Venturing down a new path to the Volunteer Fire Service

There’s an interesting conversation started at FirefighterNation.com that suggests the BSA Venturing program as an alternative path for young people to get involved in the volunteer fire service.

The discussion host offers what he feels is a broader opportunity to get more young people involved in their volunteer fire department by not pidgeon-holing them into just being Fire Explorers and Junior Firefighters.

Here’s what I think. What do you think?

Discuss it here or discuss it there.

SURVEY SAYS? FD Youth Programs

There’s apparently a heated debate going on at FirefighterNation.com as to whether recruiting high school students to join the volunteer fire service, in whatever capacity, is a good idea.

The discussion has so many twists and turns that I thought it was time to cut through all the ***stuff*** and survey the audience.

Enough debate, are Fire Department Youth Programs a good idea – Yes or No?

X-Box Firefighters

I wrote a magazine article for FASNY’s The Volunteer Firefighter titled: “From the X-Box to the Box Alarm” that addresses today’s generation of firefighters and firefighter candidates.

Given recent news articles and discussions, I think it’s relevant to revisit and discuss the future of the fire service here:

http://tigerschmittendorf.com/2009/06/21/from-x-box-to-the-box-alarm/

Download the Reprint of: From X-Box to the Box Alarm from www.tigerschmittendorf.com.

PA Dips in the Fountain of Youth for Recruits

Here’s a link to a news story on FirefighterNation.com about some volunteer fire departments in Pennsylvania who are teaming up to reach out to local high school students for new recruits.

Managed, trained and nurtured properly, Explorers and Junior Firefighters can be the lifeblood of a volunteer fire company. Admittedly, there are pros and cons to this approach.

Nontheless, this is a great story of a fire department taking necessary steps to ensure the survival and success of their volunteer fire service.

Agree or disagree, my helmet is off to them for doing whatever it takes to keep their service going. And I especially like the fact that they’re teaming up to do it.

http://www.firefighternation.com/forum/topics/pennsylvania-volunteer?commentId=889755%3AComment%3A4415263

Read it. Digest it. Discuss it here or discuss it there.

Stay safe. Train often.

Run to the Curb!

What kid doesn’t want to be a firefighter? Every time they hear a siren or see a fire engine race by, they run to the curb to see what’s going on. I call them “Run to the Curb” type kids.

I was one of those kids and I bet you were one too. It’s something you never grow out of — and many of us chose to grow into it.

“Run to the Curb!” is a work-in-progress blog I just created and a possible online book project too. There I’ll share my experiences, my stories and my thoughts on our need to be better story tellers. 

And, I want to hear your stories too. You can share your childhood experiences and your connections to the fire service and in doing so, share the brotherhood, history and traditions of the fire service with fellow firefighters — and those who wish they were.

Check back often as more stories are added and we build this legacy document together.

Run to the curb. Tell your story. Tell your fortune. We can’t wait to hear it.