Life of a volunteer fireman
Starting out with the question of why?
The majority of volunteers want to help. It doesn't matter to them if it is a vehicle accident or structure fire. It might be something simple as a tree down. All just want to help their township or county. All the volunteers do this with care and regards to all around them. They don't need praise or a pat on the back. They live their life waiting on the page to go off to set them into action. Some are driven by adrenaline others are driven by the desire to help there neighbors and family that live there.
What do volunteer do day to day?
They live their lives as all people do. They go to there normal jobs. Most spend eight hours a day doing what they do for a living. Some are welders some are bricklayers some work on computers. This is an essential part of the fire service. Many different jobs give the department their specialty.
All have a part in the incident. When they come home from work they try to stay in there area. They do some things different than others. When they take off their shoes they make sure that they are ready to step into. They set out their coat with keys in the pocket. Some even park their car in a direction that is easy to get out if needed. They monitor their scanners or radios to keep track of what is going on in the county.
How are they advised of the call?
The Fayette County 911 center receives the call. The 911 center then checks to see what area the call is in. They set off the stations siren and minitors and give them the location and what the call is about. Fayette County also keeps times of their call and all that happens on the incident.
Responding to the call.
Members then get into their personal vehicle and pull out of their driveway.
They also might be in a restaraunt or some out of their work. They might have just been watching TV with their families or eating their supper. They are now responding to help others. Without question they are on their way. While they are driving to the station or to the scene. They are thinking what is awaiting them and what they are getting into. Do they need anything special on the task in front of them? What do they need from the fire station? What truck should they take? All keeps in communication with other members of the fire department. They arrive at the station. They take off their shoes. Step into their boots that have their bunker pants wrapped around them. Pulling them up and tightening there suspenders. Pulling on their bunker coat. Pulling on their nomex and then putting on their helmet. If a fire response then they don there mask and tank.
Then engine or truck or tanker pulls out of the fire station. Red lights flashing. You hear the sound of the siren. You go down the road paying attention to traffic and still thinking of what they are going to.
What all happens when they arrive?
It all depends on the call that they are on. All calls receive the same attention to detail. When the engine pulls on scene. They place the lighted vehicle at a safe distance from the incident. Size up what is going on. They also try to establish a commanding officer. Set out flares to keep people out of harm. If needed then they have other unit comes in from the surrounding communities.
If a fire they hook to hydrants and run hoses to engines. Pump thousands of gallons of water. To vehicle accidents they pull out their tools and possibly start dismantling a vehicle to free someone. Too taking out a chain saw to cut up a tree to restore traffic to a local road.
Do they train for this?
Most firemen go to training yearly. The fayette county fire school offers classes yearly. There are also training instructors that travel to station to offer training. The state fire academy offers on the road programs and also can self study on line. The standard fire training starts with a 16-hour course on introduction to the fire service and then an 88-hour essentials program. Most firemen also do at least 16 hours a year as a refresher. They also learn from other members and from their individual job at work.
Is this a strain on there family life?
This is a strain on life. Most fireman and there families do go threw different trials and tribulations. Most family member is proud that they have fireman that go to fires. Some both are members. Husband and wives, fathers and sons and daughters. I believe that if a family has something planned and one or two members leave in a hurry possibly without warning is a strain. Some don't understand why the other is leaving and not getting paid to do so. Why get up in the middle of the night when you have to get up later to go to work? That is the question I am asked a lot. The want and the need to help are the answer I have.
Is there a need for more volunteers?
Yes there is a need for more volunteers. The fire departments in your area do need all the help they can get. The fire department funds their organizations by fund drives or selling of tickets and possibly a bingo. This buys tools and equipment for the station and pays the bills such as electric, heat, and fuel for the trucks. They also need people on the calls. Many hands are needed sometimes to help. There is no pay for the job. Just knowing that you helped someone in need.

Being part or an organization.
All the members feel like they are family. They have picnics and get together on the holidays. The people you work with feel like your brothers and sisters. Some keep in communication even if there is no calls for a time.
Some go and visit one another to talk about trainings or fire prevention. Things that may be happening in there community.

Saving the world one comunity at a time
I live my life trying to help the community I live in and the people that live around me. All my waking days are spent trying to help others and prevent accidents. I sleep not knowing if at any time that I will awake to the beeping of a minitor or the alert tones from my radio. I train in all the areas of the service that may be needed on a moments notice. I spring into action with the thoughts of what might be ahead. Driving to a station that could be filled with many men or women or possibly one or two. How much help is needed and are the members of the community ready to pitch in and help? Do the wives, girlfriends, husbands, boyfriends understand why you leave in such a hurry?
For some you know what I am. A Volunteer Firemen. What I want people to have is an understanding. I want people to know that there are people out there that could be your next-door neighbor or the man or woman down the street. They will come out of their house no matter what is going on at any time of the day or night. They are coming out to help someone in need of assistance. Could be something as simple as helping someone stand back up or cutting them out of a vehicle accident or showing them the way out of a burning building. Some fireman help with patient care by taking down vital signs and past medical history before the ambulance gets there to bringing the automatic external difibulator to start there heart again. No matter what it is they are coming. Do they get paid for this? No they dont the only pay that they receive is going back home and knowing that they just made someones day or saved someones life.
Today the fireman face more and more calls every year. This is very hard on the family life of firemen. When I say firemen I mean man and women that do the job. I wish that there were a way to make everyone understand why we do the job with no pay. I do think about it a lot. When I do get the answers I will Wright a book on it until then these are just a few thoughts.
I do share a bond with the other firemen and all the firemen in the community and the surrounding communities. When we go to the fire station we all want to share stories and to laugh just like all other. We watch TV at the fire station just to spend time with each other. The reason for this bond is that when we are on a call that tries us or possibly gets to our emotional side it is easier to turn to someone that is like your best friend than to bring home the stories that will make the other person tell you not to go back.
I think back to the first days of the fire departments. So I have read in books. All the people in the community came to there neighbor calls for help. If it took 50 people on a bucket line to put out a fire or feeding the horses of someone that was sick and could not work. That is what I would like to see again.
I know that our society has become more modern with the advancement of fire apparatus and tools. Anyone can be a firemen all they need to have is the desire to help other. If you want to try it out go to your local fire station and ask them what you can do to help. If you want the training it is out there and most of it free of charge. Remember the old adage 4 hands are better than 2. I guess when it is all said and done all the community could be bonded together and as one just as they were after September 11th. If you looked out your house all you could see is flags. Lets try to keep that bond all the time. I think that community that sticks together is stronger than the concrete that holds up there houses.
These are just some of my thoughts. Just remember that I could be your next-door neighbor or just down the street and I am there to help.
Thanks for your time.
Jerry D Brame

jdb9020@fcema.org

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