TBN Firefighters

[Cub124]

I didn't realize how many fellow firefighters there were on TBN.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I didn't realize how many fellow firefighters there were on TBN.

Yup! :thumbsup:

 

[dave1949]

This past March I volunteered to help out with our local VFD here. I have no training or certifications but they said if I could hold a traffic control sign, I could be useful. :laughing:

I help out by cleaning and sharpening the chain saws, start up the generator and portable pumps to keep them ready to go, sweeping, washing trucks. Did a lot of marching around in a huge hayfield helping layout parking lanes and directing parking for the July 4th fireworks the VFD puts on every year to earn operating funds. Best fireworks in the area by far.

I know I will never be of much use or even allowed to go inside an actual fire, but that isn't the point of my volunteering. The real fire fighters appreciate the help. Something to think about for retired guys in small towns with VFD's.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

This past March I volunteered to help out with our local VFD here. I have no training or certifications but they said if I could hold a traffic control sign, I could be useful. :laughing:

I help out by cleaning and sharpening the chain saws, start up the generator and portable pumps to keep them ready to go, sweeping, washing trucks. Did a lot of marching around in a huge hayfield helping layout parking lanes and directing parking for the July 4th fireworks the VFD puts on every year to earn operating funds. Best fireworks in the area by far.

I know I will never be of much use or even allowed to go inside an actual fire, but that isn't the point of my volunteering. The real fire fighters appreciate the help. Something to think about for retired guys in small towns with VFD's.

I volunteer as an EMT with our fire department. I don't do fire, but I still got responder of the year in 2008 because I come when the tones go off to get the trucks started and throw in turnouts for the firefighters that are going direct to the scene. Sometimes the 30 seconds I can save the crew is the difference between a small fire and a total loss.

Firefighters are a tight knit group, and volunteers seem to be even more so.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

This past March I volunteered to help out with our local VFD here. I have no training or certifications but they said if I could hold a traffic control sign, I could be useful. :laughing:

I help out by cleaning and sharpening the chain saws, start up the generator and portable pumps to keep them ready to go, sweeping, washing trucks. Did a lot of marching around in a huge hayfield helping layout parking lanes and directing parking for the July 4th fireworks the VFD puts on every year to earn operating funds. Best fireworks in the area by far.

I know I will never be of much use or even allowed to go inside an actual fire, but that isn't the point of my volunteering. The real fire fighters appreciate the help. Something to think about for retired guys in small towns with VFD's.

Have they ever thought about letting you drive the trucks? That's what a lot of the retired guys we have do.

 

[dave1949]

I drove the tanker once when we took it down to the lake to flush it out and test. I've driven the squad a couple times, but they have enough drivers really. I would like to get more practice on managing the pumping controls on the tanker. The labels on the valves are a bit strange like "Tank Fill" means filling the pump from the trucks tank, not filling the truck tank from a water source. The Chief also mentioned working in a safety officer role, keeping a head count and time of who is in a building primarily. I have a lot to learn to be of much use at a fire scene.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I drove the tanker once when we took it down to the lake to flush it out and test. I've driven the squad a couple times, but they have enough drivers really. I would like to get more practice on managing the pumping controls on the tanker. The labels on the valves are a bit strange like "Tank Fill" means filling the pump from the trucks tank, not filling the truck tank from a water source. The Chief also mentioned working in a safety officer role, keeping a head count and time of who is in a building primarily. I have a lot to learn to be of much use at a fire scene.

Sounds like you are on the right track. :thumbsup:

Around here the "tank fill" is for filling the on-board tank from what ever water source is coming into the pump (like you would think it would mean). Not sure why it's different where you are???

 

[dave1949]

Sounds like you are on the right track. :thumbsup:

Around here the "tank fill" is for filling the on-board tank from what ever water source is coming into the pump (like you would think it would mean). Not sure why it's different where you are???

I have no idea. It was very noisy and the person I was asking was not what you would call a "natural teacher"-- those people who can figure out a pupils confusion and know how to explain it. I don't even know enough to be dangerous.

The tanker was drawing water from the lake, shooting water back into the lake from a hose, and feeding another tanker/pumper truck, all at the same time. The lever labeled "tank fill" seemed to be determining if the water in the pump was coming from the trucks tank rather than directly from the lake. I'm not sure that even makes any sense.

We are doing a training burn down on an old house later this year. I think that will give me chance to clear up my confusion.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I have no idea. It was very noisy and the person I was asking was not what you would call a "natural teacher"-- those people who can figure out a pupils confusion and know how to explain it. I don't even know enough to be dangerous.

The tanker was drawing water from the lake, shooting water back into the lake from a hose, and feeding another tanker/pumper truck, all at the same time. The lever labeled "tank fill" seemed to be determining if the water in the pump was coming from the trucks tank rather than directly from the lake. I'm not sure that even makes any sense.

We are doing a training burn down on an old house later this year. I think that will give me chance to clear up my confusion.

Well, in any case, you are learning, and that is all that is important. :thumbsup:

 

[farmboy12]

Update.
I successfully completed my EMT class and am now the holder of my very own EMT-B card. I am in FireFighter 1 now and will complete that class in November, which will be immediately followed by Fire 2. I've been living in station for a while now and am currently in the lead for amount of calls this fiscal year, which started August 1st. I am allowed to do exterior ops, like throwing ladders and even get nozzle time on the outside of structures, cars, and plenty of brush fires. I can assist with vehicle extrications and have become very well known in the area for always being on the call. There are 58 fire companies in my county, and we are one of the least busy, but since I am always there for staffing and always calling communications to let them know what we have crews for. And we are also one of just 2 departments in the county that allow home response.

I have also been placed as Junior Officer which is a big accomplishment for me. It puts me in charge of all junior members, puts me in the seat of apparatus over those without officer title, I have a place in meetings, and I also help others sign up for classes and work out parades and events.

I've definitely been bit by the bug, and can now think of nothing else. I love doing this stuff, even waking up at 2:30am from a dead sleep, and running full on to get my gear on. I reccomend it to anyone with leadership ability, the want to help people, or those who maybe have not found something that keeps them out of trouble and with plenty of extended family.


Kyle