Any Firefighters on this site?

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MikeFrazier

New member
First let me say hello to everyone! It's a pleasure to be on this site. Lots of information.

Anyhow, I am a 20 year old college student studying to be a firefighter. It's been my life dream since I was a little boy. My mother even recalls one of my first words being fire truck. Anyways, I live in Colorado Springs and have been here my whole life! I'm currently testing with Denver and will test for the Springs next year. Working in Denver would be awesome, that city is huge! It's like New York City to me( i know it's nothing like that haha). But my dream is to become a Colorado Springs firefighter, protecting the city that has given so much to me and my family. Just waiting for my opportunity to make a difference!!
 
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Also, what is the easiest way to post pictures? I do not have my own rig yet but hopefully when the job comes. I've wanted an 03 Sport 4x4 silver with the cladding since I first saw one! I have a few pictures that deserve to be in the spotted thread. Thanks.
 
Welcome and good luck on the job hunt. Best way on pictures is to me use site like imageshack.us load pics copy their direct link then add them to your post by tapping picture tab in tool bar add link. I'm a paramedic and a have been volunteering on and off since I was 18 as a firefighter hope u find that 03 too!
 
I've always used Photobucket to host anything I post on the web.

I'm a lieutenant/paramedic in the near north suburbs of Chicago. Been a FF for 15 years.

Keep at the testing and take some college classes. Be as well-rounded as you can. Broaden your knowledge of general building construction and systems and it will help you out immensely in your field. Computers and technology is also a great skill to have as the fire service is transitioning much of the old paper tasks on to computers these days.
 
Thank you for the welcome guys! I'm in my second year in my Fire Science degree. I have my Firefighter I and Hazmat as well as CPAT. I will be taking EMT-B next semester. I am very interested in volunteering as well! But i want to wait til I have my EMT as i know that is a very rigorous class and would like to give it my full attention.
 
MikeFrazier said:
Thank you for the welcome guys! I'm in my second year in my Fire Science degree. I have my Firefighter I and Hazmat as well as CPAT. I will be taking EMT-B next semester. I am very interested in volunteering as well! But i want to wait til I have my EMT as i know that is a very rigorous class and would like to give it my full attention.
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That's a good idea my fire department paid for my met-b class then I started working for the county which turned around and paid for me to go through medic class a few years ago. Can't ever have enough training in the fire/ems service keep at it before you know it you will have more classes than you will know what to do with. Chitown40 GO CUBS! I married a life long fan converted me over to the yearly struggle:bravo: been to wrigley 4 times now amazing stopped and bought t-shirt from the station there engine 78 & ambulance 6.
 
Haha the yearly struggle! I'm a Rockies fan, and they barely get by haha. Can I ask why did you guys decide to become firefighters? Of course you guys care a lot for people but has this always been your goal? Or did you have another career in mind before this?
 
I'm an Engineer for the Springdale Fire Dept in Arkansas. I'm 24 and have been there for 3 years. Best job in the world man. I am the fifth in my family to join the fire service. Been wanting this job my whole life following in my father's footsteps. Keep trying hard man, you will get there!
 
Bskelton said:
I'm an Engineer for the Springdale Fire Dept in Arkansas. I'm 24 and have been there for 3 years. Best job in the world man. I am the fifth in my family to join the fire service. Been wanting this job my whole life following in my father's footsteps. Keep trying hard man, you will get there!
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Wow your living my dream life haha already an Engineer by 24! And thank you for the motivation, it really does mean a lot especially from a younger firefighter like yourself! Makes me realize that I'm not too far from my dream
I just wrapped up my hydraulics class last semester and wow! I know it was just the basics but I enjoyed the math involved. There can be a lot riding on the engineers to get there pressures right. Especially with your firefighters needing that line for protection. The engineer position really is a special position that I grew a lot of respect for after that class(as if i didn't have enough respect for you guys as it is haha). My instructor was a relief driver for CSFD's heavy rescue unit. I love learning from the guys on the job there is nothing better!!
 
I joined a rural mountain VFD a few months back. I view it as an interesting way to fulfill my civic duty, since being in the wildland-urban interface, it's important to have enough competent firefighters to subdue wildfires before they get too big & threaten our homes.

It's a jack-of-all-trades department. They really want members to be proficient in wildland & structural firefighting, medical, and wildland rescue, so they offer a lot of training, and also foot the bill for members to get external training & certifications. I don't see it as a career path, I like my current career-- but I can certainly see why folks are eager to make a career in fire service.
 
MikeFrazier said:
Haha the yearly struggle! I'm a Rockies fan, and they barely get by haha. Can I ask why did you guys decide to become firefighters? Of course you guys care a lot for people but has this always been your goal? Or did you have another career in mind before this?
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Yeah brother I can't remember a time that I didn't want to be a fireman. We were talking about it today at the medic station I'm sure your not old enough like me and cant remember a show called Rescue 911 best show on TV back then. :biggrin1:stay safe out there.
 
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Hey! I'm a NYC firefighter in The Bronx, on the job since 98. Also worked NYC EMS as an EMT since 95, continued EMS part time until 2011 (I got really sick of it. I can't stand ambulances or EMS work anymore.) The fire service is the best career out there! Don't rule out taking the test for other big cities. We have people on my job from all over the country.

Keep studying, stay in shape!
 
[MENTION=68630]kobresia[/MENTION]-A jack-off-trades department is awesome. Having knowledge is wildland and structural is so important! Especially being from Colorado Springs where our whole city was on fire over the last two years with wildfires. Most people say wildland firefighters are extreme gardeners? 300+ homes were lost in the Waldo Canyon fire, but thousands more were saved from the efforts of wildland crews! I know being a volunteer ff is not easy especially with another career! Thank you for volunteering your free time to make a difference!
[MENTION=66744]andy2008[/MENTION]-No i don't remember but I did watch a ton of Third Watch when I was younger if that counts for anything haha I thought it was a decent show! I can't wait to be at the station and just reminisce on the days when I never thought I'd make it. That really would be a special feeling!
[MENTION=42734]Kraeken[/MENTION]- Being a young guy and never having been around some of the bigger cities can be so intimidating to test with them. You guys have been on the job pretty much my whole life! It can even be intimidating testing with my hometown Colorado Springs. You guys have so much knowledge that I could only wish to have! Haha the little kid in me still waves at firefighters any time I see them! Much Respect!
 
Someday someone will be telling you you've been on the job their whole life! It goes fast, and I still feel like a little kid.

If you're intimidated by big cities, then go hang out in some big cities! Millions of people live in them, many of them are really wimpy!

Seriously though, get over yourself- 16 and 17 year old kids stormed the beach at Normandy, Chuck Yeager was 24 when he broke the sound barrier, and a bunch of 18 and 19 year old Coast Guardsmen were in charge of NY Harbor on 9/11. When I was your age I was teaching scuba and had already done some dive rescues. Your young country guy act is up. Start going places. You're like 4 years late. At your age you should at least be in charge of a ski patrol, or whatever you guys do in Colorado.

How's that for some tough love?

:bounce:

PS- NYC FF's hated that show Third Watch. Come to think of it, we hate all fire shows and movies...
 
Also I was writing in answer to your question above, but forgot to finish-

I always kind of wanted to be a firefighter, but didn't know a lot about the job. The idea kind of hung out in the back of my head. I get stir crazy really easily, and could never work indoors in an office environment. I went to school for graphic arts and fine art photography. I also took a scuba class in college, which led to me quickly becoming an assistant instructor. Then I took an EMT class because I figured the knowledge would come in handy with all the active outdoor stuff I did. Halfway through the class I realized it was too much stuff to retain without doing it all the time, so I got a job in the NYC 911 system. Then I took the FDNY exam, and the rest is history. I still can't sit at a desk or use a Windows computer...
 
If I can't handle tough love then I'm probably looking in the wrong career!:amen: You are probably right I need to step up to the plate!

I have not had a desk job yet so I don't know what it's like. But I can already tell it is not something I wish to do. Being a firefighter is the only thing I can imagine myself doing, I really don't have a plan B career. But for the several jobs I have had in the past I could not imagine working there for the rest of my life. Like Taco Bell, Target, and now Buffalo Wild Wings. While they are great jobs, bottom line is my attention and focus is on being a firefighter and graduating college.
 
And I have begun interacting with larger departments. I was recruited by Denver through the Black Firefighters Association here in Colorado Springs. I was invited to take some classes up in Denver held by their recruiter and department chief. There were only 50 slots open for this class so I feel it was a great opportunity to get involved with Denver.
 
Awesome, take as many classes as you can! I'm not sure how it works out there, but consider becoming an EMT as well. Although I'm a little burnt out on it, working on a 911 ambulance was a blast, and the knowledge crosses over to FD, and you can still do it part time for extra cash. I think if you have some time to go before you can get hired by any fire department, try to get any city or state job. If I knew better (even though I didn't do too bad,) I would have pushed a little harder to become a cop first, because in NYC the time and pension contributions carry over from one city job to the next. If its the same out there I would strongly consider any city or state job that will get you into the pension system. If I had gotten hired by PD or even Sanitation, I would have been able to retire with a full pension this year, at 41 years old. You can't beat that. Pension benefits are rapidly eroding all over the US, so get in as soon as possible.

Also if you're in college, see if your college offers EMT classes. That's how I became one. My college offered a 6 credit course that led to state certification.
 
A city job is probably good regardless. I'm honestly not sure how it works as far as transferring pensions over from jobs, I would not be surprised though. I need to look into that. A job in sanitation I could handle easily but I'm not to sure about PD. Just not for me.

My college does offer EMT, in fact I'm more than likely going to take than next semester. I've gotten so far in the process of becoming a firefighter thanks to college. Firefighter I, Hazmat, CPAT..all state certified

And that is interesting you find me country haha. I would consider myself city since I've lived my whole life in the city but other places see me as country. But the reality is even in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs we're still country haha
 
Also, I went to take a written test the other day and I was the only one dressed professionally in a shirt and tie, slacks the whole nine yards. In fact, others seemed to take the test pretty lightly saying "it was probably the easiest test I'm ever going to take" How can others be so nonchalant about this? Is a written exam not the first step in the hiring process? I thought if this test was going to be so easy wouldn't we all be on a department by now. What are your thoughts? Possibly I was over dressed?
 
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