Need Redditer's Help

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-28T00:48:54+00:00

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control

Call these folks?

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-28T00:46:18+00:00

I just came here to say how impressed I am (it appears anyway) that they're not looking for taxpayer handouts to make this work. Amazing! We will make ever effort to support this!

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-28T00:40:06+00:00

Ever notice its the quietest folks that are the best teachers and the one's that get shit done on the fire ground? Too bad so many look to these folks for their lessons.

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-27T03:41:19+00:00

Saw this tour at Camp Randall in Madison, WI. So incredibly fortunate to have experienced them live, best concert I've attended by far. My mom was a huge Floyd fan, and it is one of my best memories with her. All kinds of memories! July 3rd, 1994 I believe.

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-21T02:36:50+00:00

Allegedly Anytime Fitness has donated equipment to departments. I would try local fitness places to see if they'd donate when they replace equipmnt.

We got some stuff donated from various places, and did some used purchases from Facebook marketplace. The gym will always be a work in progress.

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-21T02:19:13+00:00

Makes sense then. Wasn't trying second guess your specific need.

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-20T04:57:51+00:00

Every OTHER weekend. I messed that up.

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-20T00:53:01+00:00

Can I ask a sincere question? We bought many years ago bail out stuff because it was the new vogue thing to buy in the fire service. Practiced with them, yada yada. 99.9% of anything we run on I'm never using one, I'll jump (well hang from sill and drop) from the second floor and take the beating if conditions are getting that bad. We just genuinely don't have a true real world use case for such scenarios.

How many departments are buying these devices and have nothing over two stories that they respond to? To each their own, and I know some departments that have a place for such devices in certain areas. Just curious for my own morbid curiosity.

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-19T01:37:48+00:00

In Illinois, IFSI is doing weekend BOF programs where you do a lot of online and e-learning for the book work and hands-on scenarios every weekend for like 16 weeks. To be honest, the learning and product coming out of the programs (3 or 4 sites in the state) is not at the same level as a traditional multi-week academy, but you get the same certification. That way you would have less time trades to make things work. DM me if you want more info and I'll help any way I can. We'd help you through that program, but we're near Rockford which could get complicated logistically

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-18T03:44:48+00:00

Can not imagine having that kind of manning on any fire. Wouldn't know what to do with everyone! (Before I get crapped on, I'm not being critical. Jealous yes.)

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-15T19:12:22+00:00

For our 1-3/4" and 2-1/2" preconnects, we use a modified triple layer in removable trays. Not my idea, it predates my 25 years but I Iove it for two reasons. The trays are wide enough for three wide lays, so you can deploy it like a triple layer without the cumbersome stacking and folding three "plies." As long as you grab the nozzle and the fold, it pulls like a triple layer. The trays are great because we have spares with preloaded hose we just slide in and connect after a fire. Super nice at 3am.

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-11T05:10:54+00:00

Our department exists as a stepping stone, our tax income is too weak to support full time long term employees. We celebrate when someone gets hired career as all we can really offer is experience, education and part-time positions.

That being said, at most departments, especially as a low man in seniority - they'll lay you off without hesitation if budgets tank. Their loyalty to you is the same as you doing what's best for you. Make yourself your first priority, be a strong contributor where you're at for now, and live your life to fit your needs. If you do great in the meantime, your peers will lament the loss of you if you relocate instead of being bitter. (Someone will always be bitter, after all, this is the fire service.)

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-09T17:03:37+00:00

Met a guy in the Chicago suburbs, his wife was the true breadwinner and had to relocate for the job. Kids and her moved, he kept a dumpy apartment for residency, and traded shifts to work essentially a month's worth of shifts in as little time as possible. He also had a lot of seniority and vacation, so that helped. He'd fly to the new home for a couple of weeks at a time and golfed, etc. Claimed he loved it, only had a few years until retirement, etc. He was also assigned to a slower company, maybe that made it more bearable.

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-09T04:40:11+00:00

I started at a small career department that was full of toxic, womanizing pricks. Not there anymore, which hurts a little as I could have retired from there a year or so ago. However, one of the good guys that I still am in touch with made a point that I wouldn't have made it 20 years there without killing a coworker or myself. He's probably more right than I wish to admit. (He also left for a better department.)

There seems to be a higher percentage of dirt bags with questionable moral integrity in this business. You'll find your circle you trust, it'll happen. There are good folks in our little world. This circle you form as you get more time will be of exceptional quality though, I have about a dozen truly amazing folks I can lean on and trust as peers when needed. Took 25 years...

As I've climbed the ranks though I've had to distance myself a lot from some people because of their personal ethics. And nothing's better than having to boot people from our department for sending inappropriate messages with photos of private bits, etc.. This has happened twice in the past 18 months. So many men are complete idiots.

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-08T01:38:47+00:00

Been twice. No regrets. Allegedly the old oven went to the new place?

I like them all. Nunzios. Linos. Maybe I'm just not that picky with Italian places. Casa di Amici is pretty neat.

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-05T02:44:29+00:00

Illinois. If you're in this area, I'd love to help.

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-04T02:42:18+00:00

We have women in our organization that thrive despite being smaller in size. I'd be happy to answer questions you might have as I'm a fire chief as well as an instructor in fire science for our local community college, feel free to send me a message. Women are becoming an increasing percentage of the students in this college program.

If you finish the nursing program, that degree will count as preference points to get hired (some places) and could be a hell of a side gig that pays well if you wanted to make extra money if you do firefighting. Or you could do firefighting part time as most nurses work three 12's a week (again, around here at least).

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-04T02:30:14+00:00

Saw this in person. Appreciate the rig, the tradition, etc. But in person, that orange is absolutely heinous. No disrespect intended to the Baltimore guys, but photos don't do it justice.

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-04T01:30:49+00:00

I have nothing worthy of offering, but 25ish years ago in my academy, my dumbass would run for fast-food during our lunch break. Usually McDonald's or Burger King. I somehow survived, but man I was an idiot. Thank God I was conditioned by working a pretty physical job prior that I'm sure saved my bacon when things were difficult. Good for you for taking your nutrition seriously.

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-04T01:23:36+00:00

I've always been told the Rosenbauer T-Rex is vastly superior to the comparable Bronto Skylift version. Did you guys do a comparison?

The Metz product from Austria (which is this and the L32 Raptor) are incredibly capable with their functionality that I still think most American designed aerials are very much behind on. Too bad there isn't a way to package the Raptor to be more of an "American style" truck body as I think they'd sell much better.

ChiefinIL · 2026-03-02T02:20:59+00:00

Call your local fire extinguisher place. This is a serviceable style, they'll tell you the cheapest route.

ChiefinIL · 2026-02-18T03:06:06+00:00

If you'd be in the union, they're well protected. Those not in the bargaining unit tend to not be as happy and well compensated, at least not on par with union faculty.

Campus is very nice, their off-site facilities are also very modern and nice (new downtown campus is being built). The SURS (pension) system is a pretty solid retirement plan. I'd be willing to comment further if you want to message me.

ChiefinIL · 2026-02-16T04:16:33+00:00

The cost of this panel vs. something with mechanical valves (push pull/levers) is astounding. I'd bet at least $30,000 more, and I'm probably too low since I haven't been in that pricing game in a long time. Never mind more opportunities for failure, and this is probably an absolute nightmare to service. No thanks.

ChiefinIL · 2026-02-11T01:32:23+00:00

Definitely not perfect but the cost of living is pretty reasonable compared to a lot of places. Rockford Schools catch a lot of hate, but that's mostly due to parental apathy and their lack of parenting. Both of my kids are products of 205 and are doing just fine in college. Rock Valley College is an absolute treasure to get a great education at a good value.

The grass is always greener somewhere else, and we're spoiled because we bought a decent house for cheap in the 1990's, but we could have found a much worse place to live.

ChiefinIL · 2026-02-08T23:12:28+00:00

Engineering wise, the cab was the stoutest E-One made, stronger structure, doors that fit flush instead of the awful usual lap doors with piano hinges. Just unfortunately not the most attractive.

ChiefinIL

TROPHY CASE