FIRST RESPONDER ISSUES

[14THEGOP]

What do the first responders out there feel are the most important issues facing them? Personally I believe we owe a great deal to these brave men and women who serve, protect and even sometimes save our lives. Without them, not a single one of us would be able to enjoy the blanket of freedom. God bless each of you.

[IbCop2]

I have been in Law Enforcement for some years (sorry IA, I am not going to say how long!) and over the years I have come to the conclusion that, though my job is dangerous at times, our training has improved dramatically for the better and I think we are better equipped for these and other types of incidents today. I am concerned about the cut backs taking place at the Academy now because there is very little, if any, advance training being offered. I hope that the State will address this issue soon. We do not need to return to the days of little training, no training or each Agency initiating their own training so there is no unified or consistent approach to our profession.

That being said, Law Enforcement Officers today are better educated and all are required to maintain a certain number of Continuing Education hours, as well as other training each year. The public has seen the benefits of this education but we, Law Enforcement, have not seen any direct correlation with this and our pay. Now before some folks start a barrage of complaints about being money hungry, ungrateful or whining, most of us do this job because we want to make a difference, and I put myself in that category, but at some point you have to raise a family and pay the bills. I, for one, am not asking to be rich but would like to be able to secure a comfortable future for my family. I think this is reasonable, considering the amount of hours we spend on the job and in school. I think the public would be surprised to learn that the turn over rate in Law Enforcement is over 25%! That means that one-quarter of the cadets at the Police Academy that graduate this year will be out of our profession within a year! The number one reason, I can make more money working at McDonalds than I can staying in. Sad but true, starting salaries in this State are between $22,000 and $25,000, better than the “old days” but we have a long ways to go. Managers at McD’s make better than $40,000!

I am sure that other professions have similar complaints, BUT YOU DID ASK!
:D

[Anonymous]

Staffing.

We still have too many trucks leaving the fire station with one or two men on them. There should be at a minimum 3 men on each first out engine to ensure we arrive with enough manpower to fight the fire legally.


Most people don't know that there are Federal regulations in place where we have to have a minimum of 6 people on scene to fight fire. Two to fight the fire, two to stand by outside in order to effect a rescue on the interior crew, one to pump the truck, and one to be in charge. The reality is it takes more than that, and we don't have the staffing.

[Avid Voter]

I am not a First Responder and I know that this won't help pay the bills or the staffing problems you have, but there are plenty of people out here that truly respect and appreciate the jobs you do. THANKS!

[Reality]

I appreciate the jobs that both the Law Enforcement and Fire Departments do. The positions are very challenging and diverse. Everyday is a new day because you don't know what type of situation to expect.

25% is a very high turnover rate. I am curious as to why you believe the rate is really so high? Is it the salary, or do you think that some of these individuals get into Law Enforcement and positions like these expecting to be promoted from Road Patrol rapidly, etc.?

Also, is it soley the Sheriffs Department and County Council that has the say about your salaries? Or does it come from another governing body?

[Anonymous]

25% is a very high turnover rate.

I would imagine that EMS would be happy if their turnover rate was only 25%.

[Reality]

I'm sure they have a very high turnover ratio given the nature of their jobs. They too are underpaid and have a tendency to see a lot of gore and death. Not that Law Enforcement and Fireman don't. However, it does take it out of you when your picking pieces of people off the road and watching them gurgle on their own blood and die etc.. Not to be morbid. But, they do have the potential to see more of that part of a hazard. Some think they can handle it until they see someone actually die or a piece of limb missing. It takes a strong stomach and someone to see an organ or limb and not so much a human when dealing with that kind of job. The healthcare field is a different beast to work with. All three jobs have similarities. But as far as turnover, the healthcare industry has one of the highest turnover ratios in our nation. It's a demanding field and people have a tendency to job hop in this field for financial gain.

[Reality]

On a side note to that last comment. People are money driven when it comes to careers. Some out there really enjoy their jobs and would do it for free. But the reality of the situation is that if people didn't have bills to pay, children to raise and need to eat, most would not work so hard or as long.

Being money driven does not make you a bad person. It makes you a concious person. The more your paid and the better the benefits, the better you perform and the more longevity you will see and employee have in a particular position.

Fact: People who are paid well, have above average benefits will put up with more BS than those who are underpaid and just given the bare minimial in benefits to get by.

[Anonymous]

Blood and guts does not cause the high turnover rate in EMS. Poor managment is the number one internal stressor that causes EMS workers to change jobs. Problem is all the agencys are the same.

[Anonymous]

Thing is, staffing is only part of the problem. Sure it's the biggest part..if you don't have enough manpower then you can't do the job in an effective way.

Our management lacks backbone. We aren't truly a county wide fire service, we are 21 little departments who dress the same and drive the same color trucks. You can't find two identical trucks in the county that are set up or equipped the same, or two stations that operate in the same way. This is because our so called coordinator is too worried about offending somebody rather than saying "This is the way we are going to do things around here." The majority of the time they defer to the station chief, most of which are volunteers who were elected to that position not because of merit but because their buddies thought it would be cool. Then, when there is a problem with an employee instead of actually doing something about it they just move them to a different station and let the problem start anew there.

Our fire inspection program is so bad it's not even a joke. We have one man doing fire inspections in Lexington County with all the new construction that is going on. That means he can only do new construction and can't do annual inspections on existing structures. Eventually it's going to reach back and bite us when there's a fire in a commercial structure with a large loss of life.

Supervision is a joke. In some stations you have a captain over each shift, in some stations you have an apparatus operator who is the senior man. The big difference in their jobs? The title. Except in the stations that have only daytime staffing the apparatus operator has more responsibility than a shift captain because there is nobody to spread the duties out with. Then you have volunteer chiefs, a couple who actually have the training to do the job...most don't, supervising county employees.

Apparatus is decent overall...but there have been some misguided purchases. the three pretty ladder trucks that were bought a little over a year ago are woefully inadequate for the job. The county bought 75 ft ladders when they should have bought 100 ft. As it stands there are some buildings that because of setbacks the ladder truck is useless for anything except elevated streams and/or lighting. The two new wildland trucks are a joke. With the money that was spent on these two truks they could have bought several skid mount pumps and the trucks to put the skids in. Then when the chassis becomes worn out you slide the skid unit in a new chassis and save yourself a huge chunk of change.

The taxpayers would be raising a stink if they came to realize that the County Fire Service hasn't had a county-wide Insurance Service Organization ratings inspection since the late 80's. For the most part, the taxpayers are paying the same tax rate they paid in 1988. There are some areas that have had their rates lowered because of new station construction (Chapin, Samaria, Red Bank, etc.) but the county as a whole hasn't seem the benefits of lower fire insurance. It's sad too...the fire service is the only branch of government where you can actually save money by paying higher taxes thru lower fire insurance. Every couple of years we hear that we are getting ready to have an ISO inspection but it never materializes. It's like the boy who cried wolf....too many false alarms.

[Anonymous]

I agree things need to change. When Jeff Chavis was killed fighting the house fire all the taxpayers said there needed to be changes. So the higher ups of fire service and county council hired a couple of people and bought some new trucks. Yet we lost two paid fire chiefs, and they didn't hire anyone to replace them. We have to many people sitting in offices and not out there supervising the firefighters. Of course how much help can the chiefs be when they have to cover 3 to 5 stations. Then you get the volunteer chiefs that are not qualified to be over the paid personnel. How is it that someone who is not a county employee is supposed to follow the county policies?

[Anonymous]

Yet we lost two paid fire chiefs, and they didn't hire anyone to replace them.

In reality they lost 3 chiefs, although one of them is still with the dept.

They lost Beckham at Round Hill and over the ER and Hutto over Oak Grove, Pine Grove, and Fire Investigations. They also took Fulmer out from Chapin, Amick's Ferry, and Cross Roads. Originally Fulmer's position was actually better, but since the change where they put the outlying people under the volunteer chiefs he really doesn't have a position IMHO. Add to that the fact that Turner has put in for any and every Chief's job out there for the past 5 years and is hardly ever around anymore, and Day is practically ROAD (retired on active duty) and there's very little supervision.

Of course, this should be no surprise since there is very little supervision from the admin building either.

[Anonymous]

I believe our firefighters work hard for the little money they get. They deserve a he** of alot more. They see gorey stuff just as well as EMS does. As for our poor outlying fire stations they have to wait until the "city" stations get everything they want before they get things they need.
The outlying stations that have been around a while need to be remodeled but does the county care that they are being overtaken by crickets and rodents- Hec No- They'd rather save a penny and half way do things. I believe with the tax payers money they should have no reason to have run down stations. My local fire dept could not even house anyone when the ice storm came through because their generator was too small and only ran the lights. There was not even any heat in the building and the poor paid people had to man the station in the cold. :cry: They did not even have hot water to shower with. The county needs to look in to buying bigger generators and remodeling these outlying stations so the public can use them if necessary.
My lexington County Firefighter is a very dedicated man to his station!!!
He deserves alot more than he gets from the county! :D

[Anonymous]

The county needs to look in to buying bigger generators and remodeling these outlying stations so the public can use them if necessary.

Supposedly they have something in the works as for providing heat when the power is out using the existing LP gas system. The word is they couldn't afford generators large enough to run the HVAC systems....of course it wasn't a concern since the admin building has heat when the power is out. Until it is corrected do like we did...jack the bay heater up as high as it would go and open the doors between the bay and the station.

As for remodelling....that is underway as well. It's not just the outlying stations...even one as close in as Lake Murray is a dump. Those poor guys have to essentially use the bathroom in a small closet, and the shower is the same size as one in a camper.

Of course, you would know that Councilman Rucker's fire station has already been remodeled. :roll:

[lexcofirefighterslady]

They should have started with the oldest stations first!! I tell ya these people are so a$$ backwards when it comes to things like that!

[Anonymous]

Smokestain you sound like a very disgruntled firefighter. You certainly have some points but overall you seem unhappy. Perhaps you were relieved of your duties? For the most part, Lexington county residents should be very lucky with the equipment that they have. We shouldn't judge a fire dept by the size of the shower. Did you attend Jeff Chavis' funeral? If you were there you would have a seen the equiptment lined up. It was extremely impressive. The problem? We seem to have more equipment than manpower. I don't really no the ISO rating stuff but 3 trucks pulling up to a fire looks great. But with 3 or 4 people the trucks are useless. Better have fewer trucks with a staff that trains together and can get the job done.

By the way, you have great writing skills. You really do.

[Anonymous]

Smokestain you sound like a very disgruntled firefighter.
Perhaps I am. Could it be because I'm tired of spending money on things we never use, and throwing equipment at a personnel issue. Maybe it's because you can never get a straight answer when you ask a question from the administration. Maybe it's because our hiring and promotional process is a joke. It's not what you know it's who's buddy you are. It could even be the fact that we have career personnel under the supervision of elected fire chiefs who have to meet no educational standards to hold the position, and who more often than not don't have the training that their one or two year firefighters do.


Perhaps you were relieved of your duties? Nope. In the same position I started at, at the end of the nozzle.


For the most part, Lexington county residents should be very lucky with the equipment that they have. Yes, for the most part we have some of the best equipment in the state.....there's no argueing that. However the equipment is useless when you don't have the personnel to run it. I can't wait until one weekday afternoon about 2:00 pm one of those nice, couple hundred thousand dollar houses on the lake catches fire and because insufficent manpower forces an exterior attack it burns to the ground.


We shouldn't judge a fire dept by the size of the shower. You are right, you can't judge the department by the size of it's shower, and I'm sure the firefighters and officers at Lake Murray do a fine job. You can, however, question the wisdom of staffing a building with two people 24/7/365 when it doesn't have the infrastructure to support it. You can also question the wisdom of building two (soon to be three with the Sharpe's Hill Rd area station that was approved this week) fire stations when you know that you already have one that is inadequate for the job.


Did you attend Jeff Chavis' funeral? If you were there you would have a seen the equiptment lined up. It was extremely impressive.
Yes I did and yes it was. Again, we are at the very least in the top 5 in this state in regards to equipment. The goal should be to meet the same standard in staffing.


The problem? We seem to have more equipment than manpower.
Bingo.


I don't really no the ISO rating stuff but 3 trucks pulling up to a fire looks great. But with 3 or 4 people the trucks are useless. Better have fewer trucks with a staff that trains together and can get the job done.

The ISO rating in this county is complicated. If you are within a municipality that has a hydrant system it is usually a Class 5. Outside of municipal limits it is generally a 7, except those areas outside of 5 miles from a fire station, where it is a 9. From what I understand the Chapin area stations are rated seperate, and underwent an ISO inspection after Cross Roads was built. They are 5 in town and a 6 out of town. From my understanding the last countywide ISO inspection was in 1987 or 1988. That's 16 years without an inspection. Far too long. Of course, we have been told for the past 5 or 6 years that there would be one soon. I guess soon is a relative term in Lexington County.

[Anonymous]

As to what smokestain was saying, he has many good points, but there a few things i disagree with. I know what your are saying as far as manpower goes but, that is different out in the rural outlying station where if you catch a Structure fire anytime day or night, your gonna have anywhere in the ballpark of 15-20 people from some of those stations, of course thats from all 3 stations but, in the city for the most part you would have to have a large fire ( County Wide Tone ) to get that amount of manpower so i agree with you on that, yes the county does need a lot more paid people, personally i think every station should be a shift station with a minimal of 3 people on shift due to the fact that a lot of stations do not have the volunteer backing like others. That way if you caught a room and contents structure fire at 2a.m. at least you could get people there quick and have enough personel to preform an interior attack and save someones house.

As to those 2 new brush trucks i saw them when they were delivered to county camp and i thought those were some of the nicest trucks lexington county has ever recieved. Red Diamond i think did an excellent job with the overall design of those trucks. I dont know how you can think that taking a regular, lets use this for an example....( If you took a standard 2500 HD Chevy, Ford, etc...etc...and just slid a skid unit in it that hold less than 150 gallons, by the time you get fighting a REAL woods fire your not even going to have the thing knocked down and your going to be hunting the closest water source. As to the money of this you take that heavy duty truck base price...ballpark 30K a skid unit that is worth anything another 10-15K, then you have 40 to 45K invested in something that isnt going to last or preform up to these trucks.) I would say put a little more money into the thing and get a Grade A quality product that will last you 10+ years and something that is very user friendly.

Who are you anyway smokestain, you know an awful lot about what goes on in this county...

You are definately right about the way things work as far as hiring, promotions, etc... what happened to those jobs that were open earlier in the year????? They cant even send a letter out to say yes or no from what i have been told, why does it take 6-10 months for a 3 week thing to get resolved like these jobs? I know a guy that deserves more than anything to be a captain but, he is nothing but what he was hired as...an A/O. He does do a lot for the station he is with and i look up to him....He has taught me a lot about this buisiness and how things need to get done...Thanks Dude...but anways, off my soapbox..... Why can you never get things donw in a timely manner?????? Why is it so hard for a straight up clean and true answer other than the infamous, 2 weeks, or let us make a call and find out...

Let me in on the Inside of why this goes on.....

[Anonymous]

Did you attend Jeff Chavis' funeral? If you were there you would have a seen the equiptment lined up. It was extremely impressive..

I did & alot of the trucks came from other citys

[Anonymous]

No i didnt attend but, why does a line up of equipment mean anything...Yeah there was a lot of trucks there but a lot of them were from other agencies.....in other words what are you getting at ????

[Anonymous]

I was at the Jeff Chavis funeral and I have a tape of the trucks, most of them were from around South Carolina and there were even some from out of state. Don't let Lexington County take credit for that, it was arranged by someone much closer to him.

[Anonymous]

u can be your owns worst emeny, if u don't have enough man power, small fires become BIG fires!! small investigations become long and drawn out. stop cutting your own throats, stop fighting your fires without fast team set up... (I know you are doing it.) the fire service wont grow until rucker and turner stop running the fire service!!!

[Anonymous]

Rucker???? I dont think so...He doesnt have anywhere as much pull as you think he does...there are other stations that have a lot more pull than his..nothing can be said about turner..he gets everything he wants...

[Anonymous]

Rucker does get what he wants, he brother is on council, so what he wants he gets... Turner, thinks he is goods gift to Fire Cheifs.. and that is crap, bc he is no where near it, he may of been long time ago, but now he ain't crap... they both need to hit the road and let he people who ain't glory hogs get in there and show the county how to run.

[Anonymous]

Yet we lost two paid fire chiefs, and they didn't hire anyone to replace them.

In reality they lost 3 chiefs, although one of them is still with the dept.

They lost Beckham at Round Hill and over the ER and Hutto over Oak Grove, Pine Grove, and Fire Investigations. They also took Fulmer out from Chapin, Amick's Ferry, and Cross Roads. Originally Fulmer's position was actually better, but since the change where they put the outlying people under the volunteer chiefs he really doesn't have a position IMHO. Add to that the fact that Turner has put in for any and every Chief's job out there for the past 5 years and is hardly ever around anymore, and Day is practically ROAD (retired on active duty) and there's very little supervision.

Of course, this should be no surprise since there is very little supervision from the admin building either.

Smokestain you obviously have never worked under Chief Day. And you really don't know what your talking about. Chief Day is the best fire Chief I have ever worked under. He's not a politician like most. He's a Fire Chief. Chief Day is not one to sit in his office all day while you are outside working. Wether it is hose to be tested and loaded or trucks to be washed, he is almost always there sweating with you. You may not see him out and about kissin ass like most of them do (no names) because he
is at the station where his job is. I only wish I could have worked under him longer. :D

[Anonymous]

Let me see if I have this straight. Ya'll think that Chief Turner gets what he wants, granted his station does have some newer trucks, but so do a lot of other stations and South Congaree is one of the busiest stations in the south end. I may be wrong but I believe that Engine 5, Rescue 5 and Truck 5 were all bought with money the station earned and grants they applied for. It seems that some other stations could get off their butts and earn some money for equipment instead of waiting for it to handed to them. Look at Hollow Creek they worked their butts off for their new truck and I commend them for that. Seems like Rucker does get what he wants and it could be that brotherly influence, now if they would just get the equipment out of the station and do their job and not spend so much time on the radio there wouldn't be so much of a problem with them. Chief Day is a great person and a very hard worker, I wish that we had more chiefs like him, but since they are not hiring anymore I don't think that is going to happen. I do wish that Chief Turner could spend more time at his station however when he as 4 paid stations and everything else that gets handed to him it is kind of hard to do that. I remember when he could spend time actually fighting fire. He probably misses that too. What needs to happen is the county needs to put more people back in the fire stations and less people in the administration building.

[Anonymous]

The Yank needs to go Yank His-self....All the way back up 2 new york...

[Anonymous]

Rucker???? I dont think so...He doesnt have anywhere as much pull as you think he does...there are other stations that have a lot more pull than his..nothing can be said about turner..he gets everything he wants...

get real. are u awake??? rucker has f----- up the advisory board for a long time, yes turner getswhat he wants... hell no balls rawl has to go to him for advise on every thing that comes across his desk.

[Anonymous]

Rucker???? I dont think so...He doesnt have anywhere as much pull as you think he does...there are other stations that have a lot more pull than his..nothing can be said about turner..he gets everything he wants...

get real. are u awake??? rucker has f----- up the advisory board for a long time, yes turner getswhat he wants... hell no balls rawl has to go to him for advise on every thing that comes across his desk.

Gentlemen, it all comes down to this: If you are not part of the solution shut up. Which means get off of your asses and fix the problem, everyone knows how screwed up the County is, so shut up and start fixing the problem!
p.s. I am going back to the GREAT State of NY. later

[Anonymous]

well i am part of the solution actually i am the whole solution...you know what the solution is ??? To take your candy ass and stick it in a brown box and put in a brown truck and put it on a brown plane and fly you back to Harlem or Yonkers or wherever your from..and have a cup of Long Island Iced tea....P.S. its warm because i pissed in it ....

[Anonymous]

Yet we lost two paid fire chiefs, and they didn't hire anyone to replace them.

In reality they lost 3 chiefs, although one of them is still with the dept.

They lost Beckham at Round Hill and over the ER and Hutto over Oak Grove, Pine Grove, and Fire Investigations. They also took Fulmer out from Chapin, Amick's Ferry, and Cross Roads. Originally Fulmer's position was actually better, but since the change where they put the outlying people under the volunteer chiefs he really doesn't have a position IMHO. Add to that the fact that Turner has put in for any and every Chief's job out there for the past 5 years and is hardly ever around anymore, and Day is practically ROAD (retired on active duty) and there's very little supervision.

Of course, this should be no surprise since there is very little supervision from the admin building either.

Smokestain you obviously have never worked under Chief Day. And you really don't know what your talking about. Chief Day is the best fire Chief I have ever worked under. He's not a politician like most. He's a Fire Chief. Chief Day is not one to sit in his office all day while you are outside working. Wether it is hose to be tested and loaded or trucks to be washed, he is almost always there sweating with you. You may not see him out and about kissin ass like most of them do (no names) because he
is at the station where his job is. I only wish I could have worked under him longer. :D

No word from Smokestain in a while. He must finaly know that he didn't
know what he was talking about when it came down to our county's Chiefs.

[Anonymous]

Let me see if I have this straight. Ya'll think that Chief Turner gets what he wants, granted his station does have some newer trucks, but so do a lot of other stations and South Congaree is one of the busiest stations in the south end. I may be wrong but I believe that Engine 5, Rescue 5 and Truck 5 were all bought with money the station earned and grants they applied for. It seems that some other stations could get off their butts and earn some money for equipment instead of waiting for it to handed to them. Look at Hollow Creek they worked their butts off for their new truck and I commend them for that. Seems like Rucker does get what he wants and it could be that brotherly influence, now if they would just get the equipment out of the station and do their job and not spend so much time on the radio there wouldn't be so much of a problem with them. Chief Day is a great person and a very hard worker, I wish that we had more chiefs like him, but since they are not hiring anymore I don't think that is going to happen. I do wish that Chief Turner could spend more time at his station however when he as 4 paid stations and everything else that gets handed to him it is kind of hard to do that. I remember when he could spend time actually fighting fire. He probably misses that too. What needs to happen is the county needs to put more people back in the fire stations and less people in the administration building.
FF2 I couldn't agree more that the county needs to put more people
in the stations and less in the glass house. You also have to remember
that Chief Day is over 6 paid station and he handles them just fine.
He also has a great bunch of guys at every station that he can depend on to get the job done. This makes his job alot less stressful knowing that they can handle any situation that may arise when he's not around.
Even today given the chance he would be right beside you in a house
with out a 2nd thought. STA 10,24,3,11,22,23 you never hear of problems
or bitchin coming from any of these stations unless the county wants
to take one of our guys to fix a problem somewhere else.. :D

[Anonymous]

How many Chiefs do you know that when the station is out on another call and a second call comes in that the Chief will Jump in the 2nd out engine and respond. Or take a Tanker to a call when it is needed.

I have seen Chief Day and Chief Fulmer do this or more than one occasion. I have also seen Chief Fulmer and Chief Turner arrived on scene, put full bunker gear on and fight fire.

Some of you need to take a better look around before you start name bashing

[Anonymous]

Well hello again everyone, it seems like the better half of the Lexington County Fire Service is finally coming out...Guest FF and SmokingGunn96..You guys on here have to look at public perception what they see is what they are going to believe. We dont need to go out just like what ems is doing which, is back stabbing and talking behind each others back...We all need to shutup talk about the positives in our county and try to work out the negatives....Just think someone may read these articles and get bad impressions about us. Me, I dont want that i want to look professional and do my job to the best of my abilities...I want people to think when the L.C.F.S. shows up everything is in good hands....Doesnt everyone else want that ????????????????

[Anonymous]

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANKS TO ALL MEN AND WOMEN WHO COME TO WORK EVERY DAY AND DEDICATE THIER LIVES TO THE SERVICE OF OTHERS. WE ALL COULD DO SUCH A BETTER JOB IF WE FOCUSED ON BETTERING OUR SELVES AND QUIT TRYING TO SWEEP AROUND OTHER PEOPLES PORCH. KEEP IT POSSITIVE IN LEXCO. (I'M JAMES SEGROVES AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE)

[Anonymous]

Well hello again everyone, it seems like the better half of the Lexington County Fire Service is finally coming out...Guest FF and SmokingGunn96..You guys on here have to look at public perception what they see is what they are going to believe. We dont need to go out just like what ems is doing which, is back stabbing and talking behind each others back...We all need to shutup talk about the positives in our county and try to work out the negatives....Just think someone may read these articles and get bad impressions about us. Me, I dont want that i want to look professional and do my job to the best of my abilities...I want people to think when the L.C.F.S. shows up everything is in good hands....Doesnt everyone else want that ????????????????
Fireslayer I agree with you 100%. I think Lexco has some of the best
fire service employees in the state and fire Chiefs. It was the remarks
of smokestain when he was bashing our Fire Chiefs that rubbed me the
wrong way. I think as the fire service we have certain expetations to
live up to in everyones eyes out thier and I try to do that every day I
walk in to that fire house and I hope everyone else is doing the same.
And remember no matter how bad things may seem they could always
be a lot worse just look at the EMS page. Remember when they can't
think of anyone else to call they always call the fire dept that should
tell you that Lexco firemen mean alot to the residents of Lexington
County. Keep up the good work and positive attitude guys. :D

[Anonymous]

:D

You all have good points out there , but the underlying problem is not with management or firefighters trying to do their job. There are power hungry chiefs, old and new, firefighters worying more about what the other person is doing rather than doing the job to the best of their own ability and with the lack of knowledge of the general public that this FS is even in trouble that stand in the way of this being one of the premire FS in the state as it once was. When council gets calls because the fire chief does not get what he wants no matter how trivial or unneeded the subject ,and council calls TJames , ABrooks , or Rrawl who work for them and the volunteer does not ( I think its the other way around ) to get what they want , the system breaks down. Everyone out there wants change but is not willing to accept the change when it does not benefit themselves.
When council and lawmakers have such a heavy hand over the day to day operations of the FS the system will never change for the better.
I cant tell you how many times I hear this is our area in the FS. Why are closer stations not being toned to calls? because of turf battles that still plague our service to this day! We need to work for the citizens of this county in a matter that best serves the citizens of this county.We work for them .
We are not working for the better of the FS but for the better of what each station chief and its members think they need.

[Anonymous]

One day I'm going to sit down and tell ya'll how it use to be. Then you all would be happy with what we have today. Shoot, I was here even fore Rucker was a chief.

[Anonymous]

FF/AO/Capt/Cheif- What amounts to is some of the "higher ups" do not want to sit down and say "This Is How Its Gonna Be" because there afraid they may make their buddies mad at them. This county has the money to have a "jam up" system ... Where does the money go?? I dont want to hear any crap about we dont have the resources..Anyone who knows anything about anything pertaining to these issues knows im right. Lexington County has higher fire taxes than most any other county in the state but, you have these little small fire districts,departments,etc..etc..that have full stations 24-7...365..With 6-8 people on shift running full ladder and engine companies..Why cant L.C.F.S have something along those lines ??? I understand it takes time to make things happen but, lets get things going and make this the Foremost Fire Service in the state....Lets be proud to say were in the L.C.F.S.

Im not being negative we just have to focus on the negatives and build them up to positives...[/u]

[Anonymous]

in reply to smokingun96, yes firefighters mean a lot to ems and to the residents of lexington county. there is no dispute there; however, if all firefighters knew how to use an aed or give effective chest compressions they would benefit the service and community even greater. the ems employees can bash each other but when it comes down to it, they are like family. they can bash each other but you haven't earned the right to do it. until you are on the bad side of a call you will never understand what it's like to have a person's life in your hands. fingers never get pointed at the first responders that sometime sit around wondering who should actually be in charge when a life's on the line. first responding firefighters and ems should have the same goal in mind. TO SAVE LIVES!

[Anonymous]

Hats2 please don't bash the firefighters, How many of them signed up just to fight fire not run EMS calls. Not everyone wants to have to handle the blood and guts part of the job but they do it and with little complaint. I have been there and I have worked on a patient while EMS is enroute, I also know that I will not know as much as that EMT or Paramedic on that truck so I hand the patient off when they want them. Not everyone sits around, but sometimes the first responder just being there for the patient to talk to is more care than anything else. We can't help it that EMS is going through some hard times right now, but there is no need to bring the fire service down. Don't forget we are the ones that respond when you need us no questions asked.

[Anonymous]

2hats, why are you critizing the firefighters? Can you fight a fire are you willing to enter a burning house or stay out all night in the woods to protect a home. If you think that the Firemen should be EMT's, do you think that EMT's should be cops? How many times have you delayed your arrival until a deputy was there to secure the scene and protect your sorry butt? According to you everything would be fine if everyone could do your job but you don't mention your inability to do their job. You need the fire Department to be you first responder and run the Hearst tools. You need to Cops to protect you and advise you of the patients condition before you arrive. We all play a role in saving people and taking care of each other. If you can't shut the HELL up and do your job then get a job at Wal-Mart saying hello and giving out smiley face stickers.

[Anonymous]

in response to guest, maybe you should do research before you tell me i can't do your job. no, i'm not criticizing all firefighters only those with the huge egos that don't know what they're doing. yes, i can fight fire, yes i can go into a burning house and have many times. i've been a firefighter in lexington county for at least twelve years. can you say that? i've got more training than you can ever dream of so before you start asking can i do your job, can you do mine? all fireman should not be emt's and that's the point i was trying to get across that apparently was way over your head. if you aren't trained to first respond maybe you shouldn't and unless you can guarantee you could do a better job maybe you shouldn't go around pointing fingers.

[SwanseaEMTGirl]

I would like to start by saying thanks to all those first responders that do go on EMS calls and do everything in their power to help the patient feel as comfortable as possible. Whether it be getting vitals, giving oxygen or like someone said just talking to the pt. I started out as a first responder and went on as many EMS calls as I could get to. I thought...you know we as first responders really don't do all that much...and many times when the EMS crew gets here we kinda get pushed aside and in the way. Then I became an EMT and I truely realize the value of our first responders. I can't remember how many times an EMS crew has had a longer eta than fire service and by the time we turn onto the road the pt. is located at we have initial vital signs, history, and condition of the pt... then we automatically know what equiptment we need before we even get out of the truck. Fire service first responders do a great job and should be proud of themselves and their service. ;-)

[Anonymous]

Although I have been accused of posting on this site previoulsy, this is my first. Most of the time I just read, but I feel compelled to respond to 2hats. First off - I agree with you (2hats) somewhat. Firefighters respondig to medical calls should be properly trained to use AEDs, give effective CPR, and be familiar with the equipment on their respective trucks. However, I think that you go a little too far in saying that "until you're on the bad side of a call and have someones life in your hands you don't know what it's like". Buddy, I have been on the bad side of many a call. Every time that a tone comes in, I have alot of lives in my hands. The lives of the crew on my truck, the lives of the people on the road when that 20 ton truck is barreling down Columbia Ave in Lexington, or down 302 in S. Congaree in five o'clock traffic, the lives of the people that we are responding to, the lives of the arriving volunteers, and yes, the lives of the EMS crew on standby. You should know this if you've been around as long as you say, and I take it by the name 2hats that you are familiar with both sides of the fence.
I so agree with you that it is frustrating when you try to operate on a "bad call" as you put it, and have untrained folks helping you. But instead of bashing them, consider contributing something towards the problem. That is part of the reason that I became an instructor - to bring something to the table besides a whole lot of bitching at the station behind closed doors. If someone makes a mistake on a call, I point it out to them, and show them the proper way to do whatever they did wrong.
If you are involved in the fire service, and you see fire folks doing wrong, then go to their station and have a training one night to show them the proper way to do things. They may be more receptive than you think...
As far as your comment insinuating that the fire service is not as tightly knit of a group as EMS- well- where the hell have you been??!! Every day, my life depends on the people that I work with, and their life depends on me. I don't think that it's any secret that I'm pretty close with alot of the people in the fire service- some are green volunteers that have never seen a "bad call", some are paid FF's, A/O's, Capts - and some are paid chiefs(still employeed , ROAD, retired, and otherwise) - and I do consider them my family. They came to visit me at my house when I had my surgery, we hunt together go out on the town, and every now and then take a road trip to Minnesota (what up Paul and Tommy!!) Believe me, over the years we've had our squabbles -job and non-job related, but eventually we get over it and move on - just like blood family.
Lexington County has been good to me over the years with station assignments, promotions, and fellow co-workers. Yea, there are some things that need attention - manpower, station modifications, the radio system, and training issues. See , the thing is though, if everybody would put as much effort into making sure that they are doing their part 110%, insted of worrying about who's doing what (or who), we could improve our fire service by leaps and bounds. Like many others in Lex. FS, I've been all over the state teaching with the academy, and talked to people from all over. Guys (and gals), until you take a look around you don't realize how good you've got it.
So, the next time that you think the county is so bad and you know more that the managment, and you wish you could just find another job and want to quit, please do. I know plenty of people in the state from other smaller, less fortunate departments that would be glad to take your place, and because of their positive attitude would do a hell of alot better job.
Most everybody that is paid with the county started out as a volunteer somewhere, and were on pins and needles worrying about whether they would be lucky enough to get a job - many are feeling that right now after this weeks interviews. I'm sure that they would be glad to take your place, and I would probably rather have them anyway...

[Anonymous]

Glenn, I could not have said it any better! We have one of the best Fire Services around. Certain people need to get out more often to other Counties and see how good you really have it here. And "Hey if you don't like your job here move on and stop bitching about it".

[Anonymous]

Like Goober, I have been accused of making posts earlier...but this is my first.

Folks, we ain't anywhere near perfect...but you don't have to go very far to see how bad it really could be. Just drive over to Saluda County, or Newberry Co, or Aiken, Orangeburg, Calhoun Counties and see that we ain't anywhere near as bad off as they are.

I've been fighting fire in this county for soon to be 15 years, and we have come a long way. Not too many people can remember refusing to let a tanker dump in the dump tank because it's rust flakes would clog up the strainer of the supply pumper. Not too many of the folks around now know what it was like to only have the old MSA Ultralites with steel cylinders on every single airpack. Ah...the good old days :shock:

Are we where we should be? No...sad fact is we probably aren't ever going to get there because just when you get to where you want to be something new comes along and you are behind times again. We just have to keep working at it.

[Anonymous]

Thank you!!!

[Anonymous]

I am what you would call a green firefighter and i have wanted to be a member of the county sence i was a little kid. Yes the county has its probelms but doesn't every agency. The best thing to do is to be a part of the solution not the probelm. So the way i see it you can do one of two things, help make things better or shut up because complaining about it is not going to get us anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Who are you to be telling people to shutup..YOUR A ROOKIE..."We" have he right to complain because "We" go out and run calls and see fire...hence the name...Being a firefighter is more than running your daily A.D.T. Alarm to Lexington Medical Center..No Offense to the rest of the Oak Grove Gang, You guys are great...The thing you need to do is just shut your mouth and listen to what people tell you...Dont be so Gung Ho about everything then one day you could make a good firefighter...Trust me I know I was there at one time..kinda still am but, i have learned..DO what your told to do and dont complain and whine about it....even if your standing around doing nothing at least do it happy...You still have a long way to go....This is a prime example dont tell people that has been in this any lenth of time what to do like "Shutup"......

[Anonymous]

dont complain and whine about it.

What do you think your doing?
Idiot.

[Anonymous]

I got your idiot there in a furry little sack and you suck on them every night.....

[Anonymous]

[quote="Fireslayer"]Who are you to be telling people to shutup..YOUR A ROOKIE..."We" have he right to complain because "We" go out and run calls and see fire...hence the name...Being a firefighter is more than running your daily A.D.T. Alarm to Lexington Medical Center

[Anonymous]

[quote=Fireslayer]Who are you to be telling people to shutup..YOUR A ROOKIE..."We" have he right to complain because "We" go out and run calls and see fire...hence the name...Being a firefighter is more than running your daily A.D.T. Alarm to Lexington Medical Center

so Fireslayer -- you where just a rookie once---so why don't you just shut up :lol:

[Anonymous]

I got your idiot there in a furry little sack and you suck on them every night.....

this qote of yours really shows you intelligence :oops:

[Anonymous]

Why dont you get spell check, learn to spell, get some better comebacks, and some sentence structure then you can start to "TRY" to bash me dude........Get A Better Name Too....Guest is Generic, Mine's Authentic Made

[Anonymous]

Bravo G. Williams! Could not have said it better myself. :lol:

[Anonymous]

Bravo G. Williams! Could not have said it better myself. :lol:

[Anonymous]

Why dont you get spell check, learn to spell, get some better comebacks, and some sentence structure then you can start to "TRY" to bash me dude........Get A Better Name Too....Guest is Generic, Mine's Authentic Made

then why don't you use your real name-do you work for Lexington County Fire Service? If so what station

[Anonymous]

While we have our share of problems, I think our fire service as awhole is pretty damn good. The budget and personell needs could probably addressed if a few council members spent a few nights in the stations and saw what the needs are. Doubt theres much chance of that happening.

[Anonymous]

I may or then again I may not, well lets see my real name...Why dont you grow the little fuzzy things you like so much and tell me your real name...Or are you to chicken ?????? You skeered all the big wigs may fire you? You are NEWBIE to this website you dont deserve to know anything.....I could be from station 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,18,19,22,23,2 4,27,31 Irmo Fire, BLFD, Cayce Pub. Saftey, West Columbia, I could be a Redbird, Voridan, Columbia Fire, Ballentine, Newberry County, Caw-Caw Fire Department, Michelen Fire Brigade, You never know who is behind this computer typing so you should be on your toes.....You still need to get a better name ???? Guest400 ???? Is that what you tell people when they ask for your name.....Hi im Guest400...You are brave taking up for Matt Catoe.....

Lets Play a little Q and A

1. Why are you so stupid ?

2. Why do you think im going to tell you my name ?

3. What station are you from ?

4. When you gonna drop that lame ass name ?


See guy, you just don't have it....Man you couldnt even battle my little sister or brother thats how Generic You Are...Who could you be ??? Lets see here someone from around the "Groves" maybe not in the "Groves....
but near.....

[SwanseaEMTGirl]

And just when you thought this site couldn't get anymore childish! :???:

[Anonymous]

Thank you Guest2004

[Anonymous]

Well guys it has been fun talking junk to everyone but, I think its time we retire the fireslayer name...

I bet everyone still wonders who is this guy/girl is..Well i guess that will just remain to be seen...

I love this profession and i need to quit causing conflict between people and just sit back and let yall battle it out...A lot of yall have great points about some of the things that need to happen with "us" ( Fire Service )... I just hope some of the higher up's persure it...

Ill keep up with the chatter on here and everyone be safe out there fighting fire or whatever you may do...

Fireslayer is out... :!:

[Anonymous]

Well guys it has been fun talking junk to everyone but, I think its time we retire the fireslayer name...

I bet everyone still wonders who is this guy/girl is..Well i guess that will just remain to be seen...

I love this profession and i need to quit causing conflict between people and just sit back and let yall battle it out...A lot of yall have great points about some of the things that need to happen with "us" ( Fire Service )... I just hope some of the higher up's persure it...

Ill keep up with the chatter on here and everyone be safe out there fighting fire or whatever you may do...

Fireslayer is out... :!:



THANK GOD--YOU HAVE FINALLY LEFT THIS MESSAGE BOARD--THINGS SHOULD BE PLEASANT NOW

[Anonymous]

Hey, i can always come out of retirement....dont push it !!

[John Greene]

As a paramedic in Lexington County I would like to thank all of the men and women that first respond to my calls. You make my job a lot easier. I try to thank you b-4 I leave the scene but if I have been to busy with patient care to tell you face to face I thank you all now.

[Anonymous]

Like Goober, I have been accused of making posts earlier...but this is my first.

Folks, we ain't anywhere near perfect...but you don't have to go very far to see how bad it really could be. Just drive over to Saluda County, or Newberry Co, or Aiken, Orangeburg, Calhoun Counties and see that we ain't anywhere near as bad off as they are.

I've been fighting fire in this county for soon to be 15 years, and we have come a long way. Not too many people can remember refusing to let a tanker dump in the dump tank because it's rust flakes would clog up the strainer of the supply pumper. Not too many of the folks around now know what it was like to only have the old MSA Ultralites with steel cylinders on every single airpack. Ah...the good old days :shock:

Are we where we should be? No...sad fact is we probably aren't ever going to get there because just when you get to where you want to be something new comes along and you are behind times again. We just have to keep working at it.

[OldRescueJefe']

Nearly everything in this blog addresses why I left the SC firefighting/first-responder arena in the first place. The third-rate white-trash ego trips posted by people who couldn't do any better in the private sector and chose EMS or the Fire Services as their choice of careers speaksdirectly to why I and others who describe themselves as professionals have either left the fire service in SC or ignore the better part of those who style themselves our "betters".
I don't give a damn how many years you have in Nowheresville as a firefighter, or how much longer you have been an EMT in ****sville than any of us small-time 1st Rspndr big-city firefighters have been running gangbanger gunshots and stabbings a half-hour before your experienced ass can get there; the long and short of it is this: the preponderance of people involved in EMS and Firefighting in SC are people who don't belong there. ****bird small-timers whose egos have been writing checks their bodies can't cash for years. That's why I left - not simply because I personally can't put up with it, but because I can't expose myself to the legal conundrum that working elbow to asshole with one-horse-town quote-unquote "Firefighters" like those represented here presents. I worked with the finest crew on thefinest rig in the finest department in the State for 6 years - and to this day I can't believe that I haven't ended up in an orange jumpsuit on Broad River Road after all the bull**** I have had to put up with from malcontent inbred backwater white trash who think they have a handle on it all simply because they have been to a couple of classes (classes that, incidentally, I or my constituents taught at the SC Fire Academy or at their individual fire stations).
As to firefighting or first-responding or whatever you want to call in in SC, you posers and half-assed fatboys can have at it. It's all yours, guys. If I never again do anything right, I'll know I did the right thing in getting the hell out of Cackilacky. Have a great time shooting yourselves (and the public you're sworn to protect) in the foot.
And as to Chiefs out in the county, I can think of at least one Chief out there that amounts to about 50 of you. Imagine that, coming from a Columbia Firefighter.
To hell with every last malcontent half-assed oxygen-thief, and up the professionals.

- Old Jefe'

[Anonymous]

Thank God you found I-95 north......

You come back now....ya hear?

[Anonymous]

classes that, incidentally, I or my constituents taught at the SC Fire Academy or at their individual fire stations- Old Jefe'

Oh now that reinforces your credentials....why didn't you state at the beginning you "Taught at the SC Fire Academy".....folks bow before Jeffrey....we have greatness in our midst. I am impressed you would even waste your valuable energy in typing a reply to "us"...how did you put is..."oxygen thieves". Thank you so much for sharing the vast professional knowledge the almighty SC Fire Academy bestowed upon you. The professionalism showed.

"Those Who Can, Do; Those Who Can't, Teach"

[Anonymous]

Hello. W.M

I just wanted to say I'm glad you found I-95 North also.
But don't do us any favor's by coming back to town.
The county hasn't missed you.

[Anonymous]

["Those Who Can, Do; Those Who Can't, Teach"[/quote]

Amen. Brother.

[Anonymous]

"Those Who Can, Do; Those Who Can't, Teach"[/quote]


Amen. Brother New Guest... Well put.

[Anonymous]

You Volly's from the county should get on your knees and thank the good lord above for the Cayce Fire Department. They have the best looking firemen and fire trucks in the county. Those white trucks are just sad, and should have remained garbage trucks, remember 1974?

The Cayce fire fighters I know are happy, and love working for the city. Oh, rumor has it that public safety is going away, so it will be fun to see all you county boys and girls running to work for a real fire department.

[Anonymous]

That is one bad #@$ truck. We should have gotten e-ones's instead of these KME ( Keep Mechanics Employeed). If that is a sign of what is to come in Cayce, then we all need to think hard about what the h#*l we are doing with this volunteer fire chief county. Why do our ladders seem to be having so many problems, wait, it is not all the trucks, it seems to be operator errer to. Why me, why me.


Its called a arial PTO buttin, use it.

[Anonymous]

Cayce...lol....What a joke!!!

[Anonymous]

That is one bad #@$ truck. We should have gotten e-ones's instead of these KME ( Keep Mechanics Employeed). If that is a sign of what is to come in Cayce, then we all need to think hard about what the h#*l we are doing with this volunteer fire chief county. Why do our ladders seem to be having so many problems, wait, it is not all the trucks, it seems to be operator errer to. Why me, why me.


Its called a arial PTO buttin, use it.

There you go again thinking, that is your problem your not paid to think. And if you weren't there and that is obvious cause you have know idea what your talking about then you need to keep your mouth shut. And I know of a firefighter with cayce that says that place is a joke but it's a job. If you like cayce so much please do the county a favor and go work
fo them you want be missed I'm sure. I am surprised we hired hired
you in the first place your statement shows just how shallow and
uneducated of a person you are. If you can't talk with out cursing
so much don't bother talking at all.
a person you are

[Anonymous]

The PTO was engaged. The front jack was on uneven ground, extended fully. This caused a shift in the ladder while it was in the bed, activating the safety, shuting the hydraulic system down. Once the system was reset, everything worked fine.

The person operating the truck that night has forgotten more about operating equipment than you will ever know.

Get your stuff together and your facts straight before you comment.

[Anonymous]

I have a problem with overweight firefighters here in lexington county, as well as everywhere else. Why are we so out of shape. You would think that we would want to be in better shape. What does the citizens think, when we have 275 and 300 pound people coming off of these trucks. I think that shows how lazy we are. If we were out training and taking better care of ourselves, then we probably would not have this glutny problem. I was talking with a Cayce firefighter, who stated that they have a mandatory physical fitness training every morning on shift. He stated, that everyone and lost weight. How many Columbia firefighters are overweight. I know there is some, but most of them are beast. I think Lexington County needs to require physical fitness. We are overweight and out of shape for the most part.

[Anonymous]

how do you require a volunteer to excercise. If you try that then your stations will be empty. Why not judge the people based on their abilities and dedication instead of their appearance. I would rather have a fat guy that always shows up and works than a glamour boy that might show up but will be too busy a@@ Kissing and smoozing to work.

[Anonymous]

I have a problem with overweight firefighters here in lexington county, as well as everywhere else. Why are we so out of shape. You would think that we would want to be in better shape. What does the citizens think, when we have 275 and 300 pound people coming off of these trucks. I think that shows how lazy we are. If we were out training and taking better care of ourselves, then we probably would not have this glutny problem. I was talking with a Cayce firefighter, who stated that they have a mandatory physical fitness training every morning on shift. He stated, that everyone and lost weight. How many Columbia firefighters are overweight. I know there is some, but most of them are beast. I think Lexington County needs to require physical fitness. We are overweight and out of shape for the most part.

I think you spend way to much time worrying about everyone else
and you need to worry about your self. Why should the county mandate
a fitness program? You should care enough about your self to stay in shape on your on. If you don't have the will power to do it on your on what makes you think a mandated program will help.

[Anonymous]

You Volly's from the county should get on your knees and thank the good lord above for the Cayce Fire Department. They have the best looking firemen and fire trucks in the county. Those white trucks are just sad, and should have remained garbage trucks, remember 1974?

The Cayce fire fighters I know are happy, and love working for the city. Oh, rumor has it that public safety is going away, so it will be fun to see all you county boys and girls running to work for a real fire department.


Who cares what the firemen on a truck look like? As long as they are putting out fires and doing their jobs I would not care if they looked like a troll. Frankly, if my house was on fire I would not be checking out the firemen; I would be more concerned with my property and everyone's welfare. And who cares about the color of a fire truck? Obviously, you have nothing else better to do than to ride by the fire department checking out the scenery. Get a life! Or better yet a job that occupies all that free time that you have!

[Anonymous]

In case you don't know. The number one killer of firefighters is HEART ATTACKS. Not fire, but being out of shape and having blood pressure problems and other medical conditions. And what lowers the risk of heart conditions??? Answer, working out and being in shape. I think it should be mandatory. If you want to be a firefighter bad enough, you will do it. Would volunteers volunteer if there was no incentive pay?? Maybe or maybe not. It all depends on whether they are doing this because this is what they love to do. The same with fitness training. Are people that lazy, that they cannot spend 20 minutes on a treadmill or a bicycle. That is sad. And by the way, fitness training does you nothing but good. I promise nothing bad would happen to you from doing a little fitness training. I also promise that no one would look at you bad for being in shape. I have had too many experiences with being on an interior attack line, and I have someone who is out of shape behind me, and they suck the air in there cylinder down in a matter of 5 minutes. So what do I have to do??? I have to leave doing what I love to do best (fighting fire), so that these out of shape and overweight fireman's can be relieved of there duties by someone else. That makes me mad. Whereas, if they were in shape, they would spend a little more time on one cylinder. You cannot deny that this doesn't happen, and you cannot deny that it is because they are overweight and out of shape. And that it all.

[Anonymous]

Great job on the Singing Pine house fire guys!

Superb knock down by the interior guys, alot of property saved.

I talked with the home-owners after the fire was out, and they wanted me to thank all of the firefighters and folks who saved their houseand property. They were very pleased.

Keep up the good work!!!

[Anonymous]

just an atta boy to all the lexington FF who busted butt Sun during the big storm in Irmo and Lex tonight!!!!!! Thats Teamwork!!!

[Anonymous]

I would like to say that just because someone looks overweight does not mean that they are out of shape. Some folks are just big guys and have a little extra flab. They still have outstanding physical check ups and do exercise regularly.