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| 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.
