Subscriber Comments for
Santa Barbara City Fire Department unveils the Water Rescue ...

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 295405P	2012-07-08 11:09 PM
Seems rather duplicative of what the harbor patrol does, is paid to do. Is this group a volunteer group, like the S&R?
COMMENT 295424P	2012-07-09 07:04 AM
Why would one ever want to be a cop in this town when the firemen are paid triathletes?
COMMENT 295506P	2012-07-09 11:00 AM
424P it takes a special kinda personality to want to write tickets and lock folks up on a daily basis. i do believe fire fighters really want to help people and it reflects in their behavior and attitude.
COMMENT 295551	2012-07-09 12:48 PM
The Harbor Patrol has one or two officers on duty. They don't jump in the water after anyone as they are usually operating the boat(s). The firefighters are have 18 members who trained to meet the USLA standards as rescue swimmers. They are able to make shore, boat and pier rescues by entering the water as rescuers to be an additional resource for the Harbor Patrol and seasonal city lifeguards. They are available to also work with the SB County Fire Dept as well as Carp/Summerland Fire's existing rescue swimmers.
COMMENT 295557	2012-07-09 12:59 PM
And we have had the need for this service how many times in the past year? How much has the training of these 18 individuals cost the County? How were they able to find so much time from their normal duties? I understand why cops can retire early and on full pensions with the stressful job that they do, but is it really necessary to give firefighters the same benefits? Doesn't seem fair, somehow.
COMMENT 295583	2012-07-09 02:49 PM
Glad to see another facet of water safety covered! Santa Barbara with its many water activities needs all the trained personnel it can get. Yeah to the fire dept for this coverage.
DILLYDALLY	2012-07-09 04:04 PM
I think the concept of emergency preparedness escapes some people. Much of the purpose of these water rescue teams has to do with the airport and harbor. If, say, a plane went down off the coast you would be equally harsh in your critique of the firemen for not having that training or equipment and costing lives as a result. And I am very glad that firemen have good pay and benefits. I am glad that it attracts a good caliber of applicant and that they can be selective in hiring. Also, it is a physically demanding job and lives are on the line if they are not at peak performance. And if you own a home in this town, good hospitals, good schools, and good first responders are a real boost to you financially.

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