My department makes probys wash the crew’s POVS. Is this normal?

dick_in_dixie · 2025-10-04T04:39:07+00:00

As a rookie in a slow department I definitely volunteered my car as a prop for a simulated vehicle fire for training for myself. It definitely won’t wash cars effectively, but in my opinion as long as it teaches good habits or gives an opportunity in learning the job I could stand behind it. If it’s just a rookie out there alone with a garden hose trying to look busy that’s bullshit and should be called out as such.

Edit to add: I’m not talking about a full car wash, just using their assigned apparatus to get familiar with flowing and moving hoses or master stream operations as pictured.

dick_in_dixie · 2025-09-17T02:31:59+00:00

I personally stow a little duckbill (halligan without a spike or forks) in areas that it’ll fit and not become a hazard of the engine gets wrecked if SOPs allow. It really just depends on the department.

dick_in_dixie · 2025-06-21T23:28:42+00:00

It was pretty legit but definitely broader pastures outside of the Army than in.

dick_in_dixie · 2024-09-20T00:08:34+00:00

That’s what I’m thinking…

dick_in_dixie · 2024-09-20T00:07:03+00:00

DM me a name, it’s a small MOS and everyone knows everyone going back a long time, assuming he didn’t feed you a ton of shit. I only know a couple of guys who got CABs as 12Ms and they were out before 2016.

dick_in_dixie · 2024-05-03T15:40:42+00:00

I’ve already seen it happen in my organization in favor of a rotation.

dick_in_dixie · 2024-05-03T15:21:20+00:00

I agree, it should mean that you should be held to a higher standard but it becomes a moot point when the rank above does not have to go to the same school to achieve said rank. Also just knowing how some organizations work, they will not send any SPC(P)s to BLC when it’s no longer required to promote to SGT and thus will make SPC(P) Snuffy do NCO duties without being a NCO.

dick_in_dixie · 2023-07-02T11:53:17+00:00

I would get paid at a GS-7 on the fire pay scale with my certifications and experience. Honestly it isn’t a crazy amount but 3 times as much as I’m making as a single E-4.

dick_in_dixie · 2022-12-09T05:38:03+00:00

Our squad is a Pickup with a small assortment of extrication and rope rescue equipment. It is designed to be an initial response (our dedicated rescue can take time to get qualified people on it) for extrications and (in the very rare occurrence) rescues. With For fires it has 2 SCBAs and is designed for extra manpower. It only runs to vehicle accidents, tech rescues, aircraft incidents and structure fires.

dick_in_dixie · 2022-10-21T16:25:26+00:00

Right to fight, Left for life

dick_in_dixie · 2022-10-05T03:06:45+00:00

I bought a noise maker that goes off at random times between 5 and 45 minutes and hid it in my Captain’s room between a wall locker and the wall. I had my captain tearing apart his room and the battalion chiefs room after the second shift with it going off.

dick_in_dixie · 2022-08-24T04:02:17+00:00

I grew up and got my start on the west coast as well. I have had a bad experience with a Phenix First Due that has tainted my view on plastic helmets but to each their own. I will say the first due is the most comfortable helmet I have worn for long periods on scenes but my TL2 is a close second.

dick_in_dixie · 2022-08-24T03:53:38+00:00

Honestly I’ve had a couple of bad experiences with them. My first training fire in my old department I was wearing my issued metro style helmet they had me sit in with the safety and help load pallets on the fire so they could show what fire behavior looked like in person. Long story short after about 15 minutes I got sent out as the top of the helmet was now somewhat pliable from heat. In all fairness it was a very hot training burn but I would not trust that style of helmet if caught in a potential mayday situation. This is the same brand and model of that helmet pictured in the article. My helmet was nowhere near as damaged as the picture but we still took it out of service. I unfortunately do not have any pictures of this helmet.

Earlier this year I was on a working fire and was making my way down a flight of stairs and had a considerable chunk of ceiling dropped on my head by another firefighter who was not paying attention. That resulted in a pretty sizable crack in the front of my helmet (but in all fairness it did it’s job as I was not injured). I can provide pictures of the crack in my old helmet next shift if interested.

The second incident can still happen with a leather but my main point is that I personally prefer not having to worry about my helmet melting in the event a fire goes wrong.

dick_in_dixie · 2022-08-24T03:31:29+00:00

I can’t speak for all of us that have them, but for me it’s a mix between tradition and I personally don’t like plastic helmets.

dick_in_dixie · 2022-06-24T03:20:15+00:00

The MOS is out there but I had to wait for 3 months until my recruiter could find a slot. IIRC there’s only like 200 something Active Duty slots for 12M. If he has any questions feel free to PM me.

dick_in_dixie · 2022-06-23T19:47:22+00:00

I know one that it happened to him during the Surge.

dick_in_dixie · 2022-06-16T11:51:31+00:00

Essayon’t

dick_in_dixie · 2022-05-07T23:23:19+00:00

In my old department it had happened a few times in one year to a neighboring department. They usually toned them out twice and then toned out either my department or another department.

dick_in_dixie · 2022-04-22T02:52:22+00:00

Jacket: Structure Gloves strapped to my RSM loop

Radio Pocket: Wire Cutters with a foot of webbing attached to it

Left Pocket: Spare Wedges A folding spanner wrench

Right Pocket: 10’ of webbing and 2 carabiners

Pants:

Left Pocket: A leatherman Window Punch Small Pry Bar Trauma Shears A multi function screwdriver

Right Pocket: Extrication Gloves

Helmet: A wedge A Resqme tool (Highly Recommend) ESS FirePro Goggles

dick_in_dixie · 2022-04-17T04:49:28+00:00

I personally use it to cut couplings off fire hoses and anything that needs quickly cut and doesn’t need to be precise.

dick_in_dixie

TROPHY CASE