r/Firefighting • u/AngronOfTheTwelfth • 1d ago

General Discussion Border Patrol agents arrested firefighters fighting Washington wildfire after they asked the fire crew to line up to check their IDs.

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What do we all think of this? Seems pretty nuts to me. They are actively getting in the way of wildlands guys as they do their job out there. I dont think this should be allowed or encouraged. Firefighting is a lot more important than .... risking 20 guys dressed exactly like firefighters crossing the Canadian border?

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u/Serious_Cobbler9693 Retired FireFighter/Driver 1d ago

I'm not sure about wildland guys, but when I was a firefighter we didn't carry any ID on us or you take a chance of losing it in a burning building or when you are hanging upside down in a car that has flipped on the highway.

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u/nimrod_BJJ 1d ago

I never had my wallet on me on a call for that very reason.

Or heaven forbid you get contaminated with Ethel-Methyl Death and take the public shower. Then the whole wallet is gone for good.

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u/whopperlover17 1d ago

Do firefighters driving the vehicle have their licenses on them?

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u/Handlebarheroin 1d ago

As a city FF, yes.

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u/Cast1736 Michigan FF 1d ago

The city city depts I've been on you dont need to keep it on your person at all. Never understood how guys walk around with their tri fold wallet on their pockets all shift. That shit would be annoying as hell

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u/Handlebarheroin 1d ago

That’s something the cops are cool with? We have had our chauffeurs ticketed for not having their license on them. No different than any other driver out there.

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u/jeepinbanditrider 1d ago

Yall must have a complete shit relationship with your local law enforcement if you've had multiple uniformed drivers get tickets for not having a license on them.

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u/Handlebarheroin 1d ago

For a period of time when I first got on 20 ish years ago, we didn’t. I also think our drivers in these specific instances pushed things with the cops, which escalated the situation . The same 2 drivers were breathalyzer tested on that same incident. It’s much better now!

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u/TheBrianiac 1d ago

Some states don't require you to carry a physical license, since the cops can look you up in the DMV database by SSN or name+DOB.

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u/Serious_Cobbler9693 Retired FireFighter/Driver 1d ago

We were told to memorize our drivers license#, I never carried it a day when on duty, it stayed in my POV or locker. I was only asked for my license# one time when a car decided to do a Uturn in front of us while we were responding to another call code3 and we had to stop and render aid as we pretty much Tboned him with the engine. Officers just asked for my DL# for the crash report.

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u/WorldlinessFar609 1d ago

Not true at all. Firefighter drivers are treated VERY differently. Majority of apparatus used in the US should require a CDL, which no firefighter is required to have. 12s and 24s are super illegal shifts for heavy vehicle drivers in any other context too.

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u/jeepinbanditrider 1d ago

We have "exempt" licenses in my state. Our department requires a Class B exempt license which allows the same equipment operarion a class B CDL but you're exempt from the CDL specific requirements.

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u/Cast1736 Michigan FF 1d ago

Yeah both states had laws that first responders were not required to keep their drivers license on them when on duty and operating dept vehicles (I believe Michigan also has it for the volly/POC guys that if you're responding to the station in your POV you're still good)

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u/MisterSumone 23h ago

As a civilian, I rarely even carry my actual license. Any time I've been pulled over i just give them my name and DL number and I've never had an issue. And I've been pulled over a bunch.

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u/Ok_Buddy_9087 Edit to create your own flair 1d ago

Cargo pockets ftw

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u/Cast1736 Michigan FF 1d ago

Rock those as well but I usually have med shit in them

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u/Ok_Buddy_9087 Edit to create your own flair 23h ago

….WTH are you carrying on your person that takes up entire cargo pockets and can’t be carried in a bag?

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u/taxmanfire 1d ago

I don’t. I’ve had it with me before and it gets so sweaty under my turnouts that everything in the wallet was pretty nasty.

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u/qwerkywombat 1d ago

Sometimes

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u/DIQJJ 1d ago

I don’t ever carry it. If I were to get into an accident, I’ll give over my name but my address is department HQ.

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u/SmargelingArgarfsner Go Get Em Brothers! 22h ago

Not required in my department.

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u/illblooded 25m ago

We have our licenses on our phones in Aus. Motor Driver usually carries their phone with them. The rest of us, our phones and ID’s are back at the station next to our hook.