Volunteer Firefighter

I am taking firefighting I and II at my local fire dept.
I was wondering does any one on here volunteer? and if so what has your experience been so far? any pointers? Thanks ahead of time and thank you for you selfless contribution to your community. I think people today really underestimate what you guys/gals do for citizens everyday.

 

Did that for 12 years. Lots of good times, neat experiences and fun schools.

 

I volunteered for two departments for about 15 years. When the towns were smaller we could put red lights and sirens on our personal vehicles. That was cool!! I enjoyed going to the schools every summer at Texas A&M. The vol's that would show up in town for the week would get drunk and run through town there with their lights and sirens. Lots of DWI's that week. All the young girls were locked up for a week by their parents to keep them safe from the fireman and their hoses. I wear a badge and a gun now, but the time I spent as a FF were some of the best times I had.

Stay low and wear your mask. Don't try to be a smoke eater.

 

Volunteered for about a year back home in Montana with the very small department served the town of Basin, where my folks live.

 

Did it for 3 years in Riverside CA.

Stay in shape!

 

Thanks to all of you that volunteered and responded. Right now i am taking firefighting I/II with a scheduled test date of Jan. 21, 2009 so far its been great. the only thing i have a problem with is that because we are a 95% volunteer dept some of the guys who have been on a while have become lazy and disenchanted. Hopefully that will change with some new fresh faces!

 

My father was a volenter in NY I've been thinking about following in his footsteps.

The only advice that I've gotten out of him is to learn how to be a good cook, you'll make plenty of friends

 

While not a Volly,and knowing absolutely nothing about the process,I offer this....Congratulations for having the desire to serve your community in this fashion.Our City is very large geographically,is very old and has some of the heaviest industry in Canada,(and is growing like crazy).We have a fully professional 200+ member Department.The suburbs however,have composite and some strictly Volly setups and again,I applaud those who choose to spend time,effort and energy into protecting the lives and property of their neighbors.

Have fun,train hard and be careful.....The Dragon bites.

 

thank you all for your kind words of encouragement Ill will try to keep this thread up to date best i can

 

I started as a volunteer FF, now I do it for a living. While this is my dream job I had the most fun when I was a volunteer. Attitude and dedication is everything regardless of the pay status. I know many volunteers FF's that are professionals in every sense of the word. Train like its real, wear ALL your safety gear, Everyone goes home!!!