r/Firefighting • u/Launch_Rockface • Jul 10 '25

General Discussion Unpopular Opinions In the Fire Service

I am curious what other peoples unpopular opinions of the fire service are? I know there are alot of things we are doing or trying to do to improve the fire service as far as training and wellness, but I also know alot of it is just not that great in my opinion.

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u/Launch_Rockface Jul 11 '25

I think we take everything to the extreem. I apprecate the focus on mental health in the fire service and think its needed. Howeve, I think we are pushing too hard on it now and its making people think they have problems when they really don’t.

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u/Ok_Buddy_9087 Edit to create your own flair Jul 11 '25

Counterpoint: I think a lot more of them have problems than we realize. Guys in my area are offing themselves with no documented history of anything

Hot take: a LOT of them, especially the Zoomers, are showing up with those problems.

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u/Launch_Rockface Jul 11 '25

I don’t think you’re wrong, I have seen people come in the door that are almost to the point of rocking in a corner after their first rough call.

I think (many) people in general have been exposed to less hardship in their lives, especially those under 30. Without that they never had the ability to develop any coping or resiliency skills. So now things that were maybe as annoying as a buzzing mosquito to older generations is a tragic PTSD creating event for younger people.