop, I'm feeling so empowered and I fear one of her posts would just bring me down.

hctrouble25

...especially since I am the one that posted the Women in the firehouse forum.

I failed to give you credit, but I figured everyone would know.

I understand that you as men will never get what many of us go through...

Yeah, you're right. Male blacks, mexicans, jews, asians, gays, wimps, et al are/were never ever discriminated against...

and so to you it is all a joke or a big waste of time to discuss.

Initially (20 years ago) it wasn't. Today...

But also feel that my forum was a good one.

OK

Hell, it is 10 pages long now so a lot of people had lots to say...

I see it as a few people had a lot to say, not a lot of people had a lot to say. Tomato - tomato.

Michelle Latham

only 215#'s ????? I don't know if I'd feel safe hiding behind you unless you were at least 350!

I can bench 400#.

Althea Forhan

You'll love it, just like some people love Patrick Stewart, Yuhl Brenner, Michael Jordan... the list goes on.

Mongo's bald too!

So, if this is Altheas mom - do you have a picture?

[ 07-02-2001: Message edited by: mongofire_99 ]