[quote=davelj][quote=davelj]Why don’t we add a large volunteer component to San Diego’s fire department?
Plenty of large cities have both a full-time (career) component alongside an even larger volunteer component. 73% of all fire fighters in the U.S. are volunteers. There’s no evidence to suggest that the volunteers perform any worse than the full-timers. Why don’t we do that here? That would solve a lot of comp-related issues going forward.[/quote]
No one responded to this. As a taxpayer I’m wondering why we don’t harness the energies of all of those folks who want to be paramedics and fire fighters for free? They don’t want ANY compensation. I see no reason for San Diego’s fire department not to have a large volunteer component like a lot of other cities. Hell, Pasadena’s fire department is entirely voluntary.[/quote]
Any volunteer component of an urban fire department would be for training purposes. These are not professional firefighters/paramedics, and most of the people who volunteer are trying to get into paid firefighter/paramedic departments.
If you took away the incentive of paid departments, I’d bet the number of volunteers would fall off a cliff.
From Pasadena’s site:
Volunteer Programs
Auxiliary Program
Consistent with the Department’s Strategic Plan, this program is in the process of being revamped. It is designed to provide continual and practical experience for individuals interested in pursuing a career in the fire service that have successfully completed a California State Fire Marshal (CSFM) approved basic fire academy.
Explorer Program
Consistent with the Department’s Strategic Plan, this program is also being revamped. This is a career guidance and development program sponsored and administered by the Pasadena Fire Department. The program has been in operation for 25 years. This program is an extension of the “Learning for Life” career education program with a special emphasis on fire service. For more information, please click here for the Explorer Program Pamphlet.
[These “volunteers” are between the ages of 14 and 21. Have fun having them respond to your call. -CAR]
Emergency Medical Services Reserve (EMSR)
Founded in 1981, the EMSR is a unique organization within the Pasadena Fire Department. The unit is self-governed and completely staffed by volunteers. Members of the EMSR are certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), dedicated to providing emergency medical services to the citizens and visitors of Pasadena, California. The EMSR program provides an opportunity for EMTs to gain important experience within one of Los Angeles County’s première EMS providers. Members of the EMSR supplement the Pasadena Fire Department’s paid paramedic firefighters on the City’s rescue ambulances, at special events, and during disasters.
[Note: the paramedics are PAID. Most of the departments around here require paramedic certification just to apply. -CAR]
To learn more about the EMS Reserve, please click the following link to take you from the City’s website to the EMS Reserve’s own website: http://www.emsr.org
Again, these positions are NOT the same as professional firefighters/paramedics. They don’t have anywhere near the same education/training, experience, professionalism, etc. These are training programs for people who want to become professional firefighters/paramedics.
It’s a bit like suggesting that banks stop paying their presidents and other top managers so well, and use bank tellers to do the job, instead.
