Sure as a child I thought now and then how cool it would be to ride on a fire truck. When I was really young, maybe around 4 years old, our garage caught on fire while my dad was welding a trailer hitch onto my grandpas new Cadillac. The fire department came and put out the fire. People said you could see the smoke from miles away. My Aunt drove in from a town about 10 miles from us because she could see the smoke. I am sure it was exciting and scary, but I was only 4 and really only remember a little bit about the fire. I remember the garage burning, I remember the red fire trucks and hoses hooked to fire hydrants, and people on our street that ended in a circle standing around watching the firemen do their work. I don't remember thinking, wow, I want to be a fireman.
Like I said, as I grew up, being a firefighter was not something that was of great interest to me. I am sure that once or twice when I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I might have said firefighter, but more likely I said architect or race car driver. I never set my sights on firefighting. I didn't go to college to be a firefighter and I didn't even know what a person had to do to become a firefighter.
After college I started working in the field of social services. In 1995 I was working at a facility for persons with mental illness. It was one of those old county homes that was being converted into a more modern facility with double occupant rooms instead of wards, and more disability friendly amenities.
One of the contractors at the time was the chief of the Wapello County Rural Fire Department. He would come in and tell us about the calls they had the night before. I became very interested in what they were doing and decided to join the fire department.
One of the contractors at the time was the chief of the Wapello County Rural Fire Department. He would come in and tell us about the calls they had the night before. I became very interested in what they were doing and decided to join the fire department.
Once I was on as a probationary firefighter they started me in classes to learn the ropes. These were basic firefighter I courses taught in house. I did not become a certified firefighter until several years later.
Two of the first major fires I responded to were a triple fatallity and a church fire. I was young and didn't know really how dangerous this business could be. I had not been exposed to reports of firefighter injuries or deaths. I knew fire was bad, but I didn't really understand what other dangers were involved in fighting fire or responding to emergencies of any kind. We were a fairly busy department back then, but we only did fire and rescue, no EMS respnses. I got to see a lot of fire in those days.
After a few years with Wapello County my now wife and I moved to the small town of Shafer, Minnesota where I joined the local volunteer department. In two years there I made two or three calls. We trained monthly and I continued to learn how to be a firefighter.
From Minnesota we moved back to Coralville, Iowa. It was there that I got my first taste of what "big city" fire fighting was like. I completed my firefighter I certification and became an EMT. I also realised while I was there just how big a gap there can be between what older and newer members of a volunteer department think. It's good to have a perspective of seasoned veterans, and its good to have a view from newer guys who might have new ideas. Unfortunately those don't always mesh. It was at this point that I began to realize that I wanted to be a fire trainer. However, becoming an instructor would not happen until I joined my current department.
Prior to joining Wellman Volunteer Fire Department, we moved to Clarence, Iowa. It was there that I first became an officer. I was appointed by the chief to be the training officer. I took this very seriously. Maybe a little too much so to start, but I quickly learned how to approach training and get guys interested. It takes a lot of thought and time to put together a training program that will keep firefighters involved and interested. I did my research, and I still do a lot of reading and going to trainings to learn skills I can bring back to my department.
My time in Clarence prepared me to be a training officer and once I joined the department here in Wellman, I took the course necessary to become a certified fire serrvice instructor. I am glad I did. I learned more about how to manage training, how to keep guys interested, and the rules that need to be followed. It made me want to be a better trainer and it helped me realize how much more important training is when your department doesn't have a huge call volume. On my current department we average around 55 calls a year. That may not sound like a lot, but we respond to the same kinds of call every department does, and we still have to be ready, properly trained and able to perform the duties just like we did in Wapello County or Coralville where I saw much larger call volume.
Bottom line is we all respond to calls at the most inopportune times and we never really know what we are getting into until we get there, so we all need to trained as well as possible.
Finally, when I joined the fire service I had no idea I would still be doing this as a volunteer 20 years later. I do it because I love it. I do it because if I don't its possible others won't either, as its getting harder and harder to find younger guys and gals who want to put in the time. Hopefully I will be able to continue being a firefighter and teaching others for many years to come.
I also hope that I will be able to impart some wisdom and useful information through this blog. Thank you for taking the time to read what I have written and I hope you will come back.
~Rob
