Seven Years Ago I Was A Volunteer

 

T. Hawk McKinnon             Photo by K. McClean

Seven years ago, well, actually 2013 December 5, I received the phone call that I was chosen to join the ranks of the Clark County Fire Department Rural Division, the volunteer section of the department (CCFD is a combination department).  After a hard process I graduated 2014 April 25 from the Rural Division Academy (ELFF - Entry Level Firefighter), which I'm glad I went through that academy because in that same year they changed the teaching for the next academy...frankly I didn't think I was going to past the academy, that's for another time.

Today I'm still with the Clark County Fire Department Rural Division assigned to Station 80 in Blue Diamond, Nevada and currently holding the rank of captain, my fire photography has been on placed on the shelf by the most part as I concentrate in making myself better at what I'm currently doing.  

With this COVID19 and the restrictions that has been placed, a lot of training programs have either stopped or have taken another turn in the cyber world.  Events that were not easy to attend due to travel and cost have become available online, some for a fee and others not, but it has brought it to a new level.  People itching to interact with each other have created Podcasts (been thinking myself of doing one) and have brought to the forefront the fire service history, the way it was, the new era, and where it's going in their opinion.  The only thing that I see lacking with this new format, is the hands-on training.

You are only a volunteer when you turn in the application and finish the process; however, once you have completed everything - It's a Job!  Something that Chief B. Soller has said, "Nobody cares if you're career or volunteer."  This I have found to be true when the calls comes out or the tones drop, you're responding to someone's worst day to help.  I was raised that if you commit yourself to something (paid or not), treat it as a job because it is.

The opinions of this author is solely his, it does not represent the opinion of any organization, group of individuals, government entity, etc., if the author's opinion just happens to be similar to someone else's or group of, that is just pure coincident.

Looking Towards 2021 - What Would Be In Stored

 

As this year [2020] comes to an end, it just makes me wonder about several things to come.  When the "pandemic" became a full blow thing in March, many of us still believed it was just a hoax and then it was a political ploy that the parties were using to fight each other; even though it was first mentioned in 2019 as the "Corona Virus" and many memes came out using the popular beer of Mexico "Corona" it was comical at first; however, by March when the country shut down and the states shut down it was becoming more apparent that this might be serious - COVID19.  Still you had your conspirators (and always will have) claiming it was all false, and with no one "true" directive or explanation from anyone, the messages given out to the public and first responders was very confusing (and still might be) and the public just didn't know and does not know what to believe.  You had within families a division where one took it to an extreme and the other a very lax approach to the directives and the information given.  Life as we know it has changed and still is changing, the "end of times" might be upon us; however, for generations that term has been used, for we do not know when Christ is coming back, but to be prepared is the main gist that I get. 

Has our Constitutional rights been violated?  Many will say no and others will say yes.  

As there been questionable acts by the government in general?  Now that's the question.  In every decade that has been a looming thing depending on what was taking place and what the populous belief.  If you're a "black-n-white" type of person when you read something... I'll let you answer that question yourself.

It seems to me that what has started in 2019 and exploded in 2020, is just going to continue into 2021, however, at what scale is the question, is the norm for us to be germophobic or is it a passing thing.  Gathering with family and friends going to be a thing of the past or is it going to be back to normal; guess that will depend on the individuals.  I am sure within families there are divisions, conspirators, etc., society has created a "me" syndrome and no one looks out for their fellow neighbor any more, except a small percentage of those "old timers" that still believe in the old ways and those that become first responders from the heart instead of a job security and a paycheck.

Only God knows what is in stored for all of us in 2021.

The opinions of this author is solely his, it does not represent the opinion of any organization, group of individuals, government entity, etc., if the author's opinion just happens to be similar to someone else's or group of, that is just pure coincident.  

SMH

SMH

Many at the beginning thought the "Corona Virus" was a hoax because the Media blew it up so well; among my First Responders, including myself, thought it was over blown by the Media and a hoax until we realized it was not.  THEN mix information started to flow again, governors making it clear they didn't care about the constitution, reports that no matter how you die if you tested positive postmortem  they were labeling it as cause of death Covid19, and now the numbers they show are believed, some of the people that were reported that died from Covid19 have left a "?" because they weren't sociable, economy being affected and people are upset and hurting financially.   Before when they (government at all levels) were saying to maintain social distance, wear a mask, etc., most weren't listening, but now that in some places they are opening up, it seems everyone is wearing and maintaining social distance, to the point that arguments have taken place.