FireRescue1 members respond to firehouse drinking controversies

By FireRescue1 Staff

The presence of alcohol in volunteer firehouses came under the spotlight again last month when an allegedly drunk firefighter was seriously injured in a crash while responding to a call.

A few days later, the firefighter’s colleagues spoke to the press about the accident while drinking beer at their station in Garfield, N.J. The whole affair prompted city officials to draw up new rules governing alcohol use in the city’s firehouses – and FireRescue1 members to voice their opinion on the drinking traditions of some VFDs.

Here’s a selection of some of the comments we received.

Member Mailbag Comments:

This is a no-brainer. All traditions aside, someone considered a “professional responder” (including volunteers) should NOT be partaking in the consumption of alcohol and participating in responses. You and I both know that self-policing on this issue does not stop folks from making calls when they shouldn’t. Unfortunately, part of volunteerism is the social aspect and this will impact some of that camaraderie, but the trade-off is a safer response.

I have been a volunteer for 15 years in a department where alcohol isn’t even allowed on the premises, much less be consumed. If we want to partake in such activities there are plenty of local taverns where we can gather. Great topic for debate!

Mark Turvey
Asst. Fire Chief - 501
Lubrizol Corp. Texas Plants

Whether it’s volunteer, career, or combination, to allow drinking in the fire stations is asking for a lot of legal troubles. We have not allowed any type of drinking in the fire station for over ten years. In order to use or station hall and serve beer/wine you have to get permission from the district board of fire commissioners and that does not always happen.

John P. Alexander
Captain
Hazardville Fire Department

I understand the problems with drinking at firehouses but it can be controlled and regulated. First, if there is a social affair at the firehouse, then the officers should find out who is not drinking (we have more soda drinkers than alcohol drinkers) and assign them to answer calls during the event. Second, if someone has had too much to drink they should be stopped from trying to get on a truck. Third, all alcohol should be locked up at all times unless there is a supervised event going on.

Remember that we are volunteers and the members need a home away from home if you are going to keep them interested in remaining a member. In today’s atmosphere there are mostly “activated alarm” calls and that can get boring.

If you want to keep the members around to get the work done and equipment kept in good shape, then you have to offer them some type of social activities such as picnics, cocktail parties, holiday events, etc. I am not saying that everybody drinks, we move more soda than alcohol, but a beer or two is not too uncommon.

We also have Junior Firefighters and Explorers around and you don’t want to drive them away with unnecessary drinking around the firehouse. They are our future and we want to try and set a decent example for them. We definitely don’t want them going home telling their parents that the firemen are all drunks.

George Saigh

There is no place for alcohol in the fire service. We have enough to worry
about and dangers to face without needing to know if the person who is
backing us up is sober or not.

Kent

Most volunteer departments all over the country set standards equal to career departments. The days of the “good ‘ol boys” having fun putting out a fire are DONE. They hurt serious volunteer departments immeasurably. They need to stop and think: Would they want someone to respond to THEIR loved one with 2 or more drinks down? I think not. I take my responsibilities seriously, and I face a lot of crap from career departments over these kinds of issues. We are professionals, even though we don’t get paid. I work hard to be up to date on all aspects of my training. I take my position seriously. I wish these departments would do the same.

Jennifer Wimler
FF/EMT

I don’t feel there should be any alcohol allowed on site. How can we, as volunteers trying to help the public, be using our best judgment on scene if we are under the influence of alcohol.

No alcohol is allowed at our volunteer station, nor is anyone to respond to calls if they have been drinking. When faced with dangerous scenes and the need to think quickly and accurately in order to save lives, alcohol would inhibit members from acting accordingly.

alexbr

I am appalled that there are fire stations that even allow alcohol in their stations. I think firefighters/EMS need to be setting higher standards for those who are watching them, especially children. I was an EMT at my local firehouse for 10 years. I NEVER saw alcohol at our station, not even at a New Year’s Eve party we had on December 31, 1999!

I think Fire Chiefs should be more responsible for their men and women whose main goal should be to protect and aid others in need. There are other places and times to do your drinking but at a firehouse, which is a public building, alcohol should be TOTALLY BANNED!

Julz

I have been in several fire departments as a volunteer over my last 40+ years in the Fire/Rescue service. I have not seen any real benefit to having alcohol in the station.

The argument that alcohol will attract or keep members is just an argument to keep a bad habit. The loss of volunteers is not if alcohol is available or not.

If it was, is that the member you want responding on calls? The loss or decline in volunteers has been well documented in the fire service and other volunteer organizations. It is less commitment by the community, more training requirements and less time to spend on volunteer activities.

Can volunteer firefighters drink and respond? Yes, they come from home, from local bars or other places. Not having alcohol at the firehouse will not change their behavior, but, it will reduce the opportunity for a drinking driver (drunk or not) to get on the apparatus or worse yet, drive the apparatus.

What about liability? Would your department want to face a family who has a loved one killed by your drinking driver (who didn’t believe they were drunk) and who failed the sobriety test.

What kind of image do you want the community to have of your department? Chief, you are responsible, if a drunk comes from home or elsewhere, you are not responsible, but if you encourage drinking at the firehouse - are you? If the driver comes from the firehouse, I would bet you are in for a lawsuit - deserving so in my option.

The old days of hard drinking, smoke eating firefighters are gone. Todays firefighters are professional and have professional training - volunteer or paid. Put up the old posters on the wall, put up the old memorabilia from the old days around the station , but remove the bars and get into the 21 century firefighting business.

David R. Carver
Safety Officer/Chaplain
Oconee Country Fire Department
Corinth Shiloh Station 3

I understand the problems with drinking at firehouses but it can be controlled and regulated. First, if thee is a social affair at the firehouse then the officers should find out who is not drinking (we have more soda drinkers than alcohol drinkers) and assign them to answer calls during the event. Second, if someone has had too much to drink they should be stopped from trying to get on a truck. Third, all alcohol should be locked up at all times unless there is a supervised event going on.

Remember that we are volunteers and the members need a home away from home if you are going to keep them interested in remaining a member. In today’s atmosphere there are mostly “Activated Alarm” calls and that can get boring. If you want to keep the members around to get the work done and equipment kept in good shape then you have to offer them some type of social activities such as picnics, cocktail parties, holiday events, etc. I am not saying that everybody drinks, we move more soda than alcohol, but a beer or 2 is not too uncommon. We also have Junior Firefighters and Explorers around and you don’t want to drive them away with unnecessary drinking around the firehouse. They are our future and we want to try and set a decent example for them. We definitely don’t want them going home telling their parents that the firemen are all drunks.

The answer is COMMON SENSE AND PROPER CONTROL.

George Saigh