May if its really slow...
What about the days where its non stop, and they are making calls back to back, and don't even get a chance to eat, or are up all night on a fire, so then when they get off of thier shift they are so exhausted they end up sleeping away one of thier whole off days... Between training and the calls they go on, they are probably working and doing someing productive and pro-active ATLEAST 12 hours of that 24 hours shift, if not more.

The problem is McGoofnight HAS REDUCED the number of "tough" available to handle our emergencies and keep themselves safe while doing it. WHAT about this do you NOT understand?
Service and hard work DON'T MATTER if we (YOU) need a responder and can't get one in time. WHAT about THIS do you NOT understand?
And by the way, what makes you think they DON'T count their blessings? Especially when they COME HOME SAFE which is ALSO JEOPARDIZED by reducing their numbers.

Here's how I figure it: we work an average of 55 hours per week (our long weeks are 72 hours!). 55 hours per week X 52 weeks equals 2860 hours per year. Subtract 2080 hours (40 hours per week X 52 weeks) and you've got a difference of 780 hours annually.
That means an extra 15 hours per week. Not a huge deal. Lots of people work 15 hours "overtime" per week. But I don't care what you do 72 hours is a LONG work week. And those extra 15-32 hours per week ARE NOT PAID overtime for us. I'm not suggesting that it SHOULD be. It's how things work and we know that taking the job.

I'm not complaining. Just trying to inform.

Very nicely put...and even tho we fail to tell you... Thank you!!

Thank YOU too, Pati.
Actually, people are generally great to us. Just a few "haters" and McGoofnight seem to want to cut us down.

You are using the term "work' loosely. I don't get to sleep a third of my shift every day, and yes, I am called in the middle of the night, very often.

Look at the big picture...what is it worth to you to have someone on call that can respond in minutes to save your house in a fire or a loved one having a heart attack?

When I was in highschool we all drove pass the firestation on the corner of Superior and Washington. The firemen always sat around the pole hanging out. So we honked, hollered and waved. My godfather was a fireman and called my parents informing them of my behavior and asking them to have me stop as it wasnt right. grrrr lol I worked at St Joe at night and the security guard at that time was Mike Calhoun a fireman. I explained the situation and his response opened my eyes... he said, Never stop waving,honking etc. The men (and now women) are there waiting for a tragedy to strike. Or they just got back from a run where a house was lost, or a life was lost. They need to smile. They need to laugh. Because when they are actually doing what they are paid to do..its never funny.

They do not deserve your negative comments. They chose to put themselves in harms way to save your belongings, your loved ones, your pets, your life!! They are the hardest working group and I am personally glad we have them.

I don't intend to downgrade them, but, them seem to beleive they are the only ones who have a tough job and puts their life on the line, I know that not to be true.

Thank you to ALL the FIREMEN that risk their lives on a daily basis in order to serve and protect!!!!!! Now, to you idiots that have no lives, nor a clue about the risk of fire fighters jobs....GET A LIFE!!!

I don't know why you're making this into a contest, Dude, but you did. So...

..."using the term work loosely"? We work like dogs. It's the job.

..."sleep a third of my shift every day"? Do YOU work 24 hours straight? (I didn't think so.) It's the job.

..."called in the middle of the night"? Do you mean "called" as in
"telephone"? Give me a break. And just in case you meant "called OUT", do you have to jump up from from your bed, dive into your full gear, strap on you pack, and drive balls to the wall AS CAREFULLY AS POSSIBLE RISKING YOUR LIFE TO HELP THOSE IN PERIL?
(I didn't think so.) It's the job.

Next time you want to make "job duties" a competition, "man up" and come hang with us for a while. It'll help with your inferiority issues.
(Didn't think so on that one, either.)

Be safe.