r/Firefighting • u/DarthJellyFish • Jun 30 '24
Volunteer / Combination / Paid on Call Shoutout to the volly’s
Just a shoutout to you guys that volunteer. I work for a full time city department in the Pacific Northwest. My uncle is an HVAC guy in a one stoplight town in southern Utah. He started volunteering about 8 years ago. I came down to see him and family this week. Checked out the rigs and got to talk about how they do things. You volunteers have to do a lot with a little and it’s truly impressive. Nothing but respect.
The pic is of their reserve rig. Such a cool old truck. The frontline unit is a little newer ;)
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u/Unstablemedic49 FF/Medic Jul 01 '24 edited Jul 01 '24
You’re all set not having a pension from the county/state for putting your time in and serving your community?
You’re all set with not being covered medically if you get hurt on the job?
You’re all set not being covered for any mental health or substance abuse?
You’re all set not being covered for cancer automatically no matter what?
You’re all set with your family not having to worry about funeral or burial costs and getting 100% LODD benefits?
Are you all set not having any vacation time, accruing sick time, personal time off?
Are you all set with not being paid double/triple time for working holidays?
Are you set with not having a detail rate for 3rd party work?
Are you all set with no having education incentives?
Are you all set for not having stipends for certifications/degrees you worked your ass off for?
I love my community too, but they also love me back and have made sure their FFs are taking care of. This is what a lot of volunteers don’t understand is the benefits part that comes with being a paid professional firefighter.