Plans may be in place to reduce the Fire dept by an additional 45 personnel

[Mikemarsh51]

Metro. You are so awesome! Now for some brevity! My favorite lawyer joke. Why don't sharks bite lawyers? Professional courtesy! Sadly as much as you guys would like to believe the world revolves around this message board, it does not. Again I will say when polled we have an over 95% approval rating with the general public. I will work on that again tomorrow on every call we make. Maybe we will see you guys. Don't forget to say hi! Our names are on our shirts.

[Mikemarsh51]

Steve, I am sad that the paper is in the shape it is in. I threw that paper from 75-78. But I will say that we voted to cancel it at our station because of the hatchet jobs the editorial page was giving on us. When we told our carrier he had someone call on us and we are still taking it but for $77.00 for the next year. That's .21 a day. It seemed a little revenue was better that none.

[ljbab728]

Steve, I am sad that the paper is in the shape it is in. I threw that paper from 75-78. But I will say that we voted to cancel it at our station because of the hatchet jobs the editorial page was giving on us. When we told our carrier he had someone call on us and we are still taking it but for $77.00 for the next year. That's .21 a day. It seemed a little revenue was better that none.

Excuse me, Mike? That sounds a little hypocritical to me to say that you will put up with hatchet jobs as long as it doesn't cost quite as much money.

[Mikemarsh51]

Ljbab728, its all about perspective. My wife occasionally has a had an unfavorable word about me. I didnt get rid of her. My point was they are willing to give an incredible discount to have at least some revenue. They do have a pretty good sports page too.

[flintysooner]

Maybe it was to the carrier's benefit rather than the company since the carrier seemed to take the initiative.

You fire folks seem to me to see life in terms of abstract groups rather than individuals.

[LordGerald]

Metro. You are so awesome! Now for some brevity! My favorite lawyer joke. Why don't sharks bite lawyers? Professional courtesy! Sadly as much as you guys would like to believe the world revolves around this message board, it does not. Again I will say when polled we have an over 95% approval rating with the general public. I will work on that again tomorrow on every call we make. Maybe we will see you guys. Don't forget to say hi! Our names are on our shirts.

Brevity? Or, did you mean levity? Two different words with two different meanings. Marshall, when you're out saving lives today, stop by a book store and pick up a thesaurus. Better yet, don't. Because your gaffes are quite entertaining.

[barnold]

Rover- no the "stones" comment is a basic insult to your manhood and lack thereof. I could have easily said put your money where your mouth is but the result is still going to be the same. All talk and no action. I was hoping to hack you off enough to get off your butt and move you into action but it appears that the passive gene has taken over. Retreat to the corner and continue to throw your verbal insults while Men of Action perform the deeds that need to be done.

Midtowner- Are you really that stupid or do you just play one here on the blog? On average over 100 LODD each year. But the really dangerous part is the crap that you get from a lifetime of doing the job. Thus the forced early retirement into the ground. What's the average life expectancy of a Lawyer?
Kerry- I'm sure midtowner would like to play with you, maybe he'll even share his toys. We don't have playstation at my fire station.

Flinty- perhaps we do have an unusual view of the world. As I said earlier, it's a brotherhood and we are a group. When one suffers, we all suffer. It's too bad that others don't understand when the fire dept. suffers the Citizens of the City suffer.

To All who read- One of the things you cannot convey over the internet is inflection of voice and emotion. When I write a response it's not because I'm mad and upset or want to kick someone's butt. I have the ability here to cut you to the quick, insult or compliment all in one paragraph. It's written to get My point of view across and is written without emotion. I enjoy the spirited debate and harbor no ill feelings to anyone. I could just as easily, and would rather prefer having this debate over a cup of coffee and parting with a "see you next week for a new topic" type attitude; but as Steve has alluded to in other threads public interest in the common well being of our society seems to have waned. (not a Steve quote). To that end, I hope everyone has a wonderful Sun.

[Steve]

To All who read- One of the things you cannot convey over the internet is inflection of voice and emotion. When I write a response it's not because I'm mad and upset or want to kick someone's butt. I have the ability here to cut you to the quick, insult or compliment all in one paragraph. It's written to get My point of view across and is written without emotion. I enjoy the spirited debate and harbor no ill feelings to anyone. I could just as easily, and would rather prefer having this debate over a cup of coffee and parting with a "see you next week for a new topic" type attitude ....

Good perspective. I really do hope we get to grab that cup of coffee soon.

[barnold]

Steve- soon I hope. Maybe thurs?

[Steve]

If you can tolerate my son playing nearby, sure. I'll message you.

[Mikemarsh51]

Oh Lordgerald, you want to match wits? Then maybe it is you who needs the Thesaurus. One of the definitions of brevity is- the quality of expressing much in few words. I accomplished my task. You friend I believe hit the nail on the head with levity. A definition of that is lightness in weight, I think that describes you very well, a lightweight!

[so1rfan]

Oh Lordgerald, you want to match wits? Then maybe it is you who needs the Thesaurus. One of the definitions of brevity is- the quality of expressing much in few words. I accomplished my task. You friend I believe hit the nail on the head with levity. A definition of that is lightness in weight, I think that describes you very well, a lightweight!

I thought he was on your ignore list.

[Mikemarsh51]

One of my dispicable firefighter friends sent me a message telling me I needed to defend myself.

[Midtowner]

So if a study was done and could somehow be done in a theoretical political vacuum regarding manpower usage, etc., how do the fire department employees figure it would come out? What changes would it recommend? Considering what a firefighter costs the city in terms of pension, etc., do you think such a study would conclude that we'd be better served both in terms of actual work provided and cost to absorb the function of EMSA into OKCFD?

[andy157]

Not picking fights, just pointing out an example of how EMSA paramedics cost less than firefighters.

Maybe, maybe not. Lets get together with barnold and talk about it. The issue is not about what a paramedic makes. The issue is what does Paramedics Plus make.

[Mikemarsh51]

The current system run by the Fire Dept would be optimum. Civilian employees under the OCFD. No profit driven companies. All proceeds going back into the system. Call it whatever you want to.

[Steve]

But doesn't that preclude collecting from Medicare/Medicaid?

[Mikemarsh51]

That is something to be determined. Collect through the water bill like they do now. Collect what is available through Medicare and insurance. One of the costs is said to be relabeling and painting the equipment. Don't do those things, paint them correctly when they are replaced. I want what is best for all concerned. I can't believe that a private company that is profit driven is putting Pt care first. Profit is great if your selling cars, jewelry or clothing. It should have no bearing on the amount of ambulances on the street.

[Rover]

I know that government people and monopolies have trouble understanding the concept of enterprise, but it is actually good business for "for profit" companies to do excellent work, provide the services the consumers want, & do so more efficiently than bureaucratic organizations. Government organizations nearly always underestimate the power of private enterprise.

[ljbab728]

Ljbab728, its all about perspective. My wife occasionally has a had an unfavorable word about me. I didnt get rid of her. My point was they are willing to give an incredible discount to have at least some revenue. They do have a pretty good sports page too.

LOL, maybe so Mike. But had you voted to get rid of your wife until she came back with a better offer?

[Kerry]

...Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the City is still low on funds. With insurance and a disposable lifestyle mentality, I am wondering if might be cheaper and better to just let structures burn down when they catch fire. Of all the structure fires are there any stats on how many are mostly saved, partly saved, or totally destroyed?

[bombermwc]

You hear about that guy out in Alabama or somewhere that they pay some annual fee for the town fire service. He had forgotten to pay and so they let his house burn down when he called in. His son had also forgotten to pay before, but they let him pay the next day. There is a high class fire department there huh. At least we can say we don't have to worry about that here. They might complain your ear off, but at least they do their job.

[Kerry]

You hear about that guy out in Alabama or somewhere that they pay some annual fee for the town fire service. He had forgotten to pay and so they let his house burn down when he called in. His son had also forgotten to pay before, but they let him pay the next day. There is a high class fire department there huh. At least we can say we don't have to worry about that here. They might complain your ear off, but at least they do their job.

Not totally correct but close enough. Cost to the taxpayer $0. If they had some kind of Obamacare no pre-existing condition clasue he could have bought the fire protection while his house was on fire. The fire chief even made reference to that himself in the story I read.

[barnold]

Kerry,

As crazy as it sounds; and for the record I'm not in any way shape or form in favor of this, it would be cheaper to let every structure that catches fire burn to the ground and protect the exposures that are not involved in fire. Historically this is how fire protection began in the 1700's and it was mandated that you had large rings installed at the top of the structure so it could be hooked and pulled down if it caught fire. If we want to go back in time for the sheer sake of economics then yes this is a money saver. Now the flip side of that little thing of human life loss, a lifetime of valuables that are saved at a structure fire even when the building will be torn down, etc. may tend to get some peoples ire up.

When I signed up to become a firefighter it was to save lives, property and keep the fire from getting any bigger. That is what I base mine and my crews life safety upon every call. If you tell me that because of economics I should stand outside and squirt water and not go inside to save the civilians it will results in far less firefighter fatalities and injuries but the civilian deaths and injuries will rise quickly. I'm sure my family would love it if I never went inside another burning building but that's not in my nature, my job description or the expectations of the public I serve.

Most people don't realize what a huge difference it means when the truck arrives with only 3 bodies instead of 4. With every position that is eliminated from the apparatus Your chances of survival decrease and so does ours.

[Mikemarsh51]

Rover, I like to think we have a very competent management on our dept. I have to think with the proceeds going back into the system it would make it more efficient.