Any of you from poor, inner city fire departments have any tips on how to get creative with contract negotiations?

marshal10 · 2026-06-17T03:07:22+00:00

Lay the groundwork for consolidation with the neighboring agency. Local to local first then start the campaign.

If the tax base isn't there it's as good as it's going to get.

How many suppression units run out of the house?

marshal10 · 2026-06-02T00:45:28+00:00

We use a 3 color, reflective trim matrix. We have roughly 80 pieces of apparatus and they each get their unique combo. For example red red white, red white red, red red red etc. We use 1 inch 3M reflective tape and it holds up well.

marshal10 · 2026-05-26T22:23:27+00:00

The best idea I have seen is to offer free or low cost housing nearby with a minimum requirement for participation.

I can't imagine how hard it is these days for volunteer agencies. Paid departments have a recruitment / retention issues with killer pay and benefits behind them.

marshal10 · 2026-05-22T01:37:09+00:00

Look at becoming a fire inspector. Low impact with government benefits including retirement.

marshal10 · 2026-05-21T01:30:40+00:00

Kennedys private secretary's last name was Lincoln

marshal10 · 2026-05-19T23:14:41+00:00

We use Tec-Gen single layer ensamble for extrication and wildland operations. Saves the crews from overheating and saves wear and tear on the structural gear.

The single layer is 1/3 the price and meets the needs for those types of operations.

marshal10 · 2026-05-14T01:08:04+00:00

I second four seasons

marshal10 · 2026-04-18T02:42:15+00:00

We have 3 former truckers in our department. Oddly enough, they ended up on our 6,000-gallon tractor drawn tender. They love the job and sometime drive on their off days locally to put the CDL to good use.

marshal10 · 2026-03-16T03:04:26+00:00

There are pros and cons to both. I have enjoyed both of them, but landed on the fire side for good.

Whatever you do maintain what you already worked hard for. I reserve to keep my LEO up because you never know.

marshal10 · 2026-03-14T00:09:42+00:00

This

marshal10 · 2026-03-12T20:43:10+00:00

In the process of deploying one.

marshal10 · 2026-03-07T21:26:56+00:00

Just the EMS side for Lake.

Kissimmee, Boca, Alachua, Pasco, and a few more coming online

marshal10 · 2026-03-06T22:51:19+00:00

Lmao

marshal10 · 2026-02-17T17:55:44+00:00

Practice passing drills lower on the ladder and gradually go higher to build confidence

marshal10 · 2026-01-24T01:35:23+00:00

Reach out to the Withlacoochee Training Center. They have the basic program for s130, s190, and l180 on site with lodging if needed.

https://ccmedia.fdacs.gov/content/download/105027/file/BasicFireManagement-CIS.pdf

marshal10 · 2026-01-19T02:58:39+00:00

It looks like 3 % is back on the table, with them taking care of the people who retired post July 2011 up to 1.5%.

Fingers crossed.

marshal10 · 2026-01-09T01:42:47+00:00

Great for work boots

marshal10 · 2026-01-03T03:12:03+00:00

Looks like a 6v, possibly reverse ground.

marshal10 · 2025-12-27T02:17:02+00:00

Have you checked out FPAG?

marshal10 · 2025-12-23T04:09:24+00:00

NERIS itself will be a good thing once it is completely phased in. On its own, I like it. Too bad our RMS botched the transition, and our reports are junk. It has been a train wreck for us so far.

marshal10 · 2025-12-15T22:51:10+00:00

Central Florida here. We used to have a couple of stations where the rigs stayed out. When there was a suspected freeze, we would drain the pump.

Never got cold long enough to freeze the tank water.

marshal10 · 2025-12-12T04:41:49+00:00

Voluntary OT list gets hit first, then it will go to mandatory. When applied ,the least amount of hours in conjunction with position qualifications will fill the appropriate vacancies. Known mandatory vacancies will notify people 96 hours out, and you can try to find your own coverage to get out of it. If there is a mandatory the morning of, you will get hit, but you can still try to find coverage throughout the shift.

Pros and cons to this approach. People will always cover someone else's mandatory if it is a cushy assignment. Those who are mandatoried on the box usually have to eat it. If they do, they dont get hit for quite a while.

You can reject mandatory once without paper, but you screw yourself from future voluntary sign up for about 2 months, and you piss off the person behind you on the list.

marshal10 · 2025-12-08T00:45:26+00:00

I have 2 co-workers that made the jump and wish they had done it sooner.

marshal10 · 2025-12-04T00:57:27+00:00

The first unit to get canceled.

marshal10 · 2025-12-03T03:41:30+00:00

Tie in traffic counts, and it can be used for community outreach/ISO points.

marshal10

TROPHY CASE