hp4l
Division Supervisor 
Remember Your Roots
Posts: 600
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Post by hp4l on Nov 25, 2007 15:01:17 GMT -5
Why did you join the fire service? What has kept you here? What are your future plans in the fire service?
I joined the fire service because I grew up at the firehouse (Sta. 251.) My dad was and still is a firefighter there. I guess you could say "its in the blood." I joined at 14 as an explorer and worked my way up to Captain before leaving. I worked in Crosswicks and now Cinnaminson. This is the greatest job in the world. I miss running at 251 but the guys at 311 have really made me feel welcome. As for the future, I would love to move up and progress through the ranks at work. Only time will tell though.
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Post by WebBoss on Nov 25, 2007 15:20:54 GMT -5
A fantastic idea for a good thread...
I guess my situation mirrors yours actually.
My father has been a member of 121 since the early 70's. So basically, the place has been in my family since day one. The earliest memory I have involves being with my old man in that company. It took many years to find out that some of you nuts think that red is what color fire trucks are supposed to. Well, your wrong! ;D
Around the time I was 13 or so, I started tagging along to every company function I could. I made more drills then the members for the most part. When I became 16, I joined as a junior. The only difference at that point is I could actually ride out on the truck, and not just watch it go out the door.
[glow=red,2,300]I think 3105 joined because he had a thing for horses.[/glow]
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Post by Kramer on Nov 25, 2007 16:00:23 GMT -5
well, way back in the day when i was born one of the first places i went was up to the firehouse with mom and dad. as i grew up it just became a part of me and i was always up at the station with my dad at drills and helping clean up after calls and stuff, and then when he was chief i was lucky enough to be with him when he was going to some calls. i learned a lot from just sitting there and watching what he did and what went on in general. Now i can look back and make decisions based those experiences. In the future im going to finish the fire science degree and get a paid job and move up from there.
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Post by 3105 on Nov 25, 2007 16:04:43 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]I think 3105 joined because he had a thing for horses.[/glow][/quote]
What is this? National Pick on the Old Fart Day, huh? Young whippersnappers....
Good idea for a thread....of course, this means I get to unleash all those pent up memories.
My dad and uncles were members of 311 when I was growing up. Back then, MoTown had street pull boxes and a bell system that signaled where the fire was supposed to be. All of us had a handy-dandy Fire ALarm Box Location Chart tacked up somewhere in their house, so when the bells would start, we stop whatever we were doing, count them, then after checking the Chart, ride our bikes as fast as possible to beat the trucks there. An before any of you smart-asses comment, it was the early sixties...that's 1960's.
So like everyone else, it was probably in the blood, although my father had to quit when he took a night shift job in 1964. Never lost the urge to follow the BRTs and knew every Hose Company apparatus spec.
Joined in 72, made Lieutenant in 77, Assistant Chief in 86, took ten years off, then returned in 2000 for the current tour of duty, which will come to a close the end of next month.
As far as the future, I'm dusting off the Yoda uniform in preparation for becoming one of those old-timers who's a constant pain-in-the-tush (every station has one). I want to expand my teaching opportunities as well as try to push a more professional approach to Incident Safety Officer qualifications and operations...this is one area I feel is woefully underutilized and needs to be better understood.
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hp4l
Division Supervisor
Remember Your Roots
Posts: 600
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Post by hp4l on Nov 25, 2007 16:06:55 GMT -5
I would have at least guessed the old Ahrens Foxes.
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ENG27SQ
Division Supervisor
MS Paint Guru
Posts: 653
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Post by ENG27SQ on Nov 25, 2007 16:17:30 GMT -5
Back around 1996 my scout troop took a field trip to a local firehouse low and behold it was Lebanon Lakes and Fire Chief Toth (still Chief today) talked with my father who was our scout master and he joined about a week later. I've been hanging around the firehouse since I was 6 years old. Yes,I was that little pain in the ass!! ;D
My grandfather was a firefighter with West Trenton (Mercery County) and my father joined soon after so you could say it's in my blood.
Today I am still with Lebanon Lakes Fire & EMS (292/298) as a Firefighter.
What keeps me here is the feeling knowing you helped somebody, no matter the outcome. Whether you simply changed the batteries in their smoke detector or saved their house from the red devil. Nothing beats when the home owner says thank you and smiles knowing they were helped by the professionals.
But it's all about helping the public, it's our job. Some call us crazy, but I call it one big family.
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JDub
Forum Assistant Chief
Firefighter
Posts: 192
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Post by JDub on Nov 25, 2007 16:49:43 GMT -5
Back in the 70's, I don't know what part of the 70's, my dad joined Station 202. I was born in 86 and I knew he was a firefighter and got to go to the station and see the trucks and watch my dad leave when the annoying thing that he wore would beep. Then my dad left because my sister was born but is a life member. I suppose I grew up somewhat in the fire house.
How I really started was a friend of my dads from the firehouse approached him about me joining as an explorer. So I did and was active in the explorer post for awhile until I had to stop cause of school. Then after high school I joined and here I am today.
I stay for several reasons. One is because I am helping my community. Two is because it has turned out to be one of the greatest things in the world to do. I enjoy the fire service and what comes with the job.
Where I see myself....well that depends. I would like to get on the job somewhere but I have a back up plan if I happen to not get on the job.
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hp4l
Division Supervisor
Remember Your Roots
Posts: 600
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Post by hp4l on Nov 25, 2007 21:19:46 GMT -5
[/quote]As far as the future, I'm dusting off the Yoda uniform in preparation for becoming one of those old-timers who's a constant pain-in-the-tush (every station has one). I want to expand my teaching opportunities as well as try to push a more professional approach to Incident Safety Officer qualifications and operations...this is one area I feel is woefully underutilized and needs to be better understood.[/quote]
Are you going to be one of those guys that has the Liesuretowne bus take them to the firehouse so you can make meetings and harrass us?
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Post by thelurker on Nov 25, 2007 21:21:59 GMT -5
I have no real connections to the firehouse.... No family in the firehouse...I just joined because I had nothing better to do at the time.
A few of my friends in high school were members at the fire house, and I tried to join as a junior, but my parents would not let me, so I forgot all about it. Then after I graduated, I was sitting around the house doing nothing, and my Mom told me to get off my ass and join the fire house. Now its 10 years later, and I'm still doing the firefighter thing.
I guess for the future, I would like to progress up the ranks at work, and retire safe and healthy. And unlike Jim, when I retire, I'm out, no being a pain in the ass old guy. I'm done, and I don't want to hear a pager or house bells ever again.
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hp4l
Division Supervisor
Remember Your Roots
Posts: 600
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Post by hp4l on Nov 25, 2007 21:23:25 GMT -5
I have no real connections to the firehouse.... No family in the firehouse...I just joined because I had nothing better to do at the time. A few of my friends in high school were members at the fire house, and I tried to join as a junior, but my parents would not let me, so I forgot all about it. Then after I graduated, I was sitting around the house doing nothing, and my Mom told me to get off my ass and join the fire house. Now its 10 years later, and I'm still doing the firefighter thing. I guess for the future, I would like to progress up the ranks at work, and retire safe and healthy. Your Mom needs to come see you at work. She would be telling you to get off your ass again. J/K |
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Post by thelurker on Nov 25, 2007 21:26:55 GMT -5
I have no real connections to the firehouse.... No family in the firehouse...I just joined because I had nothing better to do at the time. A few of my friends in high school were members at the fire house, and I tried to join as a junior, but my parents would not let me, so I forgot all about it. Then after I graduated, I was sitting around the house doing nothing, and my Mom told me to get off my ass and join the fire house. Now its 10 years later, and I'm still doing the firefighter thing. I guess for the future, I would like to progress up the ranks at work, and retire safe and healthy. Your Mom needs to come see you at work. She would be telling you to get off your ass again. J/K I will remember that the next time I am your acting LT. LOLLOL |
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Post by smthborenzzle on Nov 25, 2007 21:32:45 GMT -5
Grandfather and father are ex-dep chiefs. Been around the fh since I was little. Didn't really think I would ever join though. I decided to try it out when I turned 22 and its been one of the best decisions.
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cfd200
Probationary Forum Member
Posts: 16
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Post by cfd200 on Nov 26, 2007 0:54:17 GMT -5
well it all started when me and a couple of my friends were walking down the street and they told me they were going to join the fire department( one of the kids had a brother who runs with the department) so i took all of 3 seconds and said ya know what ill join with you guys.I joined as an explorer and fell in love with it. my friends eventually faded away from it just before we went to fire school but i decided to stick with it.
i think that the reason i still do it is because of the atmosphere of the people that your around and the pure adrealine(sp?) that you get from it.
in the future i plan on hopefully getting hired someday to do what i love, but until then i just plan on making as many calls as i possibly can and getting the best training that i can.
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Post by 3105 on Nov 26, 2007 5:40:14 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Are you going to be one of those guys that has the Liesuretowne bus take them to the firehouse so you can make meetings and harrass us?[/glow]
My wife's probably wondering why I'm downstairs laughing my ass off at 5:30 in the morning....I'll have to check the bus schedules at the Evergreens or Lutheran Home to see if they can drop me off.
As far as the old Ahearns-Fox, funny you should mention that...one of my fondest memories as a kid was getting to ride the front seat of Hose Company's 1948 Fox during a Christmas parade...I had to sit on two folded up turnout coats in order to see out the window.
As far as age is concerned, I enjoy seeing the reactions of the young members when I point to our 1967 Mack and tell them it was first out when I joined....
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Post by WebBoss on Nov 26, 2007 19:24:58 GMT -5
I bet that old Mack could still just as good if not a better job then the new Pierces too. Plus - it has a real (the other) fire truck siren in it too.
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RngrVnc33
Forum Captain
Keepin' It Moist
Posts: 131
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Post by RngrVnc33 on Nov 26, 2007 20:26:56 GMT -5
Dad was a firefighter for Lambs Terrace (Camden County 8-5) so I was constantly at the firehouse. I distinctly remember being "babysat" by a Caprice Fire Marshals car while my dad was in Camden on hell night..... Moved to Pennsauken and joined as an explorer at 14 and have been "doin it" ever since except my current sabbatical courtesy of the MSFD....... Eventually I want to find a department I can see myself obtaining some sort of life membership with and grow old.....
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Post by 3105 on Nov 26, 2007 20:42:33 GMT -5
I bet that old Mack could still just as good if not a better job then the new Pierces too. Plus - it has a real (the other) fire truck siren in it too. I know one thing: driving the damn thing is like a work out at the gym: no power steering and a shifter that requires more pushing than my wheelchair. Drove it to Wildwood one year and couldn't walk upright for two days afterwards.......but for all that effort and cussing, it's a REAL FIRE TRUCK! LOL |
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Post by 3105 on Nov 26, 2007 20:55:46 GMT -5
Another Kodak moment was when I got back into the department in 2000. Having taken a ten year vacation, I wasn't the least bit interested (or so I thought). Then one day Junior announces that he's joined as a Junior (no pun intended) which was (to me) interesting since I had never encouraged him to or even told any long, boring war stories.
Then one fateful day he asked me to drive him to the station for a call; not having anything to do at the moment, I agreed. When I pulled into the station, he got out then told me to wait, that he'd be right back. "Why? What do you mean?", I asked, truly puzzled. "Oh...because 311 never gets out...be right back", he casually answered, then quickly disappeared.
To this day my reaction to this unexpected bit of news is still surprising: I remember getting thoroughly and completely pissed off and thinking: "WHAT? MY COMPANY DOESN'T GET OUT? This can't possibly be the old "Three-One-One, Second to None" that I grew to manhood and cut my firefighting teeth with...impossible!"
Now completely devoid of sense and reasoning, I promptly sought out the BC and without giving the matter one iota of thought (sigh), quickly stated I would come back to "drive the trucks" so they could get out. Six months later I was BC...
Silly me....
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Post by chief3102 on Nov 27, 2007 8:01:08 GMT -5
I was born and raised in a firefighting family in Phila. Father was a B.C. in Phila. Had uncles who were D.C's , Capt's and Lt's. and a brother who retired as a Lt. I remember my first hair cut was at a fire house that had barber chairs in the locker room/shower area in Northeast Philly. Graduated High School in time for the veterans coming home from Nam and women and Ethnics all getting 10 points on the test. Took it anyway, scored a 98 and wound up #1374 on the list because I happened to have nuts , a light complexion and was lucky enough to been born too late to go visit Uncle Ho. Got married, had a kid, and a suit and tie desk job. Kinda gave up on the Fire Dept. Got Divorced. Met my current wife, moved across the river to Moorestown. Wife was working for the Fire Prevention Bureau. Introduced to F3130 and after several months, I joined the Dept. Met some great old characters who helped shape my future there. Moved up through the ranks and after a nice long ride, decided that I needed a break. Retired as D.C. 12/31/06. After a year off, I have been missing the fire house and have made plans to start back after the New Year. I have no intention of going back to an Officer position. Kiinda looking forward to a black helmet.
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Post by bricker252 on Nov 28, 2007 14:48:56 GMT -5
My father join before I was born and I grew up around the firehouse. I joined as a Jr. when I turned 14 and have been with it ever since. Now I'm at college in Philly but still come home 3-4 a week for fire classes and duty crews. I'm Hoping once I get my Degree to use that as my fall back and pick up a full time fire job.
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