In my discussions with the public, I am asked many times whether I am a professional or a volunteer firefighter. I take exception to that. I politely explain to them that there are paid firefighters and there are volunteer firefighters, but all firefighters-including volunteers-can strive to be professional.
In the dictionary, there are various definitions for the word “professional,” including “characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession” and “exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace.” Shouldn’t these definitions apply to volunteers as well as paid firefighters? For years, I have been preaching that a volunteer fire department certainly can be professional.
No doubt, there are some paid fire departments that cannot be considered professional, while there are many volunteer fire departments that are nothing but professional. “Professional” means much more than being able to handle emergency calls proficiently and adequately (although that certainly is a large part of it). Also, being considered professional has nothing do with the age of the fire equipment or the firehouse, how many responses a department makes, or how much equipment the department has. So, what makes the department professional?
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