Explaining Fire Service History To New Members

[firecapt32 282]

do any fire departments bother to explain to the new members any history of the fire service?? or do you just let them go with out any knowledge of the past and how it effects the future.

if they knew that fire apparatus were red because its the color of courage mabey we wouldnt have blue fire apparatus any more.

Ther are a lot of things that should beb handed down from generation to generation.

There would be more pride

what does your department do?

[IzzyEng4 427]

As for my company, we always tell our history to new members in a non formal setting. Having the old timers explain what we went though through their years and seeing what it was like when they worked side by side with the previous generation. We also tell them how the department came as a whole since it was made up of two separate fire districts back in the 1890's.

They need to know the history to understand how to go into the future and how change has effected the department. Knowing a company / department's history will help them along the way in both firefighting skills, how it was done, to social aspects and ect.

Plus too, having a recuit / new member understanding "where we came from" will help them gain the pride in the company / department as well as other departments that they will work with in the future.

[DaveTFD 0]

it is up to the president/vice president/ company officers to inform a new member of the history of the company. this is done usually the night the personal is elected to membership by the company in a semi formal way.

for the record, tarrytown has a blue peice of aparatus and its not the truck that gets the job done, its the men that ride it. the color of your truck does not affect the pride you have for it or your company

[JohnnyOV 2]

Down in FL, there is a 4 hour introduction course into VCFS...covers everything from start up of the department, to major fire, operations past and present, expectations, motto's, creed, station assignments. It's a little dry and boring at some spots, but I'm glad they make everyone take it..kind of gets you into the swing of how the dept operates a whole lot faster.