I just joined with my local department. I recently started a business and had to move my shop to a new location in a much smaller town when I had to expand my space. It’s right across from the department. We get few calls since it’s such a small town, but at 23 years old I’m glad I had the opportunity to join and that they agreed to let me join even without experience (1yr probationary period and I’ll be required to attend school, training, and become certified). Our department is the same. Decent crew, but a lot are older and others are busy during the day. The Chief is glad my shop is just across the street as it allows me the fastest response time to get trucks fired up, get the doors open and get everything ready to roll within 45 seconds of getting the call (I can run across faster than oI can drive to the station). I can’t do much on calls yet until I learn more and go through training, but it makes a difference having not only an extra hand to grab equipment or run the radio or whatever I need to do, but also the fact I’m young, I’m fit, and in good health so I can handle the physical requirements. I’ve learned a lot about what’s involved and why the help is so important in the few short weeks I’ve been on the department. I hope this will be able to go on to be a long lasting relationship with the department and that as my business grows I can make donations of money or equipment to small departments that don’t have much for a budget. I do small engine work so I’ve offered my department the labor time to repair any of their equipment that I can (such as booster pumps, ATVs, etc) at no cost to them, they just cover cost of parts/materials and I’ll donate my labor so they can apply that money to other upgrades at the station. We went back to old steel tanks because the composite ones they had which are a lot lighter and easier for the older guys to carry are all out of service due to failing a hydro test. It’s amazing how joining a department will open your eyes to the sort of things that departments need or could use but can’t afford.
Hi, I was one of the producers on this documentary and this is the first time I read this. You are a wonderful asset to your community, you are the type of people this documentary is for
Your local community and the fire service as a whole thank you for getting involved. It looks like you were able to really contribute from the beginning, it is often the small things (get the engine started and the gates open!) that make a difference. It's been a year that you wrote that, I am sure you have had many good experiences (and hard ones) since. Cheers.
My dept near me wants 3 references besides family and I can only get one person lol I also have small business online though but it sucks not knowing too many ppl because you lose out on opportunities were networking is required
Tyler, Michael, and Justin __ Thank you for calling attention to the need for residents to "Step Up" and join their local volunteer fire departments. There is no better reward than helping their neighbors. Kevin D. Quinn National Volunteer Fire Council
As Chairman of the James W. Wright Fire Service Journalism Award Committee for the Central New York Firemen's Association, I am pleased to announce that this video production produced in 2019 has been selected as our winning nomination for the aforementioned Journalism Award. Congratulations to Tyler, Michael, and Justin for their excellence in producing a video depicting an urgent need in our society, the need for volunteer firefighters.
I grow up with volunteer firefighter dad. my dad was on the fire department for 21years. thank you for what y'all do, I will be praying for y'all to stay safe. May God bless y'all,
The amount of time that is required as a VFF is extensive. Some weeks I put in as many hours at the VFD as I do my paying job, it takes a toll on a family. Would I change it? No I wouldn't, it is a part of me, and always will be. But I see people come in and get overwhelmed with the amount of hours required to get FF1, FF2, EMT-B/A/I/P (plus all the other quals and continuous training), and they just don't want to (or can't) dedicate that amount of time; it is a BIG ask of anybody. Being on a VFD isn't just jumping on a truck and spraying water on fire, or being an ambulance driver. It takes time and dedication to be able to effectively serve our communities. I know my son will join when he is able to, hell he has been the perfect training "prop" for us for years as he has grown up; he loves it as much as I do. Communities need to get their youth engaged and interested in the fire service, and have them understand the tradition and sense of service that comes along with being in that Big Red Truck. While my son has never rode a call with me, he ALWAYS wants to know what the call was and who did what. Most of the time I will share those stories with him, and there are other times where I don't or I wish I could bring him a long and show him...this is why you don't drink and drive, this is why you always treat a gun like it is loaded, this is why you don't marry crazy, this is why you don't text and drive, this is why you wear your seatbelt, this is why you ask for help...
My dept near me wants 3 solid references besides family sadly I can only get one since I live a reserved life style. It looks like networking is important after all
He said it, “plenty of trucks, not enough people”. I’m a volunteer in a town of 250. You have it in you or you don’t. You can’t make them join. It’s a special group.
Does ur depth require references mine requires 3 and can't be family.. I can only get 1 person and I'm self employed kinda sucks not knowing ppl but wanting to help lol
I started when I was 13 as a jr. Firefighter and now I'm 17 and I love it even more thank you for pointing out that we need people to step up because if they don't who's gonna come and save there family member if no one will volunteer great video
Volunteers here in my area are the same. I am a Lieutenant and Training Officer of a small Fire Department (Volunteer), and a Volunteer Firefighter Lead for two others in the area. The Ambulance Service is all Volunteer, and EVERYONE is short Volunteers. We still get to the calls, do a good job, and are able to maintain the various Districts here.
I did it. I believe my true interest in the fire service is a mystery. The childhood fascination never went away. I began to think that it could have been from a previous life...I did have a dream about it actually (Philadelphia, 1882 --pretty specific if you ask me, but who knows?). Reading Dennis Smith's "Report From Engine Co. 82" (my first real book, I was 8 years old) really opened my eyes that fire is a living, breathing entity --we just lost Dennis 3 days ago (rest in peace brother, it was nice meeting you back in '86, the day I realized that we would loose the WTC someday). I was in two separate departments in my life. The first one was awesome, the second one, right across the CT River, was a problem --the kind of problem that I think plagues most volunteer fire departments across this country. Egos, narcissism, adult-children, and just your average JERK ruined it for me and the rest of the at least 15 good firefighters that the town lost in one fell swoop; the straw that broke the camel's back came when one brave soul claimed sexual harassment, and rightfully so. Enjoy your little blue lights...the town is unaware that there's next to nobody showing up when they call 911 in that town. Thank God for mutual aid. It is very sad what one FF said in the video that once those dedicated souls retire, there won't be anyone left ---plenty of trucks though; the average citizen drives through town and goes by the firehouse to see these shiny, expensive apparatus sitting there, but is'nt there when there's ONE guy driving ONE truck during an emergency...hoping others will show.
Been a volunteer for 10 years and love it. I am in florida so training is strict and requires all volunteers to be trained at a career level. So I carry wildland structural and Medic. Love it tried paid, but own my own construction company and a wife and 3 kids did not work. So been a volunteer and will stick with it. Not enough time for paid career my company and family. Luckily owning my own company allows me to run more calls then most.
seems to be pretty tough for you American volunteers, wish you had the support we get over here, not just for departments, but also for people so they are able to "step up" despite of their jobs and families. that's how it should be
Must be so lucky to have that type of support, other places aren't that lucky. Stations not attending calls or delayed turnouts, lives are at risk in my area...
It’s everywhere. Our local volunteer dept was once 30 guys and had a waiting list. Now your lucky to have 15 and the majority of those work out of the town 40 mins to an hour away. Daytime coverage is a big issue here. Not like the old days where you had a lot of local farmers, school bus drivers, there was even a couple school teachers on the dept in those days. Demands of peoples jobs and lives have made it hard to dedicate time to the dept.
The people who can fix this don't want to know.... This is an issue for volunteer/retained (paid), fire services around the world, in a world that doesn't care, employers can't or won't let staff leave their place of work to attend calls, governments don't care that they are providing a not fit for purpose fire service for the people who need them most... This is a sad fact... It's getting harder to get time off for training that is required in today's frs....
Tough to watch but right on the mark. I was a volunteer a few decades back. Had 250+ hours of training and that was 18 different classes in all sorts of disciplines. All of that is now worthless if I close to go back. I get that the new standard were important, but they should offer some sort of bridge for us old guys. Lots who would consider it but who simply cannot make it through all the schooling required. State govts are going to have to step up and find ways to compensate businesses to have people train and respond. There is no chance that small towns will ever be able to afford paid companies. And we need to get into the High Schools with county wide presentations and programs to get kids to understand what this is and why it is important. Just imagine if all the jocks were out there as juniors instead of playing football? Even if 10% of them hung on with their companies we could solve the issue.
8:05 This Chief has hit the nail on the head. People have to step up. This what the nation’s fire service is … 70% volunteer. We need help to save your community. I hope you never need them, but the odds are not in your favor.
I'm a JFF and I gave up what I loved doing so others don't have to and also I love making everyone's day better so if a kid wants to do sports you shouldnt make them feel bad for doing that sport.
I'm a recruit about to finish up my basic 20 hours. October 4th we get voted in as probies if the majority says yes. I'm 31 years old and I've wanted to do this for a really long time. I know and understand I'm going to see things that no one should ever see, but if I can be there for someone on their worst day and give them some type of comfort I know in my heart I'm doing something right. This life isn't an easy one and it will humble you faster than anything else out there. I was cocky and arrogant going into this and it kicked my ass and made me realize this job isn't a joke. Every time I'm exhausted. Every time I'm hurting I know my brothers and sisters need me to be there just like I need them. To all first responders out there I got your six.
I think that volunteer fire service should have same importance as the national guard. This protect employees from employer with heavy hand. I think that we should some version of mandatory service where young people must serve in some capacity like national guard, fire service or military service. This teaches importance team work and following orders. I hope no one ever has to feel the hopelessness knowing that the closest fire truck or aid unit is 5-10 miles away and more than 6-8 minutes away at 50-60 mph. Now imagine you are some kind of medical emergency or your house is on fire. That you live in a rural fire district where the closest help may not for additional 5-6 minutes due to response time or limited manpower due time of day. Some of use that live in an urban centers like big cities with paid department. Where help is less than 3-4 minutes away. We need to support bills to augment smaller department with standing 24 hr per day staffing. The states should support the fund this kind of bill. Don't let it take a tragedy to get this passed in state house and Senate.
I just joined with my local department. I recently started a business and had to move my shop to a new location in a much smaller town when I had to expand my space. It’s right across from the department. We get few calls since it’s such a small town, but at 23 years old I’m glad I had the opportunity to join and that they agreed to let me join even without experience (1yr probationary period and I’ll be required to attend school, training, and become certified). Our department is the same. Decent crew, but a lot are older and others are busy during the day. The Chief is glad my shop is just across the street as it allows me the fastest response time to get trucks fired up, get the doors open and get everything ready to roll within 45 seconds of getting the call (I can run across faster than oI can drive to the station). I can’t do much on calls yet until I learn more and go through training, but it makes a difference having not only an extra hand to grab equipment or run the radio or whatever I need to do, but also the fact I’m young, I’m fit, and in good health so I can handle the physical requirements. I’ve learned a lot about what’s involved and why the help is so important in the few short weeks I’ve been on the department. I hope this will be able to go on to be a long lasting relationship with the department and that as my business grows I can make donations of money or equipment to small departments that don’t have much for a budget. I do small engine work so I’ve offered my department the labor time to repair any of their equipment that I can (such as booster pumps, ATVs, etc) at no cost to them, they just cover cost of parts/materials and I’ll donate my labor so they can apply that money to other upgrades at the station. We went back to old steel tanks because the composite ones they had which are a lot lighter and easier for the older guys to carry are all out of service due to failing a hydro test. It’s amazing how joining a department will open your eyes to the sort of things that departments need or could use but can’t afford.
Hi, I was one of the producers on this documentary and this is the first time I read this. You are a wonderful asset to your community, you are the type of people this documentary is for
Your local community and the fire service as a whole thank you for getting involved. It looks like you were able to really contribute from the beginning, it is often the small things (get the engine started and the gates open!) that make a difference. It's been a year that you wrote that, I am sure you have had many good experiences (and hard ones) since. Cheers.
My dept near me wants 3 references besides family and I can only get one person lol I also have small business online though but it sucks not knowing too many ppl because you lose out on opportunities were networking is required
God bless ALL the volunteers!
Tyler, Michael, and Justin __ Thank you for calling attention to the need for residents to "Step Up" and join their local volunteer fire departments. There is no better reward than helping their neighbors. Kevin D. Quinn National Volunteer Fire Council
As Chairman of the James W. Wright Fire Service Journalism Award Committee for the Central New York Firemen's Association, I am pleased to announce that this video production produced in 2019 has been selected as our winning nomination for the aforementioned Journalism Award. Congratulations to Tyler, Michael, and Justin for their excellence in producing a video depicting an urgent need in our society, the need for volunteer firefighters.
I grow up with volunteer firefighter dad. my dad was on the fire department for 21years. thank you for what y'all do, I will be praying for y'all to stay safe. May God bless y'all,
The amount of time that is required as a VFF is extensive. Some weeks I put in as many hours at the VFD as I do my paying job, it takes a toll on a family. Would I change it? No I wouldn't, it is a part of me, and always will be. But I see people come in and get overwhelmed with the amount of hours required to get FF1, FF2, EMT-B/A/I/P (plus all the other quals and continuous training), and they just don't want to (or can't) dedicate that amount of time; it is a BIG ask of anybody. Being on a VFD isn't just jumping on a truck and spraying water on fire, or being an ambulance driver. It takes time and dedication to be able to effectively serve our communities. I know my son will join when he is able to, hell he has been the perfect training "prop" for us for years as he has grown up; he loves it as much as I do. Communities need to get their youth engaged and interested in the fire service, and have them understand the tradition and sense of service that comes along with being in that Big Red Truck. While my son has never rode a call with me, he ALWAYS wants to know what the call was and who did what. Most of the time I will share those stories with him, and there are other times where I don't or I wish I could bring him a long and show him...this is why you don't drink and drive, this is why you always treat a gun like it is loaded, this is why you don't marry crazy, this is why you don't text and drive, this is why you wear your seatbelt, this is why you ask for help...
Very well done for a timely message. It doesn't matter where you live volunteers are needed.
From a 40+ year volunteer.
My dept near me wants 3 solid references besides family sadly I can only get one since I live a reserved life style. It looks like networking is important after all
Nice work! Thank you for putting the word out there and highlighting one of the struggles that volunteer stations face daily.
He said it, “plenty of trucks, not enough people”. I’m a volunteer in a town of 250. You have it in you or you don’t. You can’t make them join. It’s a special group.
Does ur depth require references mine requires 3 and can't be family.. I can only get 1 person and I'm self employed kinda sucks not knowing ppl but wanting to help lol
Cause not everyone can put food on the table working for fucking free let alone risking their lives for fuck all
I started when I was 13 as a jr. Firefighter and now I'm 17 and I love it even more thank you for pointing out that we need people to step up because if they don't who's gonna come and save there family member if no one will volunteer great video
A great and well done video , as a former VFF , i could not agree more with this
i love the old man. i love how caring and at the same time grizzly and crusty he is.
Volunteers here in my area are the same. I am a Lieutenant and Training Officer of a small Fire Department (Volunteer), and a Volunteer Firefighter Lead for two others in the area. The Ambulance Service is all Volunteer, and EVERYONE is short Volunteers. We still get to the calls, do a good job, and are able to maintain the various Districts here.
I did it. I believe my true interest in the fire service is a mystery. The childhood fascination never went away. I began to think that it could have been from a previous life...I did have a dream about it actually (Philadelphia, 1882 --pretty specific if you ask me, but who knows?). Reading Dennis Smith's "Report From Engine Co. 82" (my first real book, I was 8 years old) really opened my eyes that fire is a living, breathing entity --we just lost Dennis 3 days ago (rest in peace brother, it was nice meeting you back in '86, the day I realized that we would loose the WTC someday). I was in two separate departments in my life. The first one was awesome, the second one, right across the CT River, was a problem --the kind of problem that I think plagues most volunteer fire departments across this country. Egos, narcissism, adult-children, and just your average JERK ruined it for me and the rest of the at least 15 good firefighters that the town lost in one fell swoop; the straw that broke the camel's back came when one brave soul claimed sexual harassment, and rightfully so. Enjoy your little blue lights...the town is unaware that there's next to nobody showing up when they call 911 in that town. Thank God for mutual aid. It is very sad what one FF said in the video that once those dedicated souls retire, there won't be anyone left ---plenty of trucks though; the average citizen drives through town and goes by the firehouse to see these shiny, expensive apparatus sitting there, but is'nt there when there's ONE guy driving ONE truck during an emergency...hoping others will show.
Been a volunteer for 10 years and love it. I am in florida so training is strict and requires all volunteers to be trained at a career level. So I carry wildland structural and Medic. Love it tried paid, but own my own construction company and a wife and 3 kids did not work. So been a volunteer and will stick with it. Not enough time for paid career my company and family. Luckily owning my own company allows me to run more calls then most.
May God Exceed Your Needs🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
seems to be pretty tough for you American volunteers, wish you had the support we get over here, not just for departments, but also for people so they are able to "step up" despite of their jobs and families. that's how it should be
Must be so lucky to have that type of support, other places aren't that lucky.
Stations not attending calls or delayed turnouts, lives are at risk in my area...
Great video!! We are so fortunate that when we have an opening we always have 6 to 8 real good applications.
It’s everywhere. Our local volunteer dept was once 30 guys and had a waiting list. Now your lucky to have 15 and the majority of those work out of the town 40 mins to an hour away. Daytime coverage is a big issue here. Not like the old days where you had a lot of local farmers, school bus drivers, there was even a couple school teachers on the dept in those days. Demands of peoples jobs and lives have made it hard to dedicate time to the dept.
Fire don't care for any one. Fire fighting is one of the risky job they put there life in risk to save life and property.Thanks for ur service.
The people who can fix this don't want to know....
This is an issue for volunteer/retained (paid), fire services around the world, in a world that doesn't care, employers can't or won't let staff leave their place of work to attend calls, governments don't care that they are providing a not fit for purpose fire service for the people who need them most...
This is a sad fact...
It's getting harder to get time off for training that is required in today's frs....
Tough to watch but right on the mark. I was a volunteer a few decades back. Had 250+ hours of training and that was 18 different classes in all sorts of disciplines. All of that is now worthless if I close to go back. I get that the new standard were important, but they should offer some sort of bridge for us old guys. Lots who would consider it but who simply cannot make it through all the schooling required. State govts are going to have to step up and find ways to compensate businesses to have people train and respond. There is no chance that small towns will ever be able to afford paid companies. And we need to get into the High Schools with county wide presentations and programs to get kids to understand what this is and why it is important. Just imagine if all the jocks were out there as juniors instead of playing football? Even if 10% of them hung on with their companies we could solve the issue.
8:05 This Chief has hit the nail on the head. People have to step up. This what the nation’s fire service is … 70% volunteer. We need help to save your community. I hope you never need them, but the odds are not in your favor.
Felt bad for Speedsville’s chief. I’ll move out there and join up Chief
Kudos to all of u
I'm a former vol firefighter here in east TN
At 1:01 he had the chance to say that with great power comes great responsibility and he didn’t take it… wow
Its insane on how sad it is my department I'm with only has 4 people under the age of 60
I'm a JFF and I gave up what I loved doing so others don't have to and also I love making everyone's day better so if a kid wants to do sports you shouldnt make them feel bad for doing that sport.
LT. & CHIEF SIR I LIVE 🏡 IN L.A. CALIF0RNIA & WE D0N'T HAVE N0 V0LUNTEER 🚒🚑 FIREFIGHTER'S AT ALL....
I'm a recruit about to finish up my basic 20 hours. October 4th we get voted in as probies if the majority says yes. I'm 31 years old and I've wanted to do this for a really long time. I know and understand I'm going to see things that no one should ever see, but if I can be there for someone on their worst day and give them some type of comfort I know in my heart I'm doing something right. This life isn't an easy one and it will humble you faster than anything else out there. I was cocky and arrogant going into this and it kicked my ass and made me realize this job isn't a joke. Every time I'm exhausted. Every time I'm hurting I know my brothers and sisters need me to be there just like I need them. To all first responders out there I got your six.
Nice
Isaiah 6:8
I would go back but the training is to extreame here in pa
I think that volunteer fire service should have same importance as the national guard. This protect employees from employer with heavy hand. I think that we should some version of mandatory service where young people must serve in some capacity like national guard, fire service or military service. This teaches importance team work and following orders. I hope no one ever has to feel the hopelessness knowing that the closest fire truck or aid unit is 5-10 miles away and more than 6-8 minutes away at 50-60 mph. Now imagine you are some kind of medical emergency or your house is on fire. That you live in a rural fire district where the closest help may not for additional 5-6 minutes due to response time or limited manpower due time of day. Some of use that live in an urban centers like big cities with paid department. Where help is less than 3-4 minutes away. We need to support bills to augment smaller department with standing 24 hr per day staffing. The states should support the fund this kind of bill. Don't let it take a tragedy to get this passed in state house and Senate.
My dept won't take me because they require 3 solid references and I only have 1 person who will do it for me sucks to not know that many ppl lol
Why does Alex look like a kid
Lol because Alex is female lol