Originally Posted by cdynaco

Even for those on payroll, the nature of the job is to 'sit and wait'. Which is a good thing right? I realize they do a lot of training in between, but thankfully there aren't non-stop fires, so there is a lot of 'stand-by' time. No way around that. As for someone bragging about doing little while being on the taxpayer's dime, those thoughts are best not expressed because we taxpayers are a little touchy about our ever increasing property tax being used wisely.

Originally Posted by 2k7gtcs

Well Scott doesn't get paid anything He's a volunteer so that kind of becomes a moot point He does it to protect and serve his community and neighbors and family because he's a good citizen

Originally Posted by laserred38

And that is very admirable. I'm all for the discussion. Heck I respect that a lot more than the ones getting $80-100k a year who brag about doing nothing all day. I've looked into volunteer work at my local law enforcement agencies - they don't really have anything other than teenage cadet programs.

Originally Posted by AlsCobra

Again I think its great that these guys get paid this well. Even better that they don't have to respond very often. But they get paid to be there at the station, waiting for the call. If it was just sit around and never put your life on the line, everyone would be a firefighter. I watch the trainees at the academy when we go. It's like military boot camp literally. These guys are training for battle every morning. It's worth $80k if you're lucky enough to even get paid for it.

Originally Posted by laserred38

So you're saying you're okay with those guys bragging about getting paid $80k to sit around all day? That's my issue. Train all day for what battle may come, but don't be an asshat about it.

Originally Posted by AlsCobra

Hell yes! Every day those guys don't have to respond to a fire is a small victory. Another day they didn't get a chance to die. You should try it sometimes. Or even just observe a real incident. I can be an asshat all I want knowing what these guys have to do when that bell rings. Cops and military service people should be making that much also but unfortunately they don't. So let them brag about not doing anything all day and getting paid well. How much is one life or one families home worth in comparison?
And yes it's just like going into battle.

Originally Posted by laserred38

I don't see how you can support that kind of mentality, but okay man. PS, if their Chiefs or Captains saw them making comments like that, they would be canned. Fact.

Originally Posted by AlsCobra

Sounds like you're jealous. Join the FD. Sounds like a great career as long as it doesn't kill you. I bet they have good benefits for their family too.

Originally Posted by 08GTCandyApple

Yum....that looks good. And now I have a hankerin' pecan pie muffins dangit! I'll have to see if I have time to make a batch before I leave on Saturday.

Originally Posted by Scothew

I don't recommend him do that. He might start seeing the things that are truly horrific and hopefully no one should have to go through on regular basis. Especially dont volunteer in the community you live in, then you might have to see those same horrific things that happen to not only people in the community you know, but even family members. All of this is mostly just ems related too... not talking about the countless hours of training put in (weekly), the middle of the night 2am calls sometime for total BS and other times its not and you end up calling into work cause your either still on scene or just to **** tired to make it in. He might see why that 80k a year is worthy of being proud. I don't agree with bragging about it and all, but that's not my personality. I agree with Al though, if you can make 80k a year in that profession, hell ya! Average salary for a firefighter/emt basic like me here is around $32k a year. Everyone ask me why i don't do it as a career and its because i cant afford to. Oh and just for the sake of knowledge, here's some numbers for you to get an idea of how many people do this without getting paid. Here's some national statistics for you.[*]8 percent are career[*]5 percent are mostly career[*]16 percent are mostly volunteer[*]71 percent are volunteer As for the rest of this argument, why i do it, how i feel about the other parts of your statements, im just going to ignore it.

Originally Posted by AlsCobra

Still fascinated by it but I'm also fascinated by tigers. Not about to spray one with a water hose. Lol

Originally Posted by AlsCobra

Still fascinated by it but I'm also fascinated by tigers. Not about to spray one with a water hose. Lol

Originally Posted by Scothew

I don't recommend him do that. He might start seeing the things that are truly horrific and hopefully no one should have to go through on regular basis. Especially dont volunteer in the community you live in, then you might have to see those same horrific things that happen to not only people in the community you know, but even family members. All of this is mostly just ems related too... not talking about the countless hours of training put in (weekly), the middle of the night 2am calls sometime for total BS and other times its not and you end up calling into work cause your either still on scene or just to **** tired to make it in. He might see why that 80k a year is worthy of being proud. I don't agree with bragging about it and all, but that's not my personality. I agree with Al though, if you can make 80k a year in that profession, hell ya! Average salary for a firefighter/emt basic like me here is around $32k a year. Everyone ask me why i don't do it as a career and its because i cant afford to. Oh and just for the sake of knowledge, here's some numbers for you to get an idea of how many people do this without getting paid. Here's some national statistics for you.[*]8 percent are career[*]5 percent are mostly career[*]16 percent are mostly volunteer[*]71 percent are volunteer Go through the list of states and check out their career vs volunteer... it'll shock you. http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/census/summary.cfm#f As for the rest of this argument, why i do it, how i feel about the other parts of your statements, im just going to ignore it.

Originally Posted by AlsCobra

I must have missed this post. Patrick that was the most ignorant post you've made in a while. And that compared to your regular ignorant posts. Your friend stays in shape and practically lives at the station. So yes he eats and sleeps there. Just waiting for the call to jump straight into a burning building to save lives and property. If you ever get a chance to fight a fire, you would see why everyone doesn't do it for a living. You would also see why he works out often to stay in shape. It's great to hear that some people actually get paid well to do that job. Out here there are mostly volunteer only departments and those guys will jump into a fire whenever the call comes out for no pay at all. The skill, the experience, the training these guys go through to properly fight a fire is insane. Every time you respond, you realize quickly that you might not be coming home. It's like going toe to toe with the devil himself. Just be glad your buddy is one of the few brave or insane enough to take on a career like this. I'm sure Scott can add a lot more since I don't choose to fight fires but I'm pretty much forced to. Just happy I don't have to do it very often.

Originally Posted by laserred38

Really Scott? I grew up as a police officer's son. You don't think I've seen stuff? You don't think it was hard growing up with my dad working graves most my life, never home for holidays, never letting me go trick or treating with my cousins because some psycho *might* put poison in the candy, or go watch fireworks because they *might* malfunction? Clearly you guys aren't breaking down what I'm saying. I broke it down as clear as day on one of my last posts. There's a HUGE difference with being proud of what you do, and bragging about sitting on your ***. I can't believe you guys don't see the difference. Quite honestly, it would be better if it was like that around here, volunteers working day jobs. Those that don't do it for the $80k a year and benefits, but for the honor, would obviously respect the job more.

Originally Posted by 2k7gtcs

My brother in law is a captain in Alameda, CA He doesn't make $80k If the guy you're talking about openly says he gets to sit around and make $80k doing nothing then he sounds like a douche. There are douches everywhere. I don't talk about what I make to anyone. That's just not good manners.

Originally Posted by 2k7gtcs

My brother in law is a captain in Alameda, CA He doesn't make $80k If the guy you're talking about openly says he gets to sit around and make $80k doing nothing then he sounds like a douche. There are douches everywhere. I don't talk about what I make to anyone. That's just not good manners.

Originally Posted by AlsCobra

The bragging shouldn't be done but they are very fortunate for getting paid that well at a department that doesn't respond that often. It's a shame that all firefighters don't get paid that well or at all even. That goes for cops and soldiers also. That's what is a shame. All service jobs should pay this well. The job itself entails a lot of just hanging around waiting for something to happen. THATS THE JOB. That's the job they signed up for and that's why they are happy there. These guys are trained professional firefighters. Not just goofballs with a fire suit riding on a truck. I don't see why you have a problem with them except for a lot of jealousy.