Glendale Fire is a fully professional, all-hazard fire & rescue agency with deep historical roots, modern operations across nine stations, around 260 personnel, handling ~40,000 calls annually, and integrated into a broad regional aid system.
Once known for being one of the most innovative fire departments in the valley is now a department of low morale and no vision. The labor union is completely clueless to what’s going on out in the field which is allowing the Chief officers to do whatever they want. Under Chief Freeburg there is no direction of where the department should be heading. Since he arrived in Glendale he completely disbanded all 40 hour units and assignments and have ran non stop promotional processes for his chief officers which have silenced any communication from the field. Any chiefs who have questioned him have been forced to resign and any member who questions decisions is outcasted and silenced. Multiple members who have been arrested and accused of DUI or DV have been protected by the union and the department and after “time off” for the investigation are allowed back in their current leadership roles with no demotions or punishments. All members of the department have become rovers due to labors overreach and no consistency in staffing standard. The members of the department are trying to do their jobs with inconsistencies between division captains and chiefs. New equipment is introduced with mixed messages and poor training. If you question any division or chief and ask questions you get yelled at and talked down to. The front line firefighters are some of the greatest people around, wanting to do good work with no support from above. The members who do the right thing get shamed and ignored. Would not recommend anyone testing for what used to be one of the best departments in the valley.
We all know that guy- and apparently, Glendale is no exception.
You know the one: barely shows up for his shift, never gets involved in the community, isn’t on any committees, doesn’t train the booter, and doesn’t invest in his own professional development. He didn’t get the promotion or the assignment he felt entitled to, so now he can’t stop talking about how he got screwed. No matter what’s being discussed, he finds something negative to say.
This is also the guy who doesn’t attend any of the many department meetings- whether it’s Chapter Chats, Station Steward Meetings, Union Meetings, the Fire Chief’s Forum, or any of the various committees and cadres available to help you grow, train your peers, and stay informed. Keep in mind, most of these meetings are offered in-person and online. Some of these opportunities pay overtime to show up and bring valuable information back to your crew.
With that said, I couldn’t disagree more with the recent negative review.
Now, I’m sure a rebuttal is coming that I’m a “union guy,” in the promotional process, or one of the Chief’s cronies. So, to be clear- I’m not. I’m just someone who loves this department and my brothers and sisters. It honestly pisses me off when someone, clearly out of touch, tries to run us down.
Speaking as someone with 18 years of service to this department and our community, I couldn’t be prouder of where we are and where we’re headed. Sure, we’ve had our struggles- issues with city management, city council, our pay, cancer coverage, workers’ comp- but what department hasn’t? Most of those we have overcome with our MOU.
Even with those challenges, in my time here, we’ve never had it better than we do today. Funny how the guy complaining failed to mention the 10%–18% raise he just got, the two sets of turnouts, the ballistic vest and helmet, the uniform pay, holiday pay, and the nine Kelly Days a year. Or the brand-new station- complete with a sauna, cold plunge, and red-light therapy. Or the four complete station remodels or 2 brand new stations schedule in the next five years. Or the new trucks on road today and the complete fleet flip already ordered.
The list goes on.
Bottom line- I love this place. It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to work here and to serve alongside my brothers and sisters every single day. To the person taking shots from the shadows- enjoy your retirement benefits- pension, 6 figure RHS, retiree healthcare trust and countless more- you know- those things you’re ****ting on today.
I fall somewhere between user-603 and user-669. I agree with 603—we have some incredible firefighters who give their all every shift. I also agree that staffing continues to be a major issue, and it’s something that needs serious attention. User 669 is definitely a union guy, and I respect that. I’ve always appreciated that our union works hard to protect our image and advocate for the membership. We have a strong union with a long history, and I’m truly grateful for that. As for leadership, I’m not a fan of Chief Freeburg. That said, I understand the importance of working with him—for better or worse—because not doing so could make things even worse for the department. Glendale Fire isn’t a 1-star department, and it’s not a 5-star one either. We’re somewhere in the middle. But what I do know is this: people here are passionate, and that’s exactly why I still like being a part of it.
Rating Breakdown
3/5
3.5/5
3.5/5
3/5
4 Reviews on “Glendale Fire Department”
Once known for being one of the most innovative fire departments in the valley is now a department of low morale and no vision. The labor union is completely clueless to what’s going on out in the field which is allowing the Chief officers to do whatever they want. Under Chief Freeburg there is no direction of where the department should be heading. Since he arrived in Glendale he completely disbanded all 40 hour units and assignments and have ran non stop promotional processes for his chief officers which have silenced any communication from the field. Any chiefs who have questioned him have been forced to resign and any member who questions decisions is outcasted and silenced. Multiple members who have been arrested and accused of DUI or DV have been protected by the union and the department and after “time off” for the investigation are allowed back in their current leadership roles with no demotions or punishments. All members of the department have become rovers due to labors overreach and no consistency in staffing standard. The members of the department are trying to do their jobs with inconsistencies between division captains and chiefs. New equipment is introduced with mixed messages and poor training. If you question any division or chief and ask questions you get yelled at and talked down to. The front line firefighters are some of the greatest people around, wanting to do good work with no support from above. The members who do the right thing get shamed and ignored. Would not recommend anyone testing for what used to be one of the best departments in the valley.
We all know that guy- and apparently, Glendale is no exception.
You know the one: barely shows up for his shift, never gets involved in the community, isn’t on any committees, doesn’t train the booter, and doesn’t invest in his own professional development. He didn’t get the promotion or the assignment he felt entitled to, so now he can’t stop talking about how he got screwed. No matter what’s being discussed, he finds something negative to say.
This is also the guy who doesn’t attend any of the many department meetings- whether it’s Chapter Chats, Station Steward Meetings, Union Meetings, the Fire Chief’s Forum, or any of the various committees and cadres available to help you grow, train your peers, and stay informed. Keep in mind, most of these meetings are offered in-person and online. Some of these opportunities pay overtime to show up and bring valuable information back to your crew.
With that said, I couldn’t disagree more with the recent negative review.
Now, I’m sure a rebuttal is coming that I’m a “union guy,” in the promotional process, or one of the Chief’s cronies. So, to be clear- I’m not. I’m just someone who loves this department and my brothers and sisters. It honestly pisses me off when someone, clearly out of touch, tries to run us down.
Speaking as someone with 18 years of service to this department and our community, I couldn’t be prouder of where we are and where we’re headed. Sure, we’ve had our struggles- issues with city management, city council, our pay, cancer coverage, workers’ comp- but what department hasn’t? Most of those we have overcome with our MOU.
Even with those challenges, in my time here, we’ve never had it better than we do today. Funny how the guy complaining failed to mention the 10%–18% raise he just got, the two sets of turnouts, the ballistic vest and helmet, the uniform pay, holiday pay, and the nine Kelly Days a year. Or the brand-new station- complete with a sauna, cold plunge, and red-light therapy. Or the four complete station remodels or 2 brand new stations schedule in the next five years. Or the new trucks on road today and the complete fleet flip already ordered.
The list goes on.
Bottom line- I love this place. It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to work here and to serve alongside my brothers and sisters every single day. To the person taking shots from the shadows- enjoy your retirement benefits- pension, 6 figure RHS, retiree healthcare trust and countless more- you know- those things you’re ****ting on today.
I just love the photo choice for the media gallery. The Utility truck.
I fall somewhere between user-603 and user-669. I agree with 603—we have some incredible firefighters who give their all every shift. I also agree that staffing continues to be a major issue, and it’s something that needs serious attention. User 669 is definitely a union guy, and I respect that. I’ve always appreciated that our union works hard to protect our image and advocate for the membership. We have a strong union with a long history, and I’m truly grateful for that. As for leadership, I’m not a fan of Chief Freeburg. That said, I understand the importance of working with him—for better or worse—because not doing so could make things even worse for the department. Glendale Fire isn’t a 1-star department, and it’s not a 5-star one either. We’re somewhere in the middle. But what I do know is this: people here are passionate, and that’s exactly why I still like being a part of it.