TexasCHLforum.com

SRO1911 wrote:

TexasJohnBoy wrote:

SRO1911 wrote:interestingly enough, we have had two applications for our VFD who referenced this bill. While we will closely be watching for genuine interest and motivation - I for one am willing to reach for ANY additional tool in the recruiting tool box. I would have been much happier with some of the other proposed bills, I just can't be completely happy with anything that makes a separate class (even if im in it).

Now we just need to find a way to sign up the million or so LTC holders as first responders, every single one of them to make it fair.

In general, what is required to become a volunteer fire fighter? I live out in the county and before this became a thing I was playing with the idea of volunteering for the VFD closest to me. I wonder if VFD would be more rewarding/impactful than CERT?

many other's have addressed this quite well.
I will reiterate, that although all departments are different- the need for manpower is near universal. those who can, fight fire. not everyone can make entry on a structure, that's ok. we have 70+ year old retirees and 20 year old airmen. each has a place, and we work together. if you do not feel like you can bunk out and climb a ladder in a hundred pounds of gear...drive a truck or help with book keeping or man a booth for fundraising or ..... the list is endless.
That 70 year old retiree I mentioned is a great driver, we fight off the back of our brush trucks (neener TFS) and if he is there to run a truck or tender then there is one more FF2 guy who is free to work elsewhere.

As far as rewarding, I can't say. I know my department has invested a small fortune in my training- training I would not otherwise be able to afford. I'm a training junkie so I grab everything I can. those certs are mine, they go with me and while high angle rescue, low angle rescue, emt, VET2, tac-med, FF1, FF2, and a dozen more may not be a good star on every resume - they are valuable skills in innumerable situations. It has been rewarding for me, and heart breaking.
If your department runs medicals you will eventually get one of those calls that shakes you to the core. you will eventually lie to someone and tell them everything is going to be ok when you know it's not.
You will eventually show up for an MVA where you pick up pieces.
You will eventually see a family lose everything they have in a fire.

but for every one of those, you will have so many that make you proud to be a part of the organization. You will have a thousand children grinning from ear to ear when you roll the engine up to the school for fire prevention week.
You will smile exhausted, looking at black ground where you stopped the grass fire just a yard from a family farm.
You will learn the true value of a bottle of water the neighbors brought as you come out of a structure for rehab.

It has been rewarding for me.

ELB wrote:

TexasJohnBoy wrote: ...In general, what is required to become a volunteer fire fighter? I live out in the county and before this became a thing I was playing with the idea of volunteering for the VFD closest to me. I wonder if VFD would be more rewarding/impactful than CERT?

I'm sure VFDs vary, but in mine: not everyone in the VFD is a firefighter, but we need everyone we can get. We have two basic kinds of firefighters: structural and wildland. Structural firefighters deal with building/house fires, vehicle fires, and general "rescue". Wildland firefighters deal with well, wildland fires: grass, forest, brush. Different equipment and training for each, although there is some overlap. At least with us you could do one or the other. We also do medical first responder calls (in fact, that is by far the bulk of our calls). Again, with us, if that is all you wanted to do, didn't want to fight fires, that's OK. We also need people to support the firefighters at the scene with "rehab" or rehabilitation -- that means providing food and water and shelter to the firefighters when they are not actually in fighting the fire.

Most of our members train to do all three major mission areas, structural, wildland, and medical responder, and we have some others that focus on just the rehabilitation part. We have a few more that just come out for things like fundraising, paperwork, station renovation.

As others noted, the basics are: Show up, have a clean criminal record, be a team player, attend training for whatever your role is... and show up.

So if you are interested go visit your local VFD and see how they handle things.

ScottDLS wrote:

TreyHouston wrote:Im sure Charles will give us the full breakdown after session is over

No I think this happened at least 10 years ago.

The Dude wrote:

RossA wrote:So if we start a "volunteer militia" and the charter documents say that we exist to provide services for the benefit of the general public during emergencies, members would fall under this law?

It looks like that would comply with the black letter law. Calling it a militia might invite unwanted attention but a neighborhood emergency response fellowship might sound softer.