Fire Trucks on Main

Date: Dec 22, 2007

RE: Fire Trucks on Main

Date: Dec 22, 2007

for the again anonymous poster who does not have the guts to put the name with there post,what do you think we should be paid as firefighter's.do you think 7.23 an hour is good for someone who risk there life.i can see with the last two people,NIBROC FAN and HUMILITY,there is people out there who really do appreciate what we do.for nibroc fan,i realize there is people out there that has know ideal how emergency services work that is why i try to put some info here for people to read.the last poster must think we are getting rich doing this job.what do some of you really have against the fire department,as tax paying citizens of corbin,are you not happy to have a full time fire department that is ready 24 hours a day at any giving time.we don't just sit around and do nothing,as firefighter we are required to have a least 100 hours a year as certified firefighter's,and for the one's that are emt,that is more training,so we train daily.during the summer we test our equipment and fire hydrent's to make sure everything is in good working order so if there is a fire,we can make sure we are able to do our jobs.that is little info for the one's that think we do nothing.

Date: Dec 22, 2007

sorry forget to put my name with the last post...eric isom

Date: Dec 22, 2007

First let me say that I have never been for a volunteer fire department in Corbin but someone once told me that a full time fire department was like having a team of extra policemen at the police department sitting there 24/7 being paid overtime and waiting just in case the police officers that were on patrol needed some backup. That did make me start thinking more about it. Someone else told me that there were usually only 3 police officers on duty at night in Corbin to cover all of the police department calls while 6 fire fighters were sleeping at the fire department. I guess I can see both sides of the issue. Public safety vs taxpayer money being spent.

Date: Dec 22, 2007

if corbin had as many calls as like lexington or a place like that, i could see why they would need more police officers,but for no more than what they get,a fender bender,a man and wife fighting and stuff like that,3 officers is about all they need on third shift.a house fire vs a fight is i would say i whole lot different.do yo really believe that the fire department could do anything with just 3 guys on duty.i think you need to leave the firefighting to professional's.

Date: Dec 22, 2007

OK,FOR THE PERSON THAT HAS NO CLUE WHAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDS IN A EMERGENCY VS THE POLICE,HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD HAVE ON DUTY.WHY DO YOU ALL NOT PUT YOUR NAME WITH YOUR POST,ARE YOU SCARED OR SOMETHING.AS FAR AS THE OVERTIME GOES,WE GET PAID OUR REGULAR OVERTIME,BUT WHEN SOMEONE TAKES OFF,WE WORK A 5 MAN CREW INSTEAD OF 6.YOU ACT LIKE WE MAKE A KILLING WORKING THERE SINCE YOU KEEP WANTING TO BRING UP THE OVERTIME,A NEW GUY STARTING OUT MAKES ABOUT 24000 A YEAR THAT INCLUDES HIS OVERTIME,BUT FOR YOU THAT MIGHT BE MORE THAN WHAT WE SHOULD MAKE IN THIS LINE OF WORK.

Date: Dec 22, 2007

Anonymous wrote:
Thanks Nibroc Fan for your comments. Why don't you outline to us in a post just what you think the payscale at the fire department should be since you have stated that the city has neglected the fire department salaries for decades. Be sure to take into account the overtime that comes with the 24 on and 48 off policy. You might need to get your calculator out for this one. Don't forget that there are 9 firefighters, 3 Lts, 3 Cpts, 3 Btl Chiefs, 1 Asst Chief and 1 Chief. You have got us all itching for a raise.

The pay scale for the police and fireman should be above and beyond anyone that works for the city that is not a trained professional. And that includes the mechanics and technicians for the street department that work on the equipment.

I thank Mr. Isom for his information. I didn't realize how little they were paid. What are they worth, 3 times more than they get, at least.

Yes the city has neglected the police and fire dept. for years. They pay as little as they can, knowing when they advertise a position, they'll get dozens of applicants for it. And why will they get them, because many of them will use departments like Corbin, to get their initial training and then move on, to a bigger and better department. Look at the list of police officers that has left on the other thread on this board.

But, again, we're preaching to the choir here. This is the same city leadership that lets hundreds of thousands of our dollars go to Knox county and aren't willing to fight for it. They simply let it go, no fight, no argument.

To our police and fireman. Keep up the good work. The majority of people in and around corbin support you, and appreciate the job you do.

Date: Dec 22, 2007

I wish hard working people everywhere could be paid more. Fire fighters, police officers, garbage men, lunch ladies, janitors and all. The truth is that the pay for any particular occupation is fixed by the dollar amount that employers are willing to pay and how easily the job opening can be filled by another worker. So let me ask this question. Where could any local firefighter go and make more money working as a full time firefighter than they do in Corbin? Lexington or maybe Richmond but most towns of similar size to Corbin do not have a full time fire department with 20 firemen on staff. Most have volunteer departments and a few have four to six full time and the rest are volunteers. So whats the complaint? Besides I hear that Lexington puts beginning firefighters through a bootcamp type of training. Some of the firemen that I have seen don't look like they could pass it anyway.

Date: Dec 22, 2007

If you're ever trapped in your car after a wreck, and you look up and see those men working to get you out, you'll be damned glad they're on the job, and you won't care what they pay them.

What do we pay our city manager, the city clerk, the deputy city clerk, and the mayors secretary?

They have no more skills than a fireman or policeman, actually less.

Date: Dec 22, 2007

OK FOR THE BIG MOUTH KNOW IT ALL ON HERE THAT KEEPS TALKING ABOUT HOW BIG OR OUT OF SHAPE WE ARE,I ANY TIME THAT YOU FEEL FROGGY,COME ON DOWN TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND LET US SHOW YOU WE CAN DO OUR JOB,AND I WOULD SAY,ALONG WITH MANY OTHER PEOLPE,WE DO A VERY GOOD JOB....SO UNTIL THEN QUIT RUNNING YOUR MOUTH..I CAN NOT CALL YOU BY NAME CAUSE LIKE I HAVE SAID MANY OTHER TIME'S,YOU DO NOT HAVE THE GUTS TO PUT YOUR NAME WITH THE POST

Date: Dec 23, 2007

ERIC ISOM wrote:

OK FOR THE BIG MOUTH KNOW IT ALL ON HERE THAT KEEPS TALKING ABOUT HOW BIG OR OUT OF SHAPE WE ARE,I ANY TIME THAT YOU FEEL FROGGY,COME ON DOWN TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND LET US SHOW YOU WE CAN DO OUR JOB,AND I WOULD SAY,ALONG WITH MANY OTHER PEOLPE,WE DO A VERY GOOD JOB....SO UNTIL THEN QUIT RUNNING YOUR MOUTH..I CAN NOT CALL YOU BY NAME CAUSE LIKE I HAVE SAID MANY OTHER TIME'S,YOU DO NOT HAVE THE GUTS TO PUT YOUR NAME WITH THE POST

Is this guy really a city fireman? If so someone needs to tell him his posts are kind of embarassing to the town.

Date: Dec 23, 2007

WHAT IS EMBARASSING ABOUT HIS POST.I THINK HE HAS GAVE A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION ON HERE FOR A LOT OF US.

Date: Dec 23, 2007

Embarassing, to whom.

It's great to find someone that is passionate enough about what they believe in to post their message and sign their name.

The city leaders in corbin can't stand the fact that now all the people in town have a venue to post their thoughts and ideas and complaints publicly. They don't know what to do about it.

Our city manager is a joke as he can't even get our tax bills out on time, and our elected officials allow our tax dollars to continue to flow into another county without even putting up a fight.

I say to Mr. Isom, great job you and your fellow fireman do, and if anyone wants to challenge you, invite them to bring their rear ends down, put on the turnout gear, and hump a six inch hose 50 yards, and then put on the air tanks and walk up four flights of stairs. They'll rethink their comments.

You all keep up the good work, and keep on standing up for your profession.

And if the city leader clowns start to come down on you for posting your oRestaurant Consultantins, let us know on here, we'd love to know so we can help defend you and your fellow emergency services men and women.

You know, I wonder how these people that talk about the fire dept. the way they do would feel if the EMT/Ambulance services operated like they want the fire dept to, volunteers.

Date: Dec 23, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

You know, I wonder how these people that talk about the fire dept. the way they do would feel if the EMT/Ambulance services operated like they want the fire dept to, volunteers.

You mean like London and Barbourville?

Date: Dec 23, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Embarassing, to whom.

It's great to find someone that is passionate enough about what they believe in to post their message and sign their name.

The city leaders in corbin can't stand the fact that now all the people in town have a venue to post their thoughts and ideas and complaints publicly. They don't know what to do about it.

Our city manager is a joke as he can't even get our tax bills out on time, and our elected officials allow our tax dollars to continue to flow into another county without even putting up a fight.

I say to Mr. Isom, great job you and your fellow fireman do, and if anyone wants to challenge you, invite them to bring their rear ends down, put on the turnout gear, and hump a six inch hose 50 yards, and then put on the air tanks and walk up four flights of stairs. They'll rethink their comments.

You all keep up the good work, and keep on standing up for your profession.

And if the city leader clowns start to come down on you for posting your oRestaurant Consultantins, let us know on here, we'd love to know so we can help defend you and your fellow emergency services men and women.

You know, I wonder how these people that talk about the fire dept. the way they do would feel if the EMT/Ambulance services operated like they want the fire dept to, volunteers.

Maybe he can run for Mayor sometime.

Campaign promise ... one week on two weeks off.

Date: Dec 23, 2007

Anonymous wrote:
And if the city leader clowns start to come down on you for posting your oRestaurant Consultantins...

"oRestaurant Consutantins"? What does this mean? It doesn't make any sense in the post.

Date: Dec 26, 2007

Around noon or so today, 12-26, I was coming down main when the fire trucks pulled out of the station. I stopped, and let them out, as I should have, and also it's the law. That's why they have red lights and sirens.

I was behind them, and followed them, at a safe distance, 500 ft accorcing to the signs on back, and to be honest, got closer to them as they were going through town. The first 4 traffic lights were green when they and I went through. I clocked them, they went no faster than 30mph, but stayed between that and 25mph. No speeding. It looked like it with the sirens on, but they WERE NOT speeding according to some on this post.

The problem, they had to go around 4 cars, from 7th to gordon, that wouldn't move over. They just refused. I came up on one that didn't, and low and behold, it was a very elderly driver, male, that made me wonder why he was on the road. That was the one example, and that's just a fact of the moment.

As they crossed Gordon and Main, the light was green for Gordon. Now, the emergency vehicles have the right of way during an emergency, and they were using their lights and sirens, and the idiot still almost pulled out in front of them from gordon turning left onto main. The fire trucks had slowed considerably coming to the red light by the way.

SO, for you people that think the fire trucks are at fault, sorry, not this time.

Get out of the way and let them through. It may be your family they are trying to help.

devin · Senior Member

Well said. I have nothing but respect for these people. Every time they leave the fire station, they may be going to a life and death situation - not only at the scene but they may be risking their own lives.

Date: Dec 26, 2007

Firemen are great to have around in an emergency but the point of this topic was that they may be responding with lights and sirens to every call, most of them false alarms, rather than letting the closest fire station do it. Why have three different fire stations if the fire trucks are going to criss cross thru town every day with sirens and air horns. Everyone has heard of the boy who cried wolf. It is not that someone doesn't like or appreciate what firemen do but if the current fire department policy is outdated then someone needs to address it.

Date: Dec 26, 2007

What poilcy are you talking about? We go by what we call standin operating guide lines is that what your talking about?

Date: Dec 26, 2007

Anonymous9347 wrote:
What poilcy are you talking about? We go by what we call standin operating guide lines is that what your talking about?

I think you mean... " Standard Operating Guidlines " atleast thats what its called in my handbook.

Date: Dec 26, 2007

Anonymous wrote:
Firemen are great to have around in an emergency but the point of this topic was that they may be responding with lights and sirens to every call, most of them false alarms, rather than letting the closest fire station do it. Why have three different fire stations if the fire trucks are going to criss cross thru town every day with sirens and air horns. Everyone has heard of the boy who cried wolf. It is not that someone doesn't like or appreciate what firemen do but if the current fire department policy is outdated then someone needs to address it.

Thank you for the quote, but it's obvious you haven't a clue about how emergency services work.

Hopefully, some day you won't be trapped in your house or car, and it's beginning to burn, but because of you're idiotic ideas, only one fireman responded to see what was going on first. And when he looked through your window and saw you trapped, he went back to the radio to call for help, which after he calls, they will jump in their trucks and rush to you. In the meantime, the one lone fireman is trying to drag a hose to douse the fire to cool it down so your home or car won't be totally involved before help arrives. Or, he decides to try his rescue tool to pry open the wondow or car door, but, with the heat expanding the wood or metal, it won't open. So he then tries to break the glass, but doesn't because of the training he has, the rush of oxygen will cause a back draft of sorts and you'll be incenerated. He could try to ventilate from the top or end, and let the smoke rise, but he has no one to help him carry the ladder to the roof, or cool down the car body to cut it open. He has to decide all this in a matter of seconds, as you're looking at him wondering why he isn't doing something. He wants to help, but he's by himself, because you're the one that cut the budget for full time fireman on duty, and you're the one who said let one truck respond so see what is going on first, then we'll call for help. So he keeps knocking down the fire, but soon he runs out of air in his scba tank, and has no one to bring him a full tank. He must turn off and lay down his hose, with the pump still running, and hope the hose is strong enough to withstand the water pressure that rises with the nozzle shut off. He hopes it's a good hose, but don't know as you're the one that cancelled the other full time fireman to help pressure test and mark the hoses. So he changes air tanks, and comes back to you. You're now unconscious because you're air is burning up, and the help from across town is not here yet.

So, tell me, what would you have him do.

Think about that next time you see a fire truck on its' way to a call.

Date: Dec 27, 2007

I didn't read all of your post. It was too long and sort of started out like a scene from a movie. The point is why does Corbin do all of this when other cities do not? Just because there has been six firemen on duty for decades? Technology is better, communications is better, etc. Other cities in our area have adapted their fire department to more modern times but Corbin has not. Barbourville, Williamsburg, London, Somerset, etc. don't have 50 or 60 fire truck calls each week. Why do we? I am just saying that it should be looked into by somebody.

Date: Dec 27, 2007

You know people in this city have nothing else better to do but down and talk about the people that love to help others. The Firefighters put there lives in danger on ever shift all it takes is for that one phone call to turn into a nightmare or that one fire alarm to be the real one. If people only knew what it took to be a fireman I think they would have better respect for what they do. But yet you have poeple that are Jelous and i use this term because people usually only talk about other people when the are jelous they have to talk bad and say bad things about them when they are not true instead of trying to help the situation they become the problem. Poeple talk about other cities and how they operate well this is corbin and this is how we operate neither get over it or Move to one of these other cities that keep getting talked about. I am a Fireman in this City and Love my job very much. Im sure that the bad talk will continue cause whom ever is saying all this stuff must really hate there job or is just plan stupid. Whats so funny is the ones that are doing all the bad talking wont even put there name beside the article they must be imbaressed of who they are or is affraid of what might happen if there name gets out all i can say is you a chicken.

Think about this If your house was to ever catch fire who are you going to call. If you ever get into a wreck who will be there to help. If you ever have a Family member in the hospital or a nursing home and the fire alarm goes off who will go check on them and save them if there is a fire. Have respect for your Emergency Workers, not just fire Police too.

This is my name cause i am not affraid to tell people WHO I AM - Wrote By : Mr Alex Onkst.

Date: Dec 28, 2007

Well said Mr. Onkst. You and Mr. Isom both are to be commended for standing up for your beliefs and your profession.

Please believe me when I say that the vast majority of all the citizens of corbin appreciate what you do, and your dedication as well.

I'm sure that since you've been in the corbin fire department you've witnessed first hand the role that pure politics plays in the operation of your department, as well as the police department.

I encourage you and your brothers to find someone in town that feels they way you all do and convince them to run for commissioner in the next election, and for mayor the next time it comes up. We all know you have to be stewardly in the handling of our cities money, but, the back door politics that is going on in corbin needs to stop, and be brought to the front so the people can see what is going on in our government.

Again, keep up the good work.

Date: Dec 28, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

I encourage you and your brothers to find someone in town that feels they way you all do and convince them to run for commissioner in the next election, and for mayor the next time it comes up.

It appears to me like it is this message board that is causing all of the problems and not the mayor. The City already has a great fire department and everything was going good until this message board came along and started dividing people. The firemen need to band together with their families and supporters and put some pressure on certain people to take smut like this off the internet.

Administrator · Senior Member

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

I encourage you and your brothers to find someone in town that feels they way you all do and convince them to run for commissioner in the next election, and for mayor the next time it comes up.

It appears to me like it is this message board that is causing all of the problems and not the mayor. The City already has a great fire department and everything was going good until this message board came along and started dividing people. The firemen need to band together with their families and supporters and put some pressure on certain people to take smut like this off the internet.

No, the real problem is people like you whose only reason to post on here is to stir the pot. Someone posts a positive comment, and you reply with sarcasm and nonsense. You post comments and then run to city hall and say "look whats on this message board" to those you want to brown nose. A couple of them might be nieve enough to buy it, but fortunately most of them don't.

Most of your posts are as fake as they appear - like the thread you started about the City Manager on Thursday the 27th - and you are the very same person who criticizes the firemen, the Mayor, the Commissioners, and most of the other critical posts on here so you can then blame the message board - blaming the board for the very messages you are typing, all because you don't like the administrator.

My favorites are the posts where you type comments like "I agree with the Terrell's, these guys are lazy...."

Right.

Seems like you should have more to do during the day than flooding a message board with 20 or 30 fake posts a day and trying to pit people against each other just because you hate the administrator and want to score brownie points with city officials - what a sorry way to score favortism with someone.

I'll be at the Dixie at noon for my lunch you claim I never pay for. Stop by and we can discuss this topic in person.

-- Edited by Administrator at 10:10, 2007-12-28