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Here’s an update on the controversial move by the Borough Council and mayor in Lodi, New Jersey to regulate the use of alcohol at the Lodi VFD. The Borough Council is working with fire officials to come up with a modified version of the ordinance that would deal with the firehouse bar and related issues.
Kim Lueddeke, The Record via NorthJersey.com:
The ordinance had been scheduled for a final vote at the council’s meeting Tuesday, but was pulled from the agenda after the council met with fire officials in closed session last week. At that meeting, Mayor Marc Schrieks said firefighters’ concerns and possible changes to the ordinance were discussed.
“There were ideas and suggestions they came up with that we didn’t think about,” Schrieks said.
(Fire Chief Darren) Yuhas has said that any alcohol kept in the firehouses is stored in a locked area and that — while firefighters might have a few drinks after responding to an emergency call — he did not believe firehouse alcohol consumption was excessive.
Also on STATter911 …
- Lodi, NJ fire chief says proposed firehouse ban on alcohol ‘totally uncalled for’. Mayor calls it a liability issue. – August 24, 2012
- New Jersey chief orders bars closed at two firehouses. Comes after member’s DUI crash in parking lot. – October 25, 2012
- Hillsdale, NJ councilmember resigns after saying firefighters ‘do a lot of drinking’. News coverage doesn’t say anything about firehouse alcohol policy. – May 9, 2012
- Now the rest of the story: Articles make clear Hillsdale, NJ firehouse bar policy. Councilman who quit claims he observed drinking at fire department meetings. – May 10, 2012
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We bitch and complain about the young people in today’s society. The fact is the young people have no role models. This is not by fault of the parents who HAVE to work for their family to survive. This not by fault of the the teachers who fear for their lives, and just pray to survive the day at school. Who are the ” role ” models? They are the gangstas, the rappers,,the drug dealers, and the piss ass bullies that walk the streets.
Oh, and there is us, the Firefighters.
What a better role model than a Firefighter. They are respected and honored. What a better way to boost your self esteem, self worth, and just feel plain good about yourself. And the best part, you get to help people at their worst time in life.
Would you let your son or daughter hang out with others that can’t enjoy themselves without taking a toke off a joint, or shooting up some heroin? NO, and neither would I. I also would not let my son join any organization that has alcohol consumption as one of it’s core values. The way I have observed some departments fighting for their right to have alcohol in their building has every appearance of a core value. And YES, alcohol is a drug, no different than weed or heroin. These kids need functionality in their lives, not dysfunction. We, the Firefighters, NEED TO BE GOOD ROLE MODELS. These kids are our future.
If you feel the need to have a few beers after a call, go to the local tavern, VFW, or Social club. Much to some peoples dismay, the Fire Service has gone way of being a social club.
One last note. To those of you that think you are entitled to having alcohol in your Firehouse, shame on you for pissing the taxpayers money away, literally.
At the risk of making many people mad. This is not a broad stroke towards all Volunteer Departments in NJ. In my opinion, Lodi should be a paid Fire Department. Along with about 40 other Cities and Towns in North Jersey/Bergen County that should be paid/career. That is the first problem! The second problem is that these volunteer Departments with alcohol in the firehouse are more prevalent than anyone wants to admit. I will not make judgements on any particular problems or Departments here in North Jersey. But to make someone understand, who doesn’t live in this area. A lot of these volunteer houses have been social clubs for over 100 years. Its tough to break old habits and years ago these guys went to fires and came back and had a beer or 2. Now you have less fires and a lot of running around. It does not make sense for any municipality to take on the liability that a Fireman is intoxicated or “has been drinking” at a scene. I have seen it first hand and it scares me sometimes. But make no mistake about it. Most of these Guys and Girls that respond are excellent Fireman and don’t deserve to be bashed about alcohol. But again, the few ruin everything for most.
I was a volunteer Firefighter for 36 years in NJ. Our firehouse as well as many others, had alcohol. Some still do. The social aspect, of the volunteer fire service in particular, built friendships and relationships that strengthened the volunteer fire departments and in many cases the community they served. Did we have a couple of beers before and after calls, or meetings, or at fire company functions? Yes we did. Did it inhibit our ability to perform our work? No it didn’t. Even at a young age, we were all taught to be responsible adults. Now I’m not saying that times haven’t changed. Liability has certianly increased. Unfortunately, it seems some people can not be as responsible for themselves anymore. But, with that being said, I know of Fire Departments that over the years discontinued the use of alcohol at their stations and, at least from my observations, the friendship, comrarderie, and closeness of their membership suffered. If the consensus is that alcohol in volunteer FD’s has gone the way of riding the back step, then the FD’s need to keep their members engaged and build the closeness that helps volunteer FD’s to survive.
To respond to “He”, I dont’ disagree with everything you said, but I will take exception to a couple of things. First, I don’t agree with comparing alcohol and other drugs. Alcohol is legal, other drugs are not. We can debate that from now until doomsday, but that’s the way it is. Secondly, while this is individual specific, generally, it takes more alcohol to adversely affect a person than marijuana or heroin. I seriously doubt alcohol use is a “core value” at very many FD’s. From my experience, having a couple of beers while at the firehouse was just a part of the social atmoshpere. And I really take exception to your analogy that Firefighters who did that could not be considered role models. I learned from some of the finest men I had the privilege to call friends, not only about firefighting, but about life, and how to be a responsible person, while I sat at the firehouse and shared a beer.
NJ Fire Fan “hits the nail on the head”, not only about northern New Jersey, but many areas of New Jersey, as well as other areas of the country I suspect. Small communities have grown into suburban and urban areas that are still trying to provide emergency services with volunteers when paid, or at least partially paid services are warranted. There are still many strong, viable volunteer departments doing an outstanding job. But I suspect there are just as many hanging on by their fingertips. Yes, times have changed, not always for the better.
There is an old tradition have having bars in firehouses in PA, NJ, NY and most of the norhtern states. While this tradition is dieing off, it stil exists at a lot of the stations in the North East. This is nothing new. Almost every station I knew around where I started had a bar or still has one today. This could be good and bad. It depends on how mature the people are that are in charge and if there are ground rules set. Taking a bar out of the firehouse is not going to eliminate issues. Especially when a member can go down the street to the local bar and then show up for a call.