r/Firefighting • u/Puzzleheaded_Owl5699 • 2d ago
General Discussion Is this normal/acceptable?
A little context to start. It might be a long read. I am a “probie” currently going through an online EMT program. Me and the 4 other probies spend M-F 8-5 at the training center/station doing our course work and helping as needed/asked. Our training chief (who is currently in charge of us) told us our only job is to continue like that, and clean the building we are in. We understand this to also mean the training bay and tower.
One firefighter came in one Saturday off shift to get a workout in. This guy is known to be pretty hard on probies and sometimes a bit too much. He noticed the trash cans were full in the training bay. Trash cans that we emptied on Friday and got filled from a large police training that took place Friday night (it’s a shared FD/PD facility). On Monday at 0815, he storms into our classroom and yells at us about the trash being full and he tells us he “took care of it.” Knowing the guy, we go out and investigate to find he dumped the trash cans all over the ground and stuffed some in our lockers in the training bay. He was again off shift this morning and was there for an OT recruiting event, so he came in just before he left.
Cleaning has always been an end of day task for us for the past 6 months, including during our time in the academy.
Is this behavior normal? Is this seen as a normal way to address such a small issue that we weren’t even aware of? Most people in our department (~130 people) don’t act this way.
7
u/Friendofhoffa21 Union Dirtbag 2d ago
I’m guessing that means you’re not employed by this department, and therefore not being paid? Oh hell. Even if you are being paid. Next time you see him, kindly walk up to him smiling, and tell him to eat a grocery sized bag of dicks. Brown paper size, not plastic.
Also if you’re not employed there, take the training and go somewhere else when finished. Any chief that thinks that is ok, isn’t a chief you want to work for.
This fake ass paramilitary hierarchy of dudes based on time on the job is antiquated at best. This is where I would walk up to the dude, in front of all of you, explain why the trash cans are full, and why he’s an asshole. Then. When he inevitably goes into the kitchen to tell all the boys how big of dirtbags you all are for not emptying trash cans, and brag about what he did, I’ll have you all help me load every piece of trash into the bed of his undoubtably lifted diesel truck that he has to work overtime for to even crack the $1300/mo note on.