Posted by southernpride (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I am almost fifty and I know things are diffferent now than when I was a youngster. However, why does the fire truck need to respond to every accident other than it is a money maker for the fireman in Clanton? I could see if the police were on the scene and called for them but why automatically go on every call?

Posted by Weasel (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

And the ignorance continues. Read the following link,http://firefighterclosecalls.com/fullstory.php?75977,. I guess the Fire and EMS could start responding in this manner, of course that is untill one of your loved ones suffers because only one person showed up then they will be sued for not sending enough help. They either send to much or not enough, which do you want? I know its not a perfect system, but it is designed to keep the best intrest of the citizens in need of help in mind.

Posted by steve42 (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm sure I'm risking getting called a name here, but to be honest, I'm getting used to the puerile name-calling that some of the regulars fall back onto when people dare to disagree.

Considering comments that I have heard from the locals about how unqualified, egotistical, power-hungry, and wasteful our volunteers in the county are, it's no wonder the rhetoric continues in this site.

There are some volunteers who travel too fast to the scenes. I've lived it. They also can rightly be accused of driving the departments' vehicles too fast, especially for the poor roads we have throughout the county.

Weasel's post points to a legitimate concern. I've seen 25 volunteers show up at a simple call, and I've seen 1 show up at a fully involved structure. I'd prefer to have too many show up. The fact that some departments have pay-for-response policies means that extra money gets paid out, but the alternative is no better. The non-paid departments have the same kinds of turnout issues, and those folks won't get any pay, respect, or thanks for it.

Do you know who I have found gives the MOST respect to rural volunteer firefighters? The paid guys in the larger cities. They know the volunteers are using older equipment, fewer personnel, and have less training to do the same dangerous jobs. They respect it.

The backbiting is more prevalent between the volunteer departments themselves. Of course, you also have the occasional normal citizen who loves to complain and accuse, but has never bothered to volunteer. Apparently it's easier to see the departments' flaws when there's never any smoke in your face.

Posted by steve42 (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

By the way, it is illegal in the state of Alabama for a volunteer to use red lights in a POV that is in motion unless they have written permission from the chief of police or the sheriff.

KWSR, if you've seen what you claim in the city of Clanton, then our new chief of police needs to be notified, because I can almost guarantee that no permission has been given.

Posted by Weasel (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe I should haved used the definition of ignorance, instead of the word, which is a lack of knowledge, awareness or education. Its what I allways say is one of the main issues in our county when it comes to the negativity towards our Public Safety, the lack of education of what we do. Wasnt being defensive, just tryin to get people to read information to help make people aware of what goes on. I do agree that a small number can affect how we are all percieved. I just post what little I do to try and combat all the negativity and criticism that the Public Safety workers in this county recieve.

Posted by Weasel (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh and as far as why fire and rescue gets sent to death calls is because the dispatchers cant tell if a person is really dead, and the majority of the time the average citizen cant either and they defintely dont have the equipment. As far as wrecks go, if the person reporting the accident cant confirm whether or not there are injuries then dispatch must err on the side of caution and send the proper assistance untill notified otherwise. Most of the time once notified of the call the fire and ems will go ahead and respond to the scene even if they get updated that there are no injuries, that is just to cover ourselves from liability.

Posted by Dowhatsright911 (anonymous) on January 3, 2009 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Steven Graves if you have a problem with any volunteer group why dont you address the Chief with a formal written complaint rather than talk about it on the internet.