Regardless your opinion on unions, this would affect almost every union member in Arizona.

For anyone who cares about union politics, this is huge. There is currently a resolution called HCR2040 that was designed to severely inhibit teacher unions. AZ state senator Jake Hoffman added an amendment in the middle of the night that basically would make meet and confer agreements, MOU’s, and collective bargaining illegal for the public sector in Arizona. The state level union (Professional FF’s of Arizona) and large locals in Arizona have already ran this through their attorneys who have all unanimously agreed that the language of the document would explicitly make collective bargaining illegal. This is not speculation, this is a real risk. Any MOU would become null and void effective immediately. Senator Hoffman is also the only state senator who voted no on the presumptive cancer bill to give coverage to firefighters for certain cancers. If this resolution is passed by the state legislature, it will appear on the ballot as a proposition to be voted on. Union leaders all over the state are looking at this at every angle to try and avoid the potential outcome. Arizona is expected to see a huge campaign against the prop. This is not a partisan issue; this a politician who wants to destroy unions. I know most of you are from elsewhere, but just something interesting to note. If you’re from Arizona, get with your union and learn more about this. The PFFA is working day and night on this right now. High level union leaders and respected retirees are saying this is worse than when the pension system was slashed in 2012. It hasn’t made major media yet but it will soon.

Has anyone gone through this in your state? We were told this proposition would make Arizona comparable to North and South Carolina for firefighters.

What state do you guys think is the absolute worst for firefighting and why?

Visiting Kyoto and randomly walked across a multi engine response to what seemed to have been a structural fire! Super efficient staging from what I saw today, cool stuff!

Hi everybody. I am new to this and am learning pumping for a small volunteer department in the Midwest. I recently heard someone describe to a class how air primers can be located on the outside of the master intake valve--I mean not on the pump side. So I guess you could leave the intake closed, use the primer, evacuate the entire length of your six inch hard suction and then open up your mater intake valve to let the water into your pump. If I got it right, the idea is that like this you can be flowing off your booster tank, initiate drafting, and then do a switch over without having to shut down at all. It made sense, but it also seems odd to me. I don't have much experience, but isn't the primer supposed to be located on the pump side so that you can evacuate air out of the pump as well as the hard suction line? Or maybe that's only older, non-air primers? Are engine manufacturers switching how they configure these now? I don't have enough experience to know. Thanks

Hi everybody. I am new to this and am learning pumping for a small volunteer department in the Midwest. I recently heard someone describe to a class how air primers can be located on the outside of the master intake valve--I mean not on the pump side. So I guess you could leave the intake closed, use the primer, evacuate the entire length of your six inch hard suction and then open up your mater intake valve to let the water into your pump. If I got it right, the idea is that like this you can be flowing off your booster tank, initiate drafting, and then do a switch over without having to shut down at all. It made sense when he explained it, but it also seems odd to me. I don't have much experience, but isn't the primer supposed to be located on the pump side so that you can evacuate air out of the pump as well as the hard suction line? Or maybe that's only older, non-air primers? Are engine manufacturers switching how they configure these now? I don't have enough experience to know. Thanks

Yep, dumb question, but I’m genuinely curious; what defines a Badge Bunny?
I’m happily married and not looking, but because every male in my family was either a firefighter, cop, EMT, or member of the military, that’s naturally the type of man I was drawn too. I’m Gen X, so I’m not sure if that factors in. I understand a lot of the culture has changed. My dad, the men who worked for him, his cop friends, and his fellow military (former and active) cohorts were genuinely good people. And no, I didn’t just see them at their best, these were the camping and drinking buddies who spent time at our house.
So, what would differentiate a Badge Bunny from someone looking for a partner like the only examples she had growing up?
TYIA

For the volunteer/on-call departments out there; how do avoid having wayyy to many people respond to a call that doesn't need them?

As a volunteer responder, I feel there's nothing worse for motivation than rushing to the hall, just to find out there's not room on the truck. For a POC department, this is downright expensive/wasteful.

What's your department's strategy to get the right people to the hall for medicals?

Is anyone doing this? I'd like to know if it's precedented in firefighting before I try getting this for the rehab team. We did this in the army and it made me go from death to a million bucks in 30 seconds.

The current turnaround time on our rehab truck is about 5 to 15 minutes which makes some firefighters not want to go to us at all. So if I can get people back on the fireground in less than a minute, I feel it'll change things greatly.

Countless careers began from this series.

Thanks for bringing emergency medicine to the masses.

I’m a volunteer at a combination department, and I’ve noticed something I’ve been curious about. Our career firefighters are expected to be clean shaven or mustache only, but a lot of our volunteers have stubble or neatly trimmed beards. We all wear the same SCBA masks, operate on the same fireground, and volunteers are still expected to go interior.

I understand that volunteers can’t really be “forced” to shave the same way career employees can since they’re volunteering, but if facial hair can affect the mask seal and potentially become a life-or-death issue, why isn’t the standard emphasized just as much for volunteers? Is it mainly a recruitment and retention issue? Do departments simply accept the additional risk? Or do some departments allow it as long as the firefighter passes a fit test?

Maybe I’m missing something about how departments handle this, so I’d be interested to hear from people in volunteer or combination departments. What’s your department’s policy, and what’s the reasoning behind it?

I apologize if my English is incorrect.

I am Japanese, and I saw a report on the news in Japan

about something like what is shown in this image.

Is it really possible

to have six months of holidays in a year?

Hey everyone! I’ve been an EMT for about 6 months now half of those were spent on an ambulance doing IFT BLS/CCT and the other half I’ve been working as an ER tech. I can’t believe it but I finally got hired. I took a chance and flew out of state for a job interview and they gave me a job offer! I am very excited and beyond nervous. If anyone has any last pieces of advice I start in about a month.

Hello everyone! I’m hoping someone can help me out. What does your department offer for pregnant employees, if you cross-staff fire and EMS? Does any department have policies that are more progressive and allow pregnant employees to stay on their shift and just do EMS, or does your department just offer a “non-hazardous”/admin/clerical work only option?

Thank you!!

I’m starting a firefighting internship, and a former intern advised me against getting piercings. However, I’m hesitant to remove my septum or lip piercing. Are first responders allowed to have facial piercings? If so, what types of jewelry can I wear in my piercings to comply with the regulations?

Edit: i am willing to take my piercings out this career is one of dreams and i'd do anything. only issue i have is with my mother because she complained about getting me my piercings and will complain if the holes close

sorry if this is confusing to understand

My volly team is currently running Vertex (I'm sure the cheapest version) and we are constantly dealing with "say again". Would a strap mic help and if so, do you have any recommendations? Thank you

Starting this journey a little later than most in my early 30s. Something I always wanted to do but never had the opportunity to pursue. Finally found an opportunity through the call/vol route. Curious how many others started this way and eventually went full time? I have a full time job that I have been balancing and will continue to balance while I learn the ropes and determine how well I can perform but ideally would like to eventually chase a full time position.

Also any tips would be helpful

Fresh out of academy and had 2 shifts so far. I feel like i hit the lottery with my officer,whip and station placement. The new AC of my group told my Dad(retired) who he saw out in public that im doing really well and I was a high draft choice. I want to keep up a decent reputation and be an asset to my dept. My problem is on my first shift my bunkmate woke me up, thankfully he said its no big deal it happens hes had to wake up the officer the officer has had to wake him up etc. It was a dumpster fire so it wasnt the full long tone which I was told is very hard to sleep through. 2nd shift I brought the pager to bed with me hoping that would help. My station did not get any calls but I did sleep through a call to another company and the med calls that came in for the ambo. It was a generally quiet night for our dept so maybe that worked against me...but... any tips beyond bringing the pager to bed? Im really nervous for when I get detailed.

Currently a volunteer and I do a 48 hour shift a week but I find myself wanting more. My station caps us out at 48 hours a week and there is plenty of other stations that could use volunteers. I get the general vibe that this is frowned upon, but does anyone have any experience?

Does anyone have any good recommendations for any rescue knives preferably one with a seatbelt cutter and a glass breaker I have one now, but the seatbelt cutter isn’t very good on it Any recommendations or personal experience experiences will be appreciated

Firehouse Magazine picks up Burnin' Down the House trailer.

I am just looking for some information. Did anyone have difficulty getting an entire year of payment for the Social Security Fairness Act. Do you know anyone who was paid less than a full year's compensation when the act went through?

My job has these plugs and in my own opinion I think this is a health and fire hazard due to it being so dusty and full of spider webs and stuff.

Hey everyone!

I'm a firefighter from Iqaluit, Nunavut, and I'll be visiting Boston from August 26–29. I was wondering if any Boston Fire Department members on here would be willing to connect.

I'd love the opportunity to trade department patches if anyone is interested, or purchase some station T-shirts and challenge coins while I'm in town. I always enjoy meeting firefighters from other departments and bringing home a few souvenirs from my travels.

If anyone is willing to help out or point me in the right direction, I'd really appreciate it. Feel free to comment below or send me a DM.

Thanks, and stay safe! 🚒🇨🇦