Poll: How many professional Firefighters are here?

[Weldon47]

Hi folks,

I am wondering how many active, professional firefighters we have out there in the engraving community? The shift schedule of most departments (24 on, 48 off) is such that most firefighters have a second vocation and as you know, engraving is my chosen field.

As for me, I have been a certified (or certifiable, take your pick) firefighter since 1982, worked for two departments and currently hold the rank of Lieutenant in the San Antonio Fire Department where I have been since 1985. On the way up through the ranks I spent time in our EMS division as a field paramedic and also in the communications division handling 911 calls and dispatching fire & EMS units. Currently I am the company officer of an ALS engine & crew (where we put the wet stuff on the red stuff & all that jazz!).

How many others are out there?

Thanks,

WL

 

[Weldon47]

Also, if you know of someone who may not be a cafe participant but who is involved in both vocations let me know. I know of a few guys & I just thought it would be interesting to see how many there actually are!

Thanks,

Weldon

 

[Dulltool]

Hey Weldon,
I spent 11 years as a firefighter on a attack engine and 8 years as both a firefighter and Special Deputy Arson Investigator for the County of San Juan and for the State of Washington as a Arson Task Force Investigator (I retired from this four years ago). Before that I was a cop in the Los Angeles area starting back in 1977.

Just for the record... The guys in the red helmets were a pain in the neck....

 

[Weldon47]

Hmmm... I think you mean the guys in the white helmets!

WL

 

[Dulltool]

No.... it was the guys in the RED hats. In my neck of the woods it's Yellow (Firefighter), Red (Lt., Capt.), White (Chief, Battalion Chief). The guys in the White hat/helmets understood my roll and let me do my thing..... The guys in the red hats always wanted to keep controlling me even after the fire was out....which they couldn't as the fire scene belonged to me. It was my job to determine the cause of the fire and if we had a crime scene or not.

With that said... some of my best friend wore red helmets.

 

[Weldon47]

Dennis,
Our helmet color designation is similar excepting that the probies wear yellow. After the probatioary period is done, they get a black helmet, everything else is the same.
Sounds like a messed up issue of responsibility and authority (identity crisis) & I know situations like that can be frustrating to say the least!
Hope your engraving world (and the rest of your retirement) isn't like that too.

WL

 

[SharpGraver]

Between 1981 and 1991 I worked for the Red Adair Company as a blow out specialist. my peticular expertise was sour gas or Hydroren Sulfide fires.

 

[Weldon47]

Wow, David just like JW in the "Hellfighters" eh? Cool!!
I know there's a guy out there named Mike Pardue (who sometimes participates here) who is a firefighter/emt in west Texas (Midland I think). I also remember reading about one of the DelGreco's (hope I spelled that correctly) who used to do all the Parker restoration work who was (or is) a firefighter in the eastern USA. I know there are probably a few more.

WL

 

[Cloudy]

I was a volunteer in our local fire co. from 2001 to 2007- does that count????

 

[Weldon47]

Of course it does. I am interested in who among us is (or was) involved in firefighting as a vocation along with their pursuit of engraving. (something "wrong" with our brains or whatever....)

Thanks,

Weldon

 

[monk]

i fought 2 fires in my life. 1, a few hundred miles out to sea ( us navy). the 2nd a few hundred feet underground ( coal mine ) fire. both scared the crap outta me and led me away from ever doing that as a pro ! yes , one might say chicken.

 

[Weldon47]

Monk, you are the man! (& a real smart one at that!)

Weldon

 

[Roger Bleile]

i fought 2 fires in my life. 1, a few hundred miles out to sea ( us navy). the 2nd a few hundred feet underground ( coal mine ) fire. both scared the crap outta me and led me away from ever doing that as a pro ! yes , one might say chicken.

I've never been a firefighter but I can't think of two worse places to fight a fire. No escape either way. It must have been do or die!

RB

 

[Otto Carter]

I'm a 13 year veteran Volunteer Fire Fighter with the Eula Volunteer Fire Dept., Eula, Texas. Also an EMT with the Dept. We've had some doozies lately. Dry and windy makes for bad fires. While I'm engraving I have my scanner and pager going, waiting for the next disaster. A good adrenaline rush now and then is good for the soul.

 

[Dulltool]

Weldon,
I am thinking smoke damage........

 

[PaulM]

I've got 25 years as a volunteer with the Taylors Island VFC. President, Chief, EMT, firefighter, hazmat, rescue....done just about it all over the years. Getting too old now to get to the firehouse before the trucks leave so I'll stick with treasurer and chief cook for a while. If I'd have started engraving when I started firefighting I may have gotten the hang of it by now.

 

[Ed Davet]

Hey Weldon,
I love your work! Thank you for sharing it.
I am a retired after 26+ years with Cleveland Oh Fire. 1967-93
I try "piddling" with the gravers - I was probably a better at firefighting.
Don't even think of hammer and chisel!
Ed

 

[John B.]

Hi Weldon, thanks for your service to mankind.
Never been a fire fighter but put out a few incendry bombs with sand from a loooong handled shovel in
WW2 England.
Then, it was all hands on deck 'cause the London NFS had their hands kinda full with the London docks on fire from end to end and a lack of water except what their pumpers could pull up from the Thames River.

Had several engraving students that were firefighters though.
My alltime favorite had to be Malcolm "Bear" Grant from Grande Prairie, Texas.
Bear left a us at a way too early age sad to say. Great guy, real funny and fine engraver.
Sure miss that great big giant of a guy, God bless "The Bear."

Rambling on as usual, sorry, best. John B.

 

[monk]

YES,ROGER. BOTH TIMES. on the ship just a few compartments away from a few hundred rounds of anti air ammo. no need to say what might have occured there. the coal mine, we lost power to the section , iwas not a catholic at the time, but sure as hell could have used a priest about then !

 

[cavemans workshop]

Weldon
Hello, hope all is good with you and yours, and they havent been wearing you out at the fire house.
Good poll, I have wondered the same thing. I have not run into any others in the fire service who engrave or make hardware.
I have been a firefighter/Paramedic with the Midland fire dept since 1989. I currently am a driver at station 5, where we have an engine and the heavy resque unit. I rotate between the two, spending 30 days on one, then 30 days on the other. I have been a paramedic for 20 years, but am not spending time on a box anymore. I did it for 12 years here, and was fortunate enough to transfer to my current station about 3 years ago.
I plan on retiring in 5 years, and spending time in my shop.
I have been building and engraving since 2001, and have been fortunate enough to have turned that into a great part time job and source of income.
The fire service is a great job, and I would recomend it to anyone. I dont know of another full time job that allows you to persue another full time occupation. There is lots of freedom that others dont seem to have.
Here we work a 56 hour week, working 3 out of 5 days and then off for 4. I am hitting days off this morning, and will be heading to the shop shortly.
Take care and all of you be safe out there. Holler anytime.