Was it a sense of duty, tradition, community, self preservation, etc.?  In my case, 19 years ago the Chief of the department approached me at work and asked if I would be interested in joining the local department.  Sure, was my answer!!  Did I know what I was getting myself into?  No.  I would like to think it was something he seen in me, but it was probably because the department needed daytime help and I would be available since I happened to work in town.  As the years have passed, I now realize he did see something in me and just nurtured my need and ability to help people, my community, and my department.  You don't it for the money (there is none) or the glory (there is none),  I do it because I love the fire service and what it stands for and it has made me a better person.  It's not just a job, it's a lifestyle, a brotherhood, a passion, a craft that I continually hone everyday and hope to leave it better than when I first started.  Is there more?  Yep!  But, let's see where this goes.   

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"Remember who you are and where you're at"

In a word, family. I was born into the station and it was a natural extension for me to join up.  Another factor was that my dad, besides being a volunteer, had a 30 year career in law enforcement, and I had a clear picture of the lack of appreciation and respect that the general public gives the those on the thin blue line. So it was a natural choice to go into the last profession in the world where you can show up to someones house anytime day or night and be welcomed inside with few or no questions beforehand. The friends that I have made through my association with the fire department, though it sounds cheezy, are so much more, they are family. I have been through some tough times recently and the response of my second family to my family's and my problems was truly above and beyond the call of duty. There is a thread about the decline of the family aspect of the fire service somewhere on this page and I am so happy to say that it doesn't apply to me or my department. It's that family aspect that makes the fire service, career or volunteer, so great. I can't imagine  my life without it.

I was talking to the local chief when he asked what i did for a living. Things went from one to another and i was invited to a training session. The rest is history. Now i invite the people to training sessions if they like it they join if they dont nothing lost but time. It seems to work pretty good i just gained three more.

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Do you bitch because roses have thorns or are you thankful that thorns have roses??

I started my fire service career in a small (6 folks most of the time) Vol FD.  I was living in a rural area, no addresses, and most folks didn't have telephones.  If the mailman knew you, you got your mail.  Otherwise, who knows where it would end up.  Anyhow, me and one other guy had the same last name.  Sometimes I got his mail, sometimes he got mine.  The other guy was the Chief of the VFD, every time I saw him, he would hit me up to join the Dept.  Of course, I had wanted to be a firefighter since I was a kid, so after a while I took him up on it.  That was 20 years ago; I've been hooked ever since.  Capt 545 is correct--whether you are career or volunteer, it is a lifestyle, and like him, I believe the fire service has made me a better person (in spite of what my Bat Chief thinks...)

I'd probably have to say FAMILY as well.  My dad started off as a career firefighter.  However, he started off hanging around one of the stations at the age of 11.  (He didn't have any family in the fire service, he just started hanging around the station, just because he could and wanted to stay out of trouble.)  By age 14, they had given him his own set of gear (helmet, coat, gloves and boots), and let him start riding the rigs and fighting fire.  Needless to say, back then, they had lots more fires, which also meant, lots more mutual aid fires too.  In the process, he met a lot of FF's (volly and career) in the area.  Of course, through his childhood yrs he became really good friends w/ a lot of them, and many, many more once he became a FF.  One volly (Sam) and his family became great friends w/ the family.  My dad worked as a part time Security Guard at the General Motor's Plant, where Sam was the Chief of the Fire Brigade.  Sam and my dad spent many hrs together, going to and teaching all types of fire classes, conferences, etc.  Sam passed away when I was 5 y/o.  However, anyone that knew Sam, would tell you that his memory lives on in me the most.  If there was a fire, Sam was there.  It didn't matter to him where or who's fire, he was there.  If there was a 3rd alarmer or bigger in Cleveland, Toledo, or Columbus, Sam was there.  And there was numerous times he'd call the house in the middle of the night and wake my dad up to get his shit right, he'd be there in a few mins, such-n-such FD's got a fire.  He'd stop and grab some beer and they'd be on there way.  I'm not that bad, but close (minus the beer).

With that, and growing up around the fire service, I wanted to get into the action too.  When I got word the local paid-on-call FD was hiring, I went and applied.  And here I am today.

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"It's better to be pissed off, then pissed on!"

"Take care and stay safe everyone!"

I decided I wanted to give something back to the community.

Got me hooked big time and 20 years later I still am glad to be a small part of this profession. 

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SW Cook
Firemen Still Make House calls

"Let No Mans Ghost Come Back To Say My Fire Training Let Me Down"

Hormones. ---  Wife, 2 daughters, female dog. Fire station or crazy farm!!!

lucascapt:

Hormones. ---  Wife, 2 daughters, female dog. Fire station or crazy farm!!!

 Amen brother.  I have the same thing, plus a female cat.  Hell - the kid's fish are probably female as well.  I'm way too outnumbered to be home too long without having an escape.

 

Well.... I was going to tell the story of my Uncle Sam...and his influence on my Dad & how his history lives on in me through the action I see... but I got beat to the punch.... Hey Fed....just bustin your balls.... RELAX!!!!!!!..... You talk of your Dad & "Bro" bustin balls in the firehouse....well it shouldnt come as a big supprise on here....so dont get pissed...... have you ever considered writting fire novels...until you get a FT gig??? Just trying to help a Brother out...

But seriously, I got started because I was doin community service and heard this chick talking about how hot she thought firemen were and.....BINGO.... what a way to pick up girls..... JUST KIDDIN....never had to do community service.

I actually got started because of Family...like a huge majority of people on here.....

Now I do it for a living but credit my getting here to the guys on my volunteer dept....sorry ladies no disrespect but at the time my vfd didnt have any ladies. I also have enjoyed the sensativity training I have recieved...... Have I ever told anyone my story on sensativity training...if not please refer to the  thread on hiring vaginal parts.... or I can just tell it again...it still brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it........

It all started for me when I was a young kid growing up in New York and spending time with my Uncle George who is a volunteer on Long Island. I would go to the firehouse with him and what till he got back from calls and see him excited about what he just experinced. Then my older brother became a full timer in Tenn and seeing them both full of pride and honor they got from being a part of the brotherhood I wanted that experince. So I joined a couple of small volunteer depts in New Hampshire and love the fact I am doing something good for my community and able to give back. My dept is lacking in the brotherhood that should be in the firehouse nobody knows about traditions or history of the fire service and why things are the way they are. It makes me sad to know the back stabbing and ridicule that goes on in my dept. The firehouse should be a home away from home, something you look forward to go and visit nevermind just doing calls. I became a volunteer to get that sense of pride, honor, loyalty, self-worth but unfortuantly I am unable to obtain those experinces in my current dept. I try and teach the younger guys comming on board about the history and the traditions but they are just in it for the glory of being a "FIREFIGHTER".

LOL !  No harm done Fools45002 !  Like I said, I don't mind in the least someone "bustin my balls."  Personally, I like having people bust my balls, I usually get a pretty good laugh out of it myself usually.  So thanks brother.

As for writting some fire novels:  In all honesty, I've thought about it.  I thought about it back in like high school, but never gave it much thought after that.  At least until a family friend and some other friends said something a yr or two ago and put the idea back into my head.  Hell, I actually had an author contact me, and tell me that I should start writing books.  I'm just not sure if I have what it takes.  Like what kind of subjects, etc to put in the books and/or just make a book for each subject.  The one idea that I've always had was, trying to do a book in rememberance of firefighters who have died while on and off duty (personal and job related).  If anyone has any ideas, I'd like to hear them.

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"It's better to be pissed off, then pissed on!"

"Take care and stay safe everyone!"

You are kiddin RIGHT!!!!!!!.... Hey McFly.... I was jokin about the novels....

I do have a good idea... I heard the  Franciscian Monks take a vow of silence.... ...... I know that wasnt nice of me to suggest it... my sensativity training isnt working very well.... I have had 4 redBulls and its 2315...... just a bit edgy now!!!!!!!!!!!!

As stupid as it may sound...I always wanted to be "in the action", whatever the action was at the time. I only ever really thought about being a cop or a fireman (until I saw "Emergency" in 1972) and then I decided that being a Paramedic was all that as well. I joined my local POC FD at 19, and the only way I think I slid in was they were just starting doing First Responder Runs, and I was already an EMT on the local Ambulance and available daytimes. I stayed with them for 27 years, until a new chief rode into town, and I did not like the way he was going about things, so I "retired" at the rank of Asst. Chief (1 month before he could demote me and most of the other existing officers back to firefighter rank).

It was, and still is the best thing I ever did with my life. I was able to help people in my own community, and be pro-active part of local happenings and events. I got into (and still am into) training the new folks. I am currently a full time Firefighter/Paramedic, and teach every year at the county Firefighter classes. I love this job, and the people who do. If you are a "load" I don't have any use for you. If you are there only to have a lightbar on your car and a pager on your belt, but not be an active part of the department, I don't have any use for you. That doesn't mean I hate you, I just don't expend any effort for those who don't expend any effort for their department and the community. I still cannot understand how you cannot get 3 firefighters to come to the station to help take a 2nd grade class on a station tour, but 15 of them would respond in the worst weather conditions if we reported a kid trapped in a structure fire or pin-in.

I love being a part of the action even today. I would be the first one to stop at a crash (even out of state). So many times cops are screaming at people to "get the hell out of here" and when you identify yourself as a FF/PM, they grab your arm and say "thank God, get over here". That doesn't happen every time, but more often than not. I can take a scene that's chaotic, and get it settled down, and get things taken care of. I forget how many times I've gotten  a call from someone in the middle of the night with a medical question, or "my electric panel's making a humming noise" and you roll out to see what your neighbor needs. I honestly feel that I have done something valuable with my life, and have made friends that I would be willing to die next to, if it ever came to that. When my father died, there were not enought adult males in my family to be pall-bearers. Guess who stepped up? 7 of my friends went out and bought dress uniforms and white gloves and carried my dad to his grave.

I fear I may have gotten off topic, and may possibly get my ass flamed for getting a little emotional and rambling, but I still want to be part of the action, and somebody who may make a difference when you need it the most. I hope that I will always be able to be a Firefighter, and still have no regrets about taking the path I took. Thanks for listening. 

   

 

So I could get my FF-I and go career.

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" Too many freaks and not enough circuses "
IAFF L-2146

Well I figured I'd chime in here, I started as a "Vollie", I worked for a few years while I went to school and certified. During this time I learned that the true professionals are paid, not playing firefighter. I then spent all of my time preparing for my testing and future career as a FT.

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NAZ F.O.O.L.S.