bkbalch, Great post !!!
People need to walk in our shoe's for a few calls I am sure they would change their minds on how they look at their Local Fire Department wither it be a Paid Department or a Volunteer Department both are trained to do a job and love what they do and always go way and beyond the call of duty not because we have to, It's because we want to.
I have a story to tell about a scene I worked a few weeks ago no personal info will be used I just want people to hear what we go through.
This person had been asked several times to please step back from the scene and let us do our job. I was blown away at the response that came out of this persons mouth when my back was turned " I will kick your a** b**** you don't tell me what to do" for the first time in my life I was at complete lost for words...lol it took me a second or two I turned around and said were you talking to me? they reply yep, what you going to do? I was still in shock at the nerve of this person. I said hey hold that thought for a moment I will be right back.
I will say, Thank God law Enforcement was there.
So for all of you that like to throw stones; We have a heart, We feel your pain, We feel your lost, We hold back our tears to be strong for you.......