How Times Change

When I first joined the fire service back in 1975, I joined a Hose Company (another name for engine company) excited with the thought of being able to assist my community in their time of need. I found myself with 29 or 30 equally excited members, many of whom had been in the fire service since the 1930's.

When the fire horn would blow for a fire call, you'd have volunteers rushing from every part of town towards our fire station; we were lucky in that we had our own station for our company; other companies were all squeezed in together at Fire Headquarters and all of them had to share the limited facilitates that were then in existence.

The apparatus always got out; we had a rule in those days that the trucks could not leave until they had a full crew; ie; a driver, an officer and three firefighters; most then often the truck was completely overloaded by the time it pulled off the ramp (remember in those days you could ride the back step, the side steps and ride in the hose bed if necessary).

After every fire, the trucks were wiped down and left spotless; after all we wanted to show the public that we were taking care of their tax dollars purchased equipment. We stood ready to serve the public at a moments notice.

To be selected to be an officer, whether it be business or line was considered a huge compliment and those of us elected took our positions very seriously.

For around 20 years I was a member of the company and then a move upstate NY caused my resignation as an active member to be offered and alas, I became an Associate Member of the Fire Department and moved on with my life.

Just this past week, I spoke over the phone with one of the more senior members of the company and inquired how things were. I was told that elections had just been concluded and that we had a new Captain; but that was it; no other line officers were elected and the excuse was given that no one wanted to serve in those positions, which now puts the Captain in the untenable position of having to do everything himself.

Now I realize that over time things change along with values, but this really caught me off guard once I heard what had happened. Is it because of the new requirements that many fire districts have imposed on those seeking to be an officer? Or is it because people are lazy or have no interest in assisting in the operation of the company?

I'll be attending the Annual Benevolent Association Meeting in a couple of weeks and hopefully I'll get a clearer insight as to whats going on down there in my beloved fire company.

My how times change.