Next time you are out and about don't be surprised if you see your local firefighters grocery shopping or performing fitness activities in public. Since firefighters work from 7 AM to 7 AM the next day, and provide their own meals, they must purchase the necessary supplies to prepare their own food throughout their shift. Preparing and sharing meals together is recommended for all firefighters at RFPD. Cooking and eating together reinforces that firefighters are a team that must work together; which we believe helps them do their jobs more safely and effectively.
During their 24 hour shifts firefighters also do physical fitness training indoors at the station; however as the weather begins to warm up they also like to mix things up by coming outside and jogging, running outdoor stairs, etc. Beyond strength training our crews incorporate cardio and flexibility into their workouts as well. We find that these programs not only better our capabilities while on a fire scene, but lessen our occurrences of on the job injuries.
RFPD crews do not have to be located at their station to be dispatched to a call. Whenever companies are away from the station, they are always within the city, have a fire apparatus, a full crew, and are always in contact with the dispatch center by radio and pager. Emergency response takes precedence over everything else a firefighter does.
So if you see a fire apparatus in a grocery store parking lot or exercising at a local track, know that the Raytown Fire Protection District is always ready to respond at a moment's notice.
