General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Boston firefighters dig through ashes to find fallen comrade's wedding ring [View all]IronGate
(2,186 posts)Let me give you a description of a typical Firefighter/Paramedic's shift.
Upon arrival at the station, first thing is roll call and Engine/Ambulance assignments, next would be inventory of all apparatus, then washing of all apparatus, cleaning of all apparatus bays.
After that is all done, providing that no calls for fires or medical have gone out, then it's training, either classroom or practicals, after that, if lucky, lunch, which, along with dinner is missed many times due to emergencies.
After training, then Engine companies will load up and go to various businesses to do safety inspections or check the water hydrants, IE: condition, pressure....., again, only if no emergencies.
After that, then maybe dinner will be served.
Personal time will usually start at 7:00-8:00 pm, again, if lucky.
Bed time is usually around 10:00 but the chances of getting a full nights sleep is usually rare due to, again, emergency calls.
And then, if after a fire, all apparatus have to be cleaned, restocked, no matter the time.
And then there are the reports that have to be written, clearly and concisely because these are legal documents.
On more thing, if someone calls off and no one volunteers for their shift, there's this thing called force hire in which someone is told they have to cover the shift, it's in most union contracts, so a Firefighter/Paramedic may work up to 48 hours on duty, on the rare occasion, 72 hours.
So, don't pretend that a Firefighter gets paid to sleep.
Also, alot of Fire Dept. are Urban/Wildland interfaced, and have to go through the BLM Wildland Training program to get their Red Card.