Reserve Officer/Volunteer Fire Fighting

[Tackleberry]

I'm wondering if any of you out there are either a Reserve Officer, or a Vol Fire fighter?
I've done both in a small remote community where I was able to make it work. I'm wondering for you guys down south in larger centres, if you've made either one work, while working full time as a pilot?
Reason I'm asking, is that I'm coming down to work in the States, and I'm having doubt's about making the Fire Fighting work while also flying full time. I'd hate to give it up all together but it might come down to one or the other.
Feel free to PM me or pass this message along.

Cheers
Tacks.

 

[avbug]

I'm not certain what you're asking. You appear to be asking if you can fly professionally and still be a volunteer firefighter. The answer to that is impossible to provide.

The answer depends upon the job you select, and your ability to manage your time.

I've worked in both capacities while flying full time; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I've also worked an ambulance as an EMT at the same time, law enforcement, and even professional fire. Sure, you can do it, but are you choosing a flying job based on your ability to volunteer? I suppose the real question is how badly you want the flying job...if the volunteer job is your priority, then perhaps you should pursue that and try to fit your professional life around it.

I don't recommend it, though.

 

[Tackleberry]

I was hoping that more than one person would reply. I can almost see as a regional pilot making it work, seeing as you know your days off. But a corp guy wouldn't work, as you are on call. 135, I figure you work so much that it's wouldn't be able to work. As for the up to 1200 hour mark job (where I am) I don't think I'll be able to make it work. I'm talking about Vol Fire fighting of course.

I used to be a medivac pilot where I was on call for basiclly 3 weeks, with one off. On the week off I would do 3-4 nights of Aux Constable work with the local RCMP. It was no problem.
In another town I was on the Vol fire dept. I was working the ramp, and if something came up I was able to leave work and deal with it.

I think the fire fighting think is on the back burner for a while.

Thanks anyways

Tacks.

 

[avbug]

I did it full time, part time, seasonally. While flying corporate, charter, scheduled, non-sched. While flying fire, while doing other duties, too. While working full time as a mechanic, while working seasonally on the road and gone a lot.

How it will work is entirely up to you.

You should probably consider any volunteer work, however, as a hobby and place your employment as a priority.

 

[seethru]

I have been fortunate to enjoy both firefighting and flying, and get paid for them both.

Firefighting is my primary career, but with the work schedule (24 hrs on duty, 48 hrs off duty) I can spend a lot of time flying. There was a time when I thought about going to work for the airlines and leave my firefighting job behind, but fortunately I came to my senses.

Sure, you can do both. Just make sure you are committed to your career, whatever it may be. After all, trying to pay the bills on a volunteer firefighter salary just isn't going to work.

If you are going to stay with the flying career, I would work with the local volunteer fire department and find out what their needs are. It may be that you are precisely the person they are looking for. It's possible that most of their members work a regular 9-5 job, so if you have work hours that are more flexible, this may be desireable to them.

Clear skies.

Greg Rains
Salem (Ore) FD

 

[Bill Mostellar]

I'm a volunteer fireman in our community (we have two pilots in our station). It works well because I'm home during the day when I'm not flying.

As stated, keep your priorities straight and remember that no fire is so important that you don't compromise safety (many will).

 

[smileyface]

I'm a Volunteer Firefighter/First Responder in my community. I'm fortunate to have a good flying schedule that allows me to be available for calls and apparatus maintenance. I did make it very clear to the Chief that my flying comes first, and that if the pager goes off at 2am the night before I leave for Europe or some God-forsaken place in S. America that I won't be responding (I would turn the pager off, but my wife is on the dept also.)

 

[FN FAL]

I'm wondering if any of you out there are either a Reserve Officer, or a Vol Fire fighter?
I've done both in a small remote community where I was able to make it work. I'm wondering for you guys down south in larger centres, if you've made either one work, while working full time as a pilot?
Reason I'm asking, is that I'm coming down to work in the States, and I'm having doubt's about making the Fire Fighting work while also flying full time. I'd hate to give it up all together but it might come down to one or the other.
Feel free to PM me or pass this message along.

Cheers
Tacks.

With my schedule, I have been seriously giving some thought about doing the same thing once I graduate from college. I have most weekends off and only fly scheduled every other day during the week...so if the police chief can work me into the schedule, I'd be willing to give it a try. I just don't think my town is ready for... FILL IN THE BLANK!