MiFF

Good Morning PJ,
It seems to me that this thread has turned into the repository of posting links to articles and letters appearing in the Stamford Advocate. Any time something new in regards to the situation in Stamford has appeared in the Advocate, it has been reposted here.
Are you insinuating that by my posting a link to a letter published in a public forum like the Advocate, that I am the one making a cheap attempt to smear the President of Local 786. I would be disappointed if this was your thinking.
I don't think the post should be taken down by the fine moderators of this website. I think we are well on our way to having an adult, intelligent, and informed discussion about topics we read in the media. (Just my $0.02)
Take care now,
Pat Kilbride

Both P.G. County and Fairfax County are combination volunteer/career FDs. I have two friends that are volunteer firefighters in Fairfax County. As I understand it the officer in the firehouse will assign one volunteer firefighter to each manned piece of apparatus. Not to replace firefighters but to supplement them. In one volunteer firehouse assigned, there is one Engine Co., one Truck Co., and two Medic Units. Therefore at any given time, there could be four volunteer firefighters riding from that firehouse.
Of course the volunteer firefighters often have their fund raisers as well and they usually buy needed fire equipment with it. Even pieces of fire apparatus are bought. If it is a piece of fire apparatus they buy, the only thing that the volunteer firefighters ask for in return is that the word "VOLUNTEER" be put on the truck. That is to indicate to the taxpayers of that county that this truck was purchased through fund raisers run by the volunteer firefighters. I think in this particular station, both Medic Units were purchased using these funds.
When the taxpayers see that not only are these firefighters willing to ride and donate their time, but also donate the money raised to buy equipment, it is a win/win for those volunteer firefighters. One of those volunteer firefighters I am talking about is a retired U.S. Army Colonel. Yet he has no problem doing what the boss in the firehouse tells him to do. Just like those career guys.
The system has been in place for a long time and seems to be working well.
On the scene the career officer is the boss as well.