The Melting Pot

The volunteer fire service is the ultimate melting pot of humanity. 

When you hear “melting pot” your first thought is likely thoughts of race or nationality.  Truth is that is just part of what gets melted into the fire service.  Many decades ago, nationalities clustered into neighborhoods, and each neighborhood had their own fire company.  Today, some of these localized departments still have very strong roots based on a single nationality.  A quick look at the roster sheet or a glance at the names on the gear provides quick clues about the nationality make up of the department.

Race lines have also melted over the years.  In what was once a white, Anglo-Saxon dominated “profession”, minority numbers have been increasing steadily.  As ethnic lines blur due to greater tolerance and lower prejudices, black and white are becoming gray and Spanglish is gaining popularity as a second language.

Religious boundaries are virtually non-existent; the most important belief required is in each other.  Individuals may pray, believe, worship, or follow any organized religion, provided those beliefs do not contradict the mission of the department.  Organizationally, departments tend to be somewhat non-denominational.

Sex is also a non-issue in most departments.  While the fire service is still a predominately male industry, more females have been helping boost the manpower (pardon the pun) of local volunteer departments, and in many places have climbed the ranks into leadership rolls.

Age is another area where there are few limits.  Volunteer positions begin at ages as low as 14 years, and some volunteers well past traditional retirement age are still serving actively as firefighters, drivers, officers or as fire police. 

The fire service also blends people from every socio-economic group, from varying levels of education, and from virtually every occupation from student to licensed professional. 

Such a wide range of social profiles may seem like a challenge to an outsider.  However, it is that diversity that helps make an organization like a volunteer fire department operate so well.  The perfect blend of wise, seasoned veterans and fresh young minds and every stage in between keep the membership in a stage of dynamic growth.  The blend of occupations assures a “specialist” in a specific field will have unique place in the organization.  As a chief officer, knowing that I have an electrician, a carpenter, a mechanic, an engineer, a computer technician, a law enforcement officer, and a plumber responding on a call gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.  It is a virtual toolbox of specialists in all shapes, colors, and sizes.  Now if I could just figure out how to mount them all on a pegboard organizer…