Comments on: Chaplain for PGFD quits over direction of the department. Alvin Graham was recruited by recently fired top aide to Chief Eugene Jones.

By: Chief72

Chief72 — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:40:05 +0000

As long as there in a union involved! there will be no peace! union vs County…union vs Volunteers! not hard to figure out the results!

By: Dubb

Dubb — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:21:20 +0000

Really–we all need to quit the whining guys. Do you think the public gives a flying flip about the status of the guy or gal in the funny suit, as long as they can put the wet stuff on the red stuff? Give me a friggin’ break? Why does everything come down two who is paid or volunteer?

The truth is–and will probably remain–that unless the county has all the money in the world, it will never be able to fund an entirely career fire department. AND–before we vollies get it twisted–the glory days are gone–and most of us work full-time jobs and cannot commit the time to staff firehouses 24/7/365.

The paid guys are right–we should all have to maintain the standards, and it is unlikely that anyone riding once in a blue moon can really do that. And yet, the sacrifice, dedication and commitment of those of us who make every effort to stay on our game to do it right, often exhibit more pride and responsibility to the citizens than we can ever be paid for.

What is so hard about putting yourself in the others shoes? Who (paid) would want to be around a firehouse most of the time, and have someone (volunteer) show up for the first time in months, ordering them (rudely, most times) to be stuck on an ambo, because we’ve arrived? And similarly, what makes anyone think that a paid guy is God, and that our training and determination cannot be used efficiently to help, and make sure we all remain safe?

‘ve had the benefit of working with some first class paid and volunteer firemen who I’ve learned from, respected and loved. And you know what? Those of us who are serious about this profession will figure out how to find ways to help each other, rather than being on Stater blabbing and moaning like a bunch of morons.

The citizens need us to get to work, get it right, and get over this ridiculous rift about whose jock is bigger.

This nonesense–and all of us who engage in it–are wrecking this department faster and taking us all further down–than any Fire Chief, budget crises or stupid administration decisions ever will…

Grow the hell up.

By: F-I-R-E-M-A-N (FIREMAN)

F-I-R-E-M-A-N (FIREMAN) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:17:12 +0000

You paid guys should stop and read the headlines from all across the country “City closing Fire Stations” “20 Fireman Laid off” “FDNY to close 20 Fire Stations in 2011″
Volunteers are the true heros and will be the salvation to communities across AMerica, including PGFD. The Government ain’t goon do nothin to volunteers cause they need us now more than ever. Get it?
I remember when Reading Pa fire department was combo. The Union chased them away with requirements that were outrageous. Well they chased them away and they never got 4 guys riding every truck, so now they just fight fires shorthanded, and when they need help they wait for off duties to come in and then they call vollies to help. ANd last year they had to battle the city to kep as many of them as they could, I’m sure next year they’ll face the axe again. My prediction is that in 3 years they’ll be beggin for volunteers to come ride the trucks again. Ah my old stomping ground, how I miss good old PA. PGFD kinda reminds me of the good old days in 2010.

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:12:34 +0000

Rick Clever- I guess you want to turn the clock back to 1966. While your at it, let’s go back to wearing tin can helmets, black canvas coats, only requiring Advanced First Aid to ride the ambulance. What the Department needs to do is hire a PROGRESSIVE chief from the outside-similar in style to the late William E. Clark who was Fire Chief in the early 1970′s-but was fired from PGFD for being “too progressive- having training standards for the volunteers, holding them accountable for their actions. As long as the Council allows the volunteers to dictate who is going to run the department, it will always be clusterfu__

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:08:48 +0000

Wow, went from the Col. getting the can and the Chaplin leaveing to vollie vs. career. And we wonder why there are so many messed up things with pg. Please can we get back on topic?

By: F-I-R-E-M-A-N (FIREMAN)

F-I-R-E-M-A-N (FIREMAN) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:31:07 +0000

Maybe I’ll have to spell it out for you. F-I-R-E (FIRE) Department. Just because I want to serve my public by putting water on a F-I-R-E (FIRE)and not being covered in feces, urine and vomit. Then thats how I will help my public for free.
You take their money so thats why you have to do all the jobs that even you paid guys don’t want to do (see several previous posts) ergo A-M-B-U-L-A-N-C-E (that spells ambulance)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:40:39 +0000

Paid? Vollie?

If all of us paid guys quit so we didn’t have to ride your ambulance, who would do it? The only all volunteer station I can think of that always gets out at least one ambulance is Co. 809. I don’t think they can take up your slack.

By: Sick of Volly Brats...

Sick of Volly Brats... — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:19:08 +0000

“WAH! WAH! WAH! I’m a Volunteer, I Should have FIRST pick of what i WANT to ride! I’m not here to serve the public, i’m here to have fun and run the calls i WANT to run, not the calls that NEED to be run! Me! Me! Me! Me FIRST!”

I joined the Fire Department to serve the public while earning a paycheck for something i enjoy doing. I didn’t join so i could just run the “Fun” and “Exciting” calls. EMS and the Ambulance are part of SERVING THE PUBLIC! Try it sometime.

By: MoCo Guy

MoCo Guy — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:18:19 +0000

“Sick of PAID cry babies”, you are the exact reason career personnel hate volunteers. If you were a carpenter, electrician, painter, accountant, or anything else, and a volunteer walked in to your workplace whenever they felt like it (once a week/month/year) and said they were in charge because they were doing it for free, you’d feel the exact same way. “We’re all the same” is the cry, but we all know we’re not. Training, experience, accountability, on and on and on, or WAH WAH WAH! as you so put it. Grow up, get a career and let the professionals handle it. Whether you consider a “professional” someone who does it for free or just someone who does the job well…. with that attitude, you obviously aren’t either!

By: Really not so clever richard

Really not so clever richard — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:33:25 +0000

Sheez, nobody wants to ride an ambulance now and you want to start paramedic chase trucks?? You might as well put an ER Doc on each rig, cause they’ll just be sittin on scene waiting for 3rd due EMS to finally show up.
Seperate Fire and EMS into 2 seperate entities, see how EMS would be a self sufficient animal and fire wouldn’t need so much money anymore. Fire only wanted EMS when they saw they really aren’t needed all that much anymore.