Fire & EMS Leader Pro The job of old firefighters is to teach young firefighters how to become old firefighters!

Author Archives: Rick Costley

Rick Costley joined the Chesterfield Fire Department in 1965 as a volunteer firefighter and later became a career member of the department in 1970 as a dispatcher in Fire Alarm Headquarters (CFD had hired its first career firefighters in 1969). From that early start, he quickly moved from dispatcher to firefighter to company officer before leaving the department as a lieutenant in 1986 to pursue a career in private sector fire protection. Costley began his 2nd fire service career with Dominon Virgina Power as an instructor for the Safety and Emergency Response Training Facility. He is currently the supervisor of Safety and Emergency Response Training for Dominion. He and his family make their home in Matoaca, Virginia.

A Perspective: “Old School” Blends with “New School”

November 29, 2013 3 Comments

So the next time you get the chance to “talk shop” with an old firefighter, just remember that what you hear may help you to get "old" one day. I'm not trying to preach, just offering what I think is some good advice. Be safe out there guys!

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Sometimes it’s easy to recognize the signs that you need to talk to someone about how you’re doing. But it can also become routine to ignore the effects of stress and trauma as you respond to calls, take extra shifts, and manage all the usual stressors day after day.
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