Volunteers can, in fact, be released from the department. Essentially “fired”. You can’t simply show up to a volunteer program and jump on a truck, and you certainly can’t remain indefinitely against the direction of the chief or the municipality.
It’s also worth noting that the majority of firefighters in the US are volunteers. As with any job, there are varying skill levels and quality of people but the vast majority are capable, dedicated and knowledgeable.
I worked around and still work around VFD’s in the past as a career guy and now as a state forest service ranger/wildland firefighter. If I had a nickel for everytime a VFD guy did something or said something absolutely stupid that we never would have said or done on a career department, I’d be a rich man…
Sure, they CAN be released from the department, but they very rarely are, even when they should be. It's a taxpayer-funded boys club in most places, which is disgraceful.
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u/ICantSplee 18h ago edited 6m ago
She should be fired for the dancing. Or admitting in writing to driving 100mph to station coverage. Both are terrible.
Edit for clarity: I don’t actually think someone should be fired for dancing. 😂