I’d much prefer volunteer firefighters to be referred to as unpaid professional firefighters. I’m sure they do a great deal of professional grade training and preparation.

Good work.

I agree bohemian…

Thye do a great service as unpaid professionals.

So would that make Auxiliary Police, unpaid professionals?

Farnorth – depends on what Auxiliary Police do. I know for certain Swift Water and Land SAR should be considered much more than merely “volunteers”.

Shed? Looks like a 60 foot shop to me.

A volunteer is a volunteer. The title means nothing to lessen that they are professional.

You are right Dragonmaster, it was a big shop, not just a shed.

Unpaid? They get a tax break that other volunteers do not get. And look at last months Regional District Meeting minutes and see that alot of these “volunteers” receive money from their depts. And I know that at least one “volunteer” fire dept gives their members $1000 around every christmas. You would be surprised at what some “volunteers” do get. Paid trips to “training seminars” where there is alot more socializing then training going on. Dont get me wrong it is great that they are providing the service to their communities but to say they recieve nothing in return would be incorrect.

bohemian- i play rec hockey so i guess i should be called an unpaid professional hockey player and i built my own shed, guess that makes me a carpenter as well. Get real.