(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Fire Dept

showcrop

showcrop

Well-known Member
Most guys here like to call there local fire departments, the "cellar savers". I was a firefighter for 35 years, and had some of my best adrenaline highs while inside rapidly burning buildings. A few years after a new chief took over he dismissed me, but five years later he was fired. The new leadership asked me to come back on as a driver operator, so here I am running up to the station again. During our cold spell at the end of last year I was spending more time driving the tanker than my own car, LOL.. Saturday evening we had the annual recognition banquet where members are honored for service in a number of different categories as voted on by the membership. After some six members got their plaques for awards, the chief had five "Chiefs awards" to hand out, they were basically for members that show up and do what needs to be done. I was pretty much floored when I was awarded the first one! I never expected that!
10596.jpg
That's my lovely better half with me.
 
Congratulations. I was a volunteer for 26 years and I don't think people realize the "training" requirements these days! Your personal time really takes a hit.
 
I was a volunteer for over 20 years and the last 8 or 9 was the principal tanker driver cause most of the guys couldn't drive a 2 speed rear end truck. I totally agree that it is a big adrenalin rush till you go on a run and find it's 2 of your brothers wrecked a 4 wheeler while running fence lines. 1 with a compound fracture of the left femur and the handlebars hit the brother that was driving in the throat causing it to swell pretty rapidly. Both survived and that was the only family members in all those years. But in this small community every body is either related or knows everybody else so it hurts like H--- when we loose one in a wreck or fire. The only reason I'm not still on the department is we moved out of the village and I'm just too far away now to make a run. (getting too old too) Glad you got recognized by the chief. Keith
 
People have unrealistic expectations of firefighters, especially volunteer firefighters.

If your house catches fire, the fire has to be put out VERY early in the process for there to be anything salvageable left. People seem to think that the fire department can come and squirt some water at the house, then they can just go back in and go to bed in an hour or two. When the place burns to the ground because it was a dried-out ballon-framed tinderbox, or is uninhabitable and has to be demolished, then it's the fire department's fault... Hence the derogatory term, "cellar savers."

I'm sorry but to ask a volunteer to do anything but contain the fire, limit damage to surrounding buildings, and make sure the occupants of the house are safe, is asking too much. Even professionals should not be asked to risk life and limb if life and limb are not at risk (i.e. the building is empty, let it burn to the ground if need be).

Volunteer fire departments have enough trouble finding able-bodied volunteers (most seem to end up being old guys who have no business flagging traffic, let alone rushing into a burning building).
 
One of my favorite Norman Rockwell prints is the one of the volunteer firefighters (firemen then) rushing to a call including the one jumping out of the barber chair half
shaved. I admire volunteer and full time firefighters.
 
About 20 years a friend of mine was on at a volunteer fire dept,they got a call, a car had run off the road and was burning.Turned out it was his mother in her car she burned up and died
on the scene.
 
Congratulations! and thank you for your service. I have had the unfortunate need for emergency services on the farm several times and certainly am grateful for the dedication of volunteers like yourself who respond with skill and determination as if it were their own family or property they were protecting. THIS is what makes America great! Thanks again! ADB
 
Congratulation showcrop---very few of the younger members will ever attain that many years of service! Like you I just mainly drive and run our pumpers, tanker and brush truck. Also do a lot of training with the young guys who want to learn the equipment
Its been a good time as I am in my 54th year in the department
 
The Beaver Crossing, Nebraska (pop. 451) Volunteer Fire Department held a pancake breakfast yesterday morning as an annual fundraiser and my wife and I attended.

I'm always amazed at the resiliency of these small towns in the Midwest. About five years ago, half the town of Beaver Crossing was outright destroyed by a tornado and most of the remaining buildings were damaged. To drive through town today, you'd never know it. There's one abandoned house still standing, and it most likely would have been abandoned without the tornado.

I could name any number of small towns that have been through the same ordeal. Just like the bird "Phoenix" in mythology that self immolated every 500 ears and arose from the ashes a bird more beautiful then the previous, these towns survive and seem to become actually the better for the experience.
 
I have heard and seen this with several volunteer departments.
Everything is going along pretty hunky dory and then some new cheif
shows up. One company lost almost half of their volunteers. Finnaly
dumped the cheif but the damage had been done. They recovered some but
almost 10 years latter it still is a shabow of what it was. That new
chief was buddy buddy with a lousy mayor who Barely made it 5hrough
his term and then strong armed a new county building through against a
resounding NO vote on the ballot. Hate government anymore. Good
volunteers are getting harder to find so keep up the good work.
 
Very nice recognition, and a very nice picture!

I remember midnight fire calls, rushing to the station and heading out to a rural fire ten road miles away that you could see reflecting on the clouds in the distant sky. There's not much chance of saving the original structure in a situation like that. Containment is about the only option. Folks that disparage the volunteer firemen usually haven't ever been one.
 
47 years and still going strong . the young guys have no interest in it because of all the training and most are so out of shape and have no skills on running EQ.
 
(quoted from post at 07:15:21 02/12/18) I'm sorry but to ask a volunteer to do anything but contain the fire, limit damage to surrounding buildings, and make sure the occupants of the house are safe, is asking too much. Even professionals should not be asked to risk life and limb if life and limb are not at risk (i.e. the building is empty, let it burn to the ground if need be).
Click to expand...

Seems a little harsh, doesn't it? Granted, many folks these days expect miracles. But when I was in, we responded to the scene and would get the fire out as soon as possible. We had regular classes on how to best do that -- without all the fluff involved with today's classes. I understand the need for safety, but there's a limit between what to teach and what "should" be common sense! When we went to a call, we did everything humanly possible to get the fire out as quickly as possible.



Showcrop -- Congratulations sir! ...And good thing you mentioned your wife there next to you. Was about to ask where you picked up such a purdy date! :wink:
 
A little off topic, but reminds me of my dad who died of a heart attack. The ambulance driver who took him to the hospital was his brother.
 
Congratulations on your years of service and award. I was a volunteer 30 years and resigned due to health and age issues as I felt I would not be able to preform as needed and would be a risk to my fellow firefighters safety. I have to chuckle at the cellar savers remark as in a training session (house burn) we did not save the foundation, we found that it was built on what they called a mud plate which was 6x8" home sawed oak timbers, that were termite eaten, so the foundation burned also.
 
Thank you for taking time out to serve your community. As was mentioned the training required today takes a lot of time and effort.
 
Asked my local chief who runs a pretty good rural department what it would cost to equip and train a new man. Said would cost more than that new pumper truck he's lusting over.

Today's fire fighting is a far cry from a department I did some radio work for years ago. Wanted a radio in their main truck... was 6 volt ignition system, so they installed a 12 volt battery behind seat, used it and an external charger to provide power for radio. Their tanker/secondary grass rig was an old used truck fitted with a homemade tank made at the local farm implement dealer. Had a hand pull-start motor on an externally mounted pump to move water. Actually wasn't a bad rig, because was a high pressure sprayer pump and they could throw water quite a distance or lay down a pretty dense fog. Then there was the main grass rig - a surplus military jeep, that had to be pull-started. Was stored in garage with towstrap already attached. (Fortunately it would start in about 10' of pulling.) All that said, they were a pretty effective department.

My hats off to all the rural volunteer departments who do a pretty amazing job with some pretty minimal equipment.
 
Congrats for getting the recognition you deserve. Also serving on our local fire department/ambulance service, people have no idea how much time and training each person has to put into being a firefighter.
 
Congrats! Most people have no idea how fast a fire grows. Firefighters, especially rural volunteers, are worth their weight in gold.
 
Congratulations on your award, Showcrop. God bless!

I deeply appreciate all who serve as volunteer firefighters and/or ambulance/EMT crews.

We rural folks would kind of be up a creek without a paddle without the volunteers willing to serve others.
 
Congratulations, that in between chief reminds me of some of the bosses I had during a 45 year career where I worked. Usually the Karma gets them in the end................
 
(quoted from post at 07:15:21 02/12/18) People have unrealistic expectations of firefighters, especially volunteer firefighters.

If your house catches fire, the fire has to be put out VERY early in the process for there to be anything salvageable left. People seem to think that the fire department can come and squirt some water at the house, then they can just go back in and go to bed in an hour or two. When the place burns to the ground because it was a dried-out ballon-framed tinderbox, or is uninhabitable and has to be demolished, then it's the fire department's fault... Hence the derogatory term, "cellar savers."

I'm sorry but to ask a volunteer to do anything but contain the fire, limit damage to surrounding buildings, and make sure the occupants of the house are safe, is asking too much. Even professionals should not be asked to risk life and limb if life and limb are not at risk (i.e. the building is empty, let it burn to the ground if need be).

Volunteer fire departments have enough trouble finding able-bodied volunteers (most seem to end up being old guys who have no business flagging traffic, let alone rushing into a burning building).
Click to expand...

Barnyard, to ask most firefighters to NOT go into the burning structure would be asking too much. With all the hours of training that they have to put in, to deny them the reward of facing the danger, working their way through the heat to where they can see a little red glow through the smoke, and putting the water on the fire, would be a huge disappointment. Even where there are no lives in danger, every time that a young firefighter goes into the burning structure, and conquers his fears and keeps going, it builds him up for the time when he has to be the one to go into a burning structure on a search and rescue mission. Fire burns just as hot in a building in the country as it does in the city.
 

Congrats on your award and thank you for your continued service.
I've been chief of our local fire dept for going on 15 years, I truly appreciate the dedication and dependability of my older fire fighters.
Young fire fighters are hard to come by nowadays, I depend on my older guys to pump the engines, drive the tankers and direct traffic so the few young guns I have can fight the fire.
Couple of young guys where ragging the older guys one day, I asked them if they wanted to fight fire or stand at the pump panel, then asked who they wanted on the pump panel when they went inside to fight the fire.
No more ragging and some have become real good friends with the older guys.

New home construction and modern furniture burns so fast by the time I drive to the fire house, roll the engine and get on scene the house is fully involved.

They did a test on old construction and furnishings verses modern where they turned a candle over on the sofa and timed how long it took for the room to become fully involved.
Old took 16 minutes
Modern took 3 1/2 minutes
Take me 4 minutes to drive to the fire house and get my gear on.
 
Well deserved I'll bet and congrats, not for everyone and it's great you are able to contribute to your community. Much of our town was always involved with our volunteer fire departments and always took pride in what they did, whenever the call came in.

I have an old record from an incident on our farm, when the large Victorian farm house was only being used to supply water to the barn. They averted what could have been a massive fire that could have taken multiple homes with a west wind. Heat lamp or tape caused it and they got it out quickly. You can't thank these people enough. 1 1/2 years ago, another fire occurred in the house next to our old one, again, had that wind been blowing, I just can't see them keeping up with it. It was calm and they got it out. I've seen it jump to other buildings, nothing to fool with as you know all so well.
 
Congratulations!

I've done a little volunteer repair and maintenance on some fire dept equipment.

Always came away with a good feeling, they were always very appreciative, great bunch to work with!
 
The first fire I remember was some neighbors had moved a few miles farther down the road, and Mom took me out to their house after their fire. I remember the white Dodge fire truck and the smoke was still coming off of the foundation(I was about 6 or 7). Years later I worked at the gas station across the street from the fire house. I heard people calling the Fire Dept foundation savers,by then I was old enough to know that the fire I saw, was 30 min from the fire house and nobody was going to save that house that day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top