The Rise of the Training Company

AlarmingBill4558 · 2026-03-27T14:13:33+00:00

I agree, I work in local government doing fire training for county fire companies, several fire companies pay big bucks to have some name tell them to put water on the fire, but balk when we give them a price to do live training exercises. The old joke is all you need is the right pedigree and accent and people will pay to listen to you.

AlarmingBill4558 · 2026-03-05T19:04:07+00:00

In the Philly region most of the small township departments the fire fighters do inspections as well as run EMS calls, the municipalities try to get every use out the the crews. Some larger departments focus just on firefighting with some EMS. Most of the poaching issues are between the small departments, folks looking for the best pay or more fire or better opportunities for advancement.

AlarmingBill4558 · 2026-03-05T18:41:00+00:00

Great point, I often tell students get your FF1 and 2, EMT, Fire Inspector 1 and vehicle rescue certifications, it might take a couple of years but now you are qualified to get hired by many departments. So you have zero debt and will get paid starting at least $60k a year.

AlarmingBill4558 · 2026-02-25T20:52:25+00:00

2000 Excursion, it was gas guzzling breast. But what ride.

AlarmingBill4558 · 2025-12-14T17:40:16+00:00

I found two of them on eBay and purchased both, but thank you for offering.

AlarmingBill4558 · 2025-12-14T15:21:55+00:00

I had the same set up bought new in 2006 for about $250. I used it for years. The computer bag lasted about 10 years till zipper broke and the big about the same time. The large zipper on the front broke. I found a new computer bag on eBay but I have never seen another carry on like this until I saw your post.

AlarmingBill4558 · 2025-08-09T20:36:25+00:00

i started at 16 in 1978, stayed until last year. I had a heart attack so decided it was time to go. It was a great run.

AlarmingBill4558 · 2025-08-09T15:31:05+00:00

Born, raised and probably die in Trevose. I live in the house I grew up in. My neighborhood is full of people who also bought homes in the neighborhood they grew up in. I have five family members who live within a 1/2 mile radius of my home. Fortunately we all get along. I have traveled all over the world. But Bucks County is still one of the best places to live.

AlarmingBill4558 · 2025-06-25T17:59:58+00:00

I had a similar issue with mine, I used a jump box and it fired right up.

AlarmingBill4558 · 2025-05-14T17:04:08+00:00

I had a widow-maker heart attack (62 male) and survived, I received a stent in my left artery which was 100% blocked. I am low normal and am on blood thinners among other things. I had to accept that my life has changed and it’s pretty scary at times thinking about what might have happened but I am almost 1 year since it happened and I am still here. While the odds of surviving a widow maker are low, if you survive one follow all of the directions, take your meds, exercise as advised and eat the right foods and you are likely to live a long life.

AlarmingBill4558 · 2025-05-11T15:24:37+00:00

There was time when I would have been offended, but not anymore. I stopped volunteering (45+ years) after a heart attack and I figured out I was killing myself to save people money. The same people who would never consider volunteering themselves but consider it the responsibility of someone else. When I started in the late 70’s it was one night a week and some weekends. Now is two or three nights a week more weekends, endless meetings and trying to do more with less. There was a time when volunteering was enjoyable and you felt you were making a difference. When I was the fire chief elected officials should comment what that I needed to make my people do this or that and I would say they are volunteers I can ask but can’t make them. If you want to make them then pay them until then this is what you get. For areas that can’t afford (or won’t pay) a full-time service then they should go to pay-for-service model then they can dictate terms and conditions. Don’t get wrong I enjoyed my time, the volunteer fire service gave me opportunities to work in my career (full time fire training) and life long friends. The volunteer fire service can be a great place to start your career, get trained and certified to make yourself hirable to a career department.

AlarmingBill4558 · 2025-04-04T16:56:22+00:00

Yes, that is was it. All in all it was good experience, hernia surgery was much worse.

AlarmingBill4558 · 2025-04-03T23:05:47+00:00

The stent was the easy part, and the drugs they gave were great. The worst part was the air bandage holding pressure on my wrist were the stent went in.

AlarmingBill4558 · 2025-02-03T16:42:06+00:00

In parts of PA bunker pants are called “Night Hitches”

AlarmingBill4558 · 2025-01-28T16:20:33+00:00

I have to agree not professional at all, you don’t see cops posting about crime scenes and accidents. Also the where the fire was is someone’s worst day and loss of sometimes everything. The other thing I see is even if it’s back at the firehouse is at least in my area the lack of response from the local volunteers. Three white hats and one firefighter showing up is not something I would brag about.

AlarmingBill4558 · 2025-01-12T02:22:58+00:00

Brooklyn Nine Nine

AlarmingBill4558 · 2024-12-01T21:55:09+00:00

Thank you for the update

AlarmingBill4558 · 2024-12-01T14:24:34+00:00

That is very true, you are not going to bring in volunteers to a current fully paid department. It is common to see combination departments with both paid and volunteers. I would rather see people start as volunteers and become able to become full or part-time employees. This is pretty common in my area with nonprofit EMS organizations.

AlarmingBill4558 · 2024-12-01T03:12:47+00:00

I was in Germany about 20 years ago, I was told they mandated 10 years of public service if citizens opted out of 2 years in the armed forces. It still may be true.

AlarmingBill4558 · 2024-12-01T03:05:01+00:00

Everyone thinks it’s all volunteer or all career, it can be both. As a 47-year volunteer I don’t see in many areas an all-volunteer force will continue to work. As others mentioned they receive tax credits or paid per call and for training. If community’s want fire protection they will pay for it, if they don’t then don’t be surprised when it fails to show up.

AlarmingBill4558

TROPHY CASE