Any bass playing firefighters here?

[BB75]

Hey all,
I did a quick search and didn't see anything on the subject. Just curious as to any other TB brethren are also firefighters? Either career or volunteer.

[Vorago]

I really want to do the tests to become a professional firefighter, unfortunately, my knee doesn't allow me.

[Ripper]

I'm a volunteer with Harris Corners VFD, Strykersville NY. Not so active right now as I am currently living/working/in college in Michigan, but when I am home I try to make calls when they happen.

spend most of my time on road crew, but I am certified for interior and first responder.

[Big Daddy Mac]

I've been in Fire Service for 25+ years. I'm a Platoon Chief for an Industrial Fire Brigade. No multi-car accidents (yet), no broken children (ever) and no "street medicine" calls. I used to be on a volunteer department for many years when I lived in a small community. That's where you saw everything and anything. I guess I'm pretty lucky to do a job that I love to do. You fellow fire guys will know exactly what I'm talking about.

We get a ton of training, have a dedicated training facility, work crazy hours, get amazing equipment (I'm on our purchasing committee), get to feel the love from the other employees and the scorn from senior management daily. What a job !

Oh yeah....I'm eligible to retire in March 2011 at age 53 !

[BB75]

That's awesome guys ! I'm relatively new to the fire service, I joined last year when I was laid off from my engineering job and I can't figure out why I didn't do this sooner in life (I'm 35). I live next door to the fire station and most of my friends have been volunteers there for years. I feel like I've finally found my "calling" in life, found something that I love to do (besides music). I'm in the process of trying to get Firefighter I, First Responder, and maybe EMT by the end of the year. Now that I'm back at my engineering job, I realize how much I don't like engineering so I'm thinking of a career change into something in the fire service. My wife and kids are on board too which makes it nice.

[GreggBummer]

Volunteer firefighter here.

I started volunteering at my local fire company: Collingswood Fire Company No.1, Station 16 in Camden County, New Jersey. We are a combination house. We are relatively busy for being a suburb of Philadelphia. We have a Squad, Ladder, Engine, Utility (old Rescue), and an Ambo. EMS, Fire, and Rescue are all handled by our station.

I need something non-music related to do after leaving the military after 13 years. I had a hole in my life that the Fire Service seems to fill quite nicely.

I start the Fire Academy in September. I am pretty stoked. I got off my ass and started running again. Feels good to be motivated.

There are a few musicians in the company. I've jammed with a few guys.

[GreggBummer]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy Mac

I guess I'm pretty lucky to do a job that I love to do.

You are lucky. Very, very lucky. Please make sure you pass on the passion, knowledge and experience to the younger firefighters. Your experience can save lives after you retire.

[funkydjembe]

Yeah, count me in here! Been a firefighter for about 10 years. Here in my community, Aukra (big gas refinery her btw) we don't sleep at the station. When the alarm goes in the middle of the night you just jump up (forgetting socks and shirt) and speed to the station throw on your gear (30 seconds) strap up in the truck and try to make sense of what's coming car crash, fire, heart stop.
We are all brothers sharing the same experiences. All you guys are great!

[JacoLesFlea]

Tommy Gavin here

[John D@508]

Just about to start my 13th year as a career firefighter/paramedic. Love the job...though not to sure I would consider my self a bass player yet. I just started playing a month or 2 ago.

[Smokin' Toaster]

I was a volunteer firefighter with Fish River-Marlow Fire Rescue, whihc is located about 20 miles from the gulf of Mexico in Baldwin County Alabama. Completed the 160 hour Firefighter one course, Extrication (Jaws of life), and several apparatus (Fire Truck) operator courses. I served from 1998 till 2005. Then I got old. And moved. I kinda miss it. It's hard to find an adrenalin rush like the one you feel inside a burning building or any number of other things a firefighter does. It also feels pretty good to help your neighbor.

[DONZI97]

Full time firefighter/paramedic for the City of Royal Oak, MI. We are about 2 miles north of Detroit, 5500+ runs a year. I've been there for 7 years.

[Jon Burnet]

Vol fireman. Tulip Princeton Arkansas

[BassShifter21]

I'm a volunteer firefighter in Akron, New York, just outside Buffalo. In July I will complete 31 years of service. I've been Fire Chief twice and am currently the President. Held all of the four Assistant Chief positions a couple times, and was E.M.S. Captain twice. Guess you could say I have been recycled! I really love the fire sevice, and have a strong sense of service to my community. I wanted to be a paid firefighter in Buffalo, and took the test once. Scored a 97 on it without any bonus points. I wanted that job so bad I could taste it, and would have been on the departmen for sure, but the wife woudn't move into the city for a year in order for me to qualify for the residency requirement, so I didn't even go for my agility test. We aren't together anymore (shocking, I know) but I'm just thankful I can still do it as a volunteer. We do a lot of E.M.S., and have a mix of residential and industrial hazards in our community, as well as rural farms. We average 500 calls annually, and I have been to many big fires over the years. Not nearly as many now as when I first joined, which is good. Here's to the Firefighter's Brotherhood (including our sister firefighters). Happy New Year and be safe. What we do is extraordinarily dangerous.

[GreggBummer]

Originally Posted by BassShifter21

I'm a volunteer firefighter in Akron, New York, just outside Buffalo. In July I will complete 31 years of service. I've been Fire Chief twice and am currently the President. Held all of the four Assistant Chief positions a couple times, and was E.M.S. Captain twice. Guess you could say I have been recycled! I really love the fire sevice, and have a strong sense of service to my community. I wanted to be a paid firefighter in Buffalo, and took the test once. Scored a 97 on it without any bonus points. I wanted that job so bad I could taste it, and would have been on the departmen for sure, but the wife woudn't move into the city for a year in order for me to qualify for the residency requirement, so I didn't even go for my agility test. We aren't together anymore (shocking, I know) but I'm just thankful I can still do it as a volunteer. We do a lot of E.M.S., and have a mix of residential and industrial hazards in our community, as well as rural farms. We average 500 calls annually, and I have been to many big fires over the years. Not nearly as many now as when I first joined, which is good. Here's to the Firefighter's Brotherhood (including our sister firefighters). Happy New Year and be safe. What we do is extraordinarily dangerous.

Thanks for your service. It sounds like your local has a lot challenges. I volunteer in a suburb of Philadelphia. It doesn't that the diversity of building construction that you do.

Stay safe and Happy New Year!

G

[Engine207]

I guess this is about as close as there is to a "Firefighter Bassist" club, so I'm heading over to "Bassists" to make us one!

[Bard2dbone]

I used to be a firefighter. But one good scald was enough for me.

I'm still a paramedic, though. Now I work in a childrens hospital. I haven't worked on the street since about '03.

[runmikeyrun]

Got my basic and FF in 1995 at the age of 18 right out of high school. Got my medic in 2000. Spent 8 years part time on an FD. Spent the rest of the time as a medic doing different things- ER, privates, tissue and organ donation.

I'm currently 35 and my prospects of being full time were pretty much doomed from the start (i'm bipolar) but now i'm too old to get hired full time. So I started nursing school and will be going back part time to my old department in the summer. Part time is good enough for me- as long as I have my hands in it I'm ok. It's like motorcycles and playing bass- once it gets in your blood you are kinda addicted to it.

The job has definitely changed me in a lot of ways (organ and tissue donation was very trying- I did surgery on dead people) and I'm pretty much stuck dating other medical people because they're the only ones who understand the stress, the schedule, and how you can eat dinner after someone's been run over by a bulldozer (true story) but I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to help literally thousands of people.

[DethByDoom]

IAFF bassist club.