Firefighting & Rescue Social / Professional Network
Drinking in the Fire House
Last week I went to lunch with some co-workers (non-FFs) and the discussion rolled around to my involvement with the FD. One of the guys said "well, you must have guys that just join the department for the drinking". This recalled to mind another comment by someone, some years back, who swore that ALL volunteer FFs drank at the station and "those who say they don't are lying".
In my department you might find a 6-pack or two if you look in every nook and cranny, but we really don't touch the stuff on drill night or after calls, or meetings. There just isn't stuff to touch. In the late 80s we had the converted soda machine that dispensed several brands of beer but we got rid of it because the Jr. FFs were becoming interested in the stuff.
So - what is your department policy or practice regarding alcohol in the firehouse?
NOTE: 10/16/09: I started this thread over two years ago to gather input from other volunteer firefighters on FFN as it was then. The new theme is, what steps can we take to make America's fire houses 100% dry?
In my department you might find a 6-pack or two if you look in every nook and cranny, but we really don't touch the stuff on drill night or after calls, or meetings. There just isn't stuff to touch. In the late 80s we had the converted soda machine that dispensed several brands of beer but we got rid of it because the Jr. FFs were becoming interested in the stuff.
So - what is your department policy or practice regarding alcohol in the firehouse?
NOTE: 10/16/09: I started this thread over two years ago to gather input from other volunteer firefighters on FFN as it was then. The new theme is, what steps can we take to make America's fire houses 100% dry?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Annette on -
Holy COW!!! Zero tolerance is right! Some Medical services even have a 24 hour "sobriety window" prior to your shift. I don't drink the night before I work and NEVER drink during a rotation. I feel as though I need to be 110% for my patient's.....I most certainly wouldn't want someone fighting for my life while squinting through a hangover, however slight! This issue should be a no brainer!!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Julius on -
Well, for years our chief had what I thought was a great policy. What he choose to do was this. If you had been out drinking and for some reason couldn't or wouldn't go home, you could crash in the bunk rooms........just not respond to any calls (of course). He didn't want you drinking at the fire department but if he walked in and you had it disguised (in another cup for example), he wouldn't say much about it. This practice worked out great while it was instituted, it meant that the station would not have an empty weekend, that's for sure. Well, he resigned a couple of years ago and our new chief didn't like this practice. He barred all drinking of any kind on the grounds and implemented a policy that if you were caught here and had been drinking (whether you were actually drinking at that moment or not) you'd face disciplinary actions. That rule didn't last long, I'm not sure what all happened but just last summer he opened up provisions to his policy (i.e: letting us feel up the coolers with ice is one example). While I do not like the drinking here at the station because of public relations, I do not see a problem with having someone bring you here to sleep it off. Has always worked, that I've seen.
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Permalink Reply by Paul MacKinnon on -
I belive the fire station is not a good place for drinking. there is to much of a chance for bad things to happen. once the bell rings everyone runs drinking or not its too much of a risk.
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Permalink Reply by Seth "Stitch" Jones on -
Both stations I am on have a 0 tolerence for alcohol on station, on any fire call, or function. Its simply looks bad for the department. "drinking and driving" If you drink you have to have at least 8hrs between your last beer and time reporting to station. (even if its only 1) Violate this and suspention.
We aren't even supposed to go to local bars wearing fire department t-shirts or uniforms. Even if its just to get a bite to eat.
My cheif on the volunteer dept. is a town cop so he will give you a breathalyzer if he even suspects that you have been drinking.
The other has sent full time guys home if they are out late drinking and call in another Full time or reserve.
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Permalink Reply by firekiller on -
My firehosuse went dry about 3 months ago, We had too many problem with some of our members drinking and getting into trouble. so we decided to go dry. moral sucked at first but everyone is starting to come around now. We all looked at the BIG picture we joined to save lives and property, not to take lives and destroy property.
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Permalink Reply by FF Schoen on -
Wow,
I am sorry to say that but this post is still alive and going.... again dont hate me but Beer and Fire Houses dont mix. You can only have one or the other at the same time. How is it you can go to accident scenes that involve DUI's and really bad injuries or fatalities, and then get into the fire truck and respond or drive afterwards. Just doesn't make any sense to me. The whole point is that we are a step above and are held to alot higher of standards being FIREFIGHTERS. This career should not be tarnished because of that.
God Bless You and Never Forget
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Permalink Reply by doug louden on -
when i joined there use to be a pop machine with beer but like alot of other companys , we started to get alot of jrs to . so th emachine left ,plus in the last few years we adopted a zero tolerrance law were not allow to respond or go to drills if we are under the influeance of drugs or booze.as far as beer allowed in th e building it allowed but you cannt go nowhere if we get a call.we try to set a example to our jrs. we even frown on under age smoking .it is just better to adopt a zero tolerrance law it stops at lot of hard feeling .
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Permalink Reply by Smokeyjoe85 on
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We don't drink or smoke in our fire station(State Law);nore would we if we could(Drinking is a Safety Hazard). Same as drinking and driving(NO-GO).
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Permalink Reply by Brock Crawford on -
My company is alowed to serve beer and we alowed our members to drink, but only when there are not any department functions going on. If a member has been drinking they are not permited to respond to any calls for that day.
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Permalink Reply by Joel C Kelley on -
The following is a good litany for why we shouldn't allow alcohol in the Fire houses......
Infighting leaves PA fire company at risk of disbanding
The Philadelphia Inquirer (May 27, 2008)May 27--
In Delaware County, most everyone loves their fire companies. The firefighters will run into a burning building to save a neighbor, rescue a pet in distress, or, at Christmas time, dress up as Santa to pass out candy canes from their shiny red trucks.
Except in Colwyn Borough, where there is no love lost.
In the town of 2,300 people on the edge of Philadelphia, a split in the volunteer fire company has divided the community.
And left the fire trucks idle behind locked doors.
It has pitted the 17 volunteers who actively fight fires against the approximately 100 "social" members, many of whom come to the firehouse to drink at the bar -- in a town where the sale of alcohol is banned.
The 17 volunteers resigned en masse earlier this month after state police raided the firehouse and seized two illegal video slot machines, $2,100 in cash, and bottles of alcohol purchased out of state.
"The guys, together, have had it with what is going on inside the social club," said Richard Guerra, the now former fire chief.
Last week, the Colwyn council announced it would hold a vote today on whether to revoke the 103-year-old fire company's right to operate in the borough.
Fire protection is currently being handled by fire companies from two neighboring towns.
The fight is complicated by the changing nature of the small community; long mostly white and Republican, it is becoming more mixed racially, and more Democratic.
In 1990, 52 percent of all Colwyn voters registered Republican. Today, less than 20 percent are currently registered Republican.
The private, nonprofit fire company's members are drawn from nearby towns. The social members are predominantly white.
Democrats took control of the council last fall, and fire-company loyalists say the current controversy is simply partisan politics.
"This is not about the fire house. This is political," said F. Earl Reed III, the fire company president, who oversees both the social and firefighting activities.
Once in office, Democrats wasted no time combing through the borough's financial records, and requesting an accounting of the tax funds given to the volunteer company -- about $26,000 a year. It is supposed to be spent on equipment.
And on March 18, Borough President Tonette Pray sent a letter to Police Chief Bryan Hills asking him to investigate "what appears to be an improper use of Colwyn Borough's fire tax money."
She cited a check for $20,000 issued on Christmas Eve of 2007 and signed by Daniel Betzala, a council member, and Daniel McEnhill, the now-former borough manager. They did not respond to request for comments.
"There is no record in the recorded minutes that Council ever approved this disbursement," Pray said in a letter to the Colwyn chief. "Nor was council as a whole aware of this transaction."
Pray and the council also wanted an accounting of another $12,000 provided to the fire company in September 2007.
So far, the fire company has not responded.
Another question surfaced about a 2006 incident, when $100,000 from the borough's sewer fund was used to secure a loan by the fire company for a new fire truck.
"These disbursements did require a vote [by council] and it is my understanding no vote was taken," Ed Bradley, Colwyn Borough Solicitor said in an interview.
The Delaware County District Attorney's office is also looking at the three transactions.
"We are reviewing the facts and circumstances in order to determine whether or not to start a criminal investigation," said Assistant District Attorney Michael Mattson.
This is not the first time there have been questions about how money is being handled by the fire company.
In 2005, the fire company's charitable arm, the Firemen's Relief Organization, w
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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Do we have an update to this story?
I figured since this was being labeled "political", that, this being an election year, that we might see the ending to this all too familiar story of another PA volunteer fire company saga with "social" and "active" members.
Social halls in the fire stations that serves alcohol.
What's wrong with that picture?
I wonder if they have ever had to go on a late night call to cut one of their drunken own out of the mangled wreckage after a night in the "social hall at the fire station"?
Just wondering.
TCSS.
Art
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Permalink Reply by Don Zimmerman on -
I just read about the department in Penn State that was placed out of service by the local brough and township due to the drinking bar in the fire station against city and state laws. I am sorry for the department and firefighters for this to happen, but why didn't they get it when it first came up about the drinking going on.
How many DUIs and family problem calls does one need to go to before the light bulb goes off and someone realizes drinking & drive and abuse of alcohol in the family unit is not so good?? DAAAAAA I hate going to those calls, I have seen to many kids mothers and fathers DRT over nothing.
Now I picture getting in a 25 ton fire truck and hitting someone in an intersection at 70 mph killing themsleves and the the other car occupants beacuse they were at the fire station have a cold one for the 10th time in past 3 hours. Now we have lost 4 firefighters cost: priceless, a fire truck cost: 500K, 3 occupants of car cost: priceless, and a car cost: 20K
NO BOOZE IN THE FIRE STATIONS AND PROCEDURE/SOGS IN PLACE THAT SAY WHAT KIND OF SHAPE WE NEED TO BE IN ON A FIRE CALL.
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