volunteer BRIGADES

[Guest]

I ove firefighting - I used to be a fire cadet then joined a volunteer brigade which has now unfortunately disbanded.

I couldnt get into the brigade full time due to my eyesight being slightly below entry standards.

I thenm suffered further dissapointment when I applied for the post of firefighter at an airport passed the interview was provisionally offered the job but failed the medical two days before i was due to start the job because of sclorosis.

Getting to the point of writing I love firefighting and I am damn good at it - its something I enjoy and something that just seems to come natural to me. Are there any volunteer brigades out there in the midlands area that needs extra members.

Most volunteer brigades consist off off duty or retained or airport fire fighters and wont consider training up members of the public straight from the street which I can understand, but I have this skill and this desire to be a firefighter, not wear a uniform and say hey folks look at me, but because I enjoy teamwork, I enjoy a hands on challenge and I feel its a worthwile job especially if you can protect life and indeed property which may have a sentimental value to someone.

I just feel this is my goal in life and whilst it looks like I can never do the job full time I have got to try and do it in some sort of capacity

[AnthonyB]

Cant you get corrective eye surgery?

I don't know about brigades, but the police now accept post operative candidates

[Guest]

Unfortunately no brigades still wont accept applicants whom have had corrective eye surgery for some reason

Its all about trying to whittle down the amount of applicants applying for limited posts

[Guest]

tricky, you may wish consider going to college and gaining a degree in fire engineering, that may bring you into the fire community via a different route.

south bank and lancaster both run course (i think??)

im sure there may be other routes via health and safety, fire investigation specialists etc that may also help. i'm not sure how the fire service will deal with dda etc and the nature of your personal circumstances, but i'd like to wish you all the best in your chosen career and hope you can get to do what you want to

dave bev

[Guest]

But fire safety isnt the same as firefighting !

Fire safety isnt really an alternative to firefighting or vice versa. They deakl with similar subject matter but thenature of the job is comoletely different.

So I dont think Fire Safety would suit you judging from what you are saying.

It seems to me you have a clear cut purpose here - you want to do a worthwile job - to you saving someones life is a worthwhile thing to do. Fire safety does do that but in a different way.

I think the other part of your desire is as you said the teamwork and hands on challenge.

Try other rescue agencies such as HM Coastguard - you'd be suprised at the action they see - lot of people think they are a bunch of saddo's who dont see much action and just drive about in coastguard trucks all day attending mickey mouse incidents but nothing further from the truth.

They are probably the service closest to the fire service out of the other two emergency services.

[Simon Morriss]

Squishy I would totally disagree with you comment about going in to Fire Safety.  I too had a passion to join the Fire Service but I am colour blind.  So my next best option was to go into fire safety.  I was lucky to work for a company that had its own fire service so I joined them and then got a full time post.

Not my career has developed and I work 100% in fire safety which includes training.  In this job I do feel that I have the potential to save someone life.  In my training to staff I discuss fire safety at home.  Now you can never prove I have saved a life but I like to think I have stopped many fires and got people thinking how to prepare for a fire at home.

Tricky Dicky, I tried for all the emergency services, Fire, Ambulance and Police but due to eye sight never made it.  Fire Safety is very interesting especially if you work for a company or institution as I do.  Consider all you options and then only look forward.

Simon

[Guest]

Yes i agree with Bikerboy

Fire Safety does save lives - of course it does - it has to - otherwise why would we have it - it is responsible for reducing many fire incidents and therefore loss of life and property.

Please dont think i was playing down its importance.

But you need to think about what you want - is it more hands on work, or the desk job that invariably fire safety can be

Hey bikerboy if you read this just out of intrest is the industrial brigade you work still in existance?

[Simon Morriss]

Hi Squishy

No the industrial brigade was stoped about 2 years ago due to perceved high cost :evil: the company was/is so short sighted.  I now work full time as Fire safety Advisor for the British Museum.  

I can understand Tricky and how he feels, that is how I felt I just hope he can land on his feet and get part of the industry even if not in the bit he wants.

Simon

[Guest]

Hi Simon

Yes fully agree with you - hope the gentleman finds what he is looking for - he obviously seems committed and enthusiastic and the industry need people like him.

Shame about the industrial brigade, sadly not many left now, maybe fire strikes will change management minds.

Best Regards

David

[Guest]

Eye surgery need not be a killer.
I joined West Sussex retained a couple of years ago following laser eye surgery.

[Guest]

Retained personell can get in with corrective eye surgery

however bizzarely full time bods cant

V strange

[Guest]

We must remember that tricky has got sclorosis a back a condition which makes him unable to apply for any civilian or airport brigade.

[Guest]

Hi Tricky,
       I know its not quite what you`re looking for but how about getting involved with motorsport?   The safety crews are volunteers and though many events run without serious incident, there is the occasional fire or rescue to be dealt with.  I have a voluntary rescue unit based in the East Midlands which attends mostly off road car rallies ( in forests, on disused airfields and so on ).   We see more RTA type jobs than fires but there is great satisfaction in dealing properly with the incidents.  You`d be most welcome to come out on the unit for a day to see what is involved.

[Guest]

Hi Chris

That sounds absolutely fantastic.Thank you very much indeed for offering.

I would really like that.

Erm... hows best to arrange this?

[Guest]

Hi again Tricky,

          Perhaps you would email me direct.....
 Chris@lace-rescue.fsnet.co.uk
          We`ll sort out a suitable event from our bookings to match your availability.


          If you`d like an idea of the rescue unit and its kit and the sort of incidents we attend, have a look at  www.lace-rescue.com    where you will find some pictures and a bit of description.

     I hope to hear from you.