"Hanging out" at combination departments

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Permalink Reply by John Sherrer on September 25, 2009 at 10:31pm

I am in a combinatin department that is about the same size. I understand how you feel. We all train together every saturday morning and I will hang out sometimes and eat lunch with the shift that is on duty sometimes. I will stop by if I am close by the station also and just shoot the breeze sometimes if nothing is going on. I guess it really depends on your department and whether they mind someone hanging around. We only have one paid person per station so they generally dont mind if someone drops by.

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Permalink Reply by justin tibbetts on October 11, 2009 at 5:11pm

i am in a combination department, were we run around 12 full timers, broken up into 3-4 man crews and we have around 8-10 paid volunteers that respond when the tone goes off on a normal day. when we volunters go in to hang out there usually sitn any problem because it gives the guys on duty some time to just shoot the shit. which they need and like. its how we stay good partners and good frineds. there usually istn any problem. we do help them with some stuff. which they oppreciate. some of which is helping them train the jr firefghters . so in our department we really dont have any problems with the hanging out thing. the only thing the full timeres require is bring you gear in and put it on the rack to repsond with the trucks.

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Permalink Reply by Greg Beck on November 3, 2009 at 1:33am

In our department we have more stations then the duty crews can staff. We have 8 stations and only 3 duty crews of 3 people each. So, most of our houses are staffed by call firefighters. When I first got on about 6, 7 yrs ago hanging out at the fire house was the thing to do after you got out of highschool in the afternoons waiting for a run. There was always the big screen, computers, pool table, airhockey, etc to keep you busy and most of the times we would take the engine out to dinner so if a call came out we could make it. The houses that were considered combo you could ride out with the duty crew when a call came in because there was always at least two open jump seats.

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Permalink Reply by James Higley on November 4, 2009 at 12:52pm

We run a full time ambulance and then the fire side is all paid on call. Our chief is also full time and usually there is a list of things to get done with for that day as well as the normall chores for the shift crew. Normally, if we hang out up there, we do some of the things on the list or help out with the crew doing things, other wise we usually wash an engine or tanker, or something else to keep us busy. During the day its better since we are short staffed with everyone working, but then during the evening hours, most of the time its to just shoot the s**t. If their significant other shows up for alittle while during the evening, we go find something to do so that they have some time together.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Robles on November 8, 2009 at 2:29pm

I am at a combination dept. Our personel welcome as many volunteers hanging out as possible. Most Combination depts are minimum staffed. So when a structure fire breaks out there maybe only 4 to 7 firefighters on the scene for a few minutes. Probably from a Volunterrs side the down side might be they would ask too help with some of the chores around the station. When I was at a total Volunteer fire dept we had to do everything. So for me and I am sure for a lot of others this is no big deal. Some paid Staff at Combination departments probably would like too see the volunteers go away and more paid personel on staff. Mainly so they would know the people really well and what they can or can't do. Some worry about what Volunteers might show or not show up for a call. I say Just Volunteer like you were at a total Volunteer Orginization. The more you hang out the better you will get too know them and they know you

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Permalink Reply by joe rodriguez on November 11, 2009 at 3:35am

Our department is about the same size. If you are there during "business" hours I feel you should pitch in with station chores. One should also respect the sleeping quarters during quiet times. Most crews welcome the chance to shoot the breeze and pass a little time by....

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Lundquist on November 17, 2009 at 9:31pm

At our Department all the Firefighters are the same. We are able to hang at the department just like everyone else, as a matter of fact we all think we are all paid, well no not really but close, if you didn't really look into it we all wouldn't know how was paid or not. Volunteer or paid, what makes the difference is only money ????????

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