[David Salkeld]

Hi mate,

Just a quickey.....

Are you retained FF on call whist WC?

Just wondered............I was for 4 years 

David

[LWC]

Certainly am mate 

So your not any more?

[David Salkeld]

 Nah mate........

Lovely day in middle of Aug.......................

Bleep Bleep..........................

Field fire...........or worse......Stack fire.

nackered my WC days up too much.

Good fun though

David

[LWC]

Lol, i love every minute of it mate, bleep bleep, cant beat it. Way i see it, im either earning on windows or im earning on fire, makes no odds to me...yeh you earn more on windows but hey, cant beat helping people.

I know your not in any more but me and my friend made a forum for the retained, got almost 5000 members now, you could come have a look if you want.

www.retainedfirefighter.com

[David Salkeld]

Must say I did enjoy it but there were a few other issues...

Training got tougher....all for the best but I couldn't committ the extra time needed.......

Roof ladders was the last straw 

Lightning hit a chimney......I was about to step on the roof ladder.....and it moved...........F that!!!! I bottled out.
Back at camp............Sub and LF call me in............"You need a bit more training"

[LWC]

I've only been in a year now and have just done ba course..wow that was tough going.

[David Salkeld]

What brigade you in Mat?
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue for me.
The training has changed drastically since I joined in 2001.
We did 1 week basic. 1 week BA . Then on the run as no 2 BA or spare man.
Then after a year we did RTA (RTC now) and pump ops. By then we could ride
ECO or 1 BA.
Bit confused. Just done BA course? Was it a refresher? I take it after a year
You are on the run?
David

[LWC]

Im in mid and west wales. We did 2 week initial, 3 day rtc and then we could ride but non BA wearer.

So ive just been on the 2 week BA course and passed. I did find it real tough going. Never been so worn out in all my life, not just physically but mentally. Was so intense.

We have a 12, 18 and 24 month probation tests and within the 24 months you have to pass BA or bye bye.

We have RTC that needs to be done every 2 years now, as well as BA and Immediate Emergency Care.

When did you leave?

[David Salkeld]

Left in 2007

Joined in 2003

Had 4 years in a Fully retained 2 pump station.

We had on average a shout every day.

But.... the 700 quid pay on average was ok 

David

[LWC]

Shout a day? Brilliant mate, my station is pretty quiet, we get 2 or 3 a week, which is enough to keep your hand in hey.

Just been on a rtc now, hence why im up at this hour 

Night