Any Firefighters on this site?

[Kraeken]

"Country Guy" is funnier than "Mountain Guy" or "Colorado Guy" or whatever. The only thing I know about Colorado is skiing and South Park...

Dress how they tell you to dress. Show up for personal interviews in business attire.

And if people don't want to take tests seriously, then that's less competition for you!

 

[MikeFrazier]

So how do you and your fellow ff's commute to work everyday living in NYC? Are there any suburbs just outisde of your city and you guys drive in? Or are most of you guys in apartments within the city? Do you live within your own departments district?

 

[Kraeken]

Almost everyone drives to work. Some people take the subway or ride their bike if it's more convenient. NYC is a huge place- 470 square miles. It isn't just Manhattan, there is also Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. More than half of the city is suburbs, with houses, yards, etc. I think about half of the people on my job live within the Five Boros of NYC. There are seven other counties in NY we are allowed to live. Our schedule is basically 24 on 48 or 72 off, so we're only commuting a couple times a week. That makes it easier to live further away.

 

[MikeFrazier]

That honestly sounds ideal, I would love to live on the surrounding suburbs then drive into the city and work. Here the city is so wide spread most of the firefighters live within the city. Some live in the surrounding areas that are 10-15 mins away tops! You could also live in the beautiful mountains but the houses up there are soo pricey it's ridiculous. And traffic in our city isn't in such close quarters there's a lot of 45-50MPH roads but people drive so recklessly. Easily 10-15 miles above the speed limit for no reason!

 

[andy2008]

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!

Hey Brother im sure you will recognize these photos then. Im on the Kanawha County RRT here in WV. We came up called in by FEMA for Irene thank lord it wasn't as bad as they predicted still got some crazy flooding stay safe up there in the big city.

 

[Kraeken]

Coney Island, nice! I've never been in that EMS station but the firehouse down there has basically the same patch. One of the better company logos on the job. Thanks for helping out!

 

[andy2008]

Coney Island, nice! I've never been in that EMS station but the firehouse down there has basically the same patch. One of the better company logos on the job. Thanks for helping out!

Hey our area starts at front bumper anything we can do always be there! Stay safe

 

[MikeFrazier]

My EMT class started today gentlemen.

 

[hearno]

I took it in my senior year of high school. It's an easy class, just pay attention and don't overthink things.

 

[andy2008]

My EMT class started today gentlemen.

Sweet great step in your education next thing you know you'll be signing up for medic class haha enjoy it

 

[MikeFrazier]

Sweet great step in your education next thing you know you'll be signing up for medic class haha enjoy it

I can tell I will enjoy this class. Very interesting convo's even on day 1. My teacher was a volunteer FF for 15 years plus a medic for 15 as well as a special ed teacher. I am in good hands to learn. She's very intense.

 

[Kraeken]

Do this- During the childbirth video, eat a big eggplant or meatball hero (or sub, hoagie, or whatever you call them out there) with a ton of cheese and sauce. Laugh at the people who run out to puke.

 

[MikeFrazier]

Update: Passed my NREMt and joined a local volunteer department. Also working on the paper work to get my reciprocal EMT for the state side. Few tests coming up in Oct and Nov I'm preparing for.

 

[andy2008]

Congrats great job stay safe

 

[bob3dsf]

Way to go!

Hey man,

I'm a lieutenant (driver/operator for us) in Raleigh, NC. I have to agree, the best job in the world. I'd say don't be intimidated by a bigger department. Often you'll have better career opportunities in a bigger department, as well as (typically) more training opportunities like HAZMAT and USAR and stuff like that. But if your dream is to work for your home town, that's cool too. Don't know your level of education, but don't let getting on a department stop you. Higher ed might not be required for hire, but it might play a role for eligibility to work towards higher ranks so just be aware of that. I was in the army before I started working here and being part of a tight-knit team was something I really liked (having brothers in arms watching your back, etc.) and the Fire Dept. has that same camaraderie. Oh and develop a thick skin. As a "new boy" (FNG, probie, etc.), you'll catch hell but don't worry, the other guys do it 'cause they like you and trying to show you the way (in their own special way...). Learn to laugh at yourself and roll with the jokes, and you'll be totally fine. Be willing to learn and listen to the guys who've come before you. Keep it up!

~Bob

 

[MikeFrazier]

Hey man,

I'm a lieutenant (driver/operator for us) in Raleigh, NC. I have to agree, the best job in the world. I'd say don't be intimidated by a bigger department. Often you'll have better career opportunities in a bigger department, as well as (typically) more training opportunities like HAZMAT and USAR and stuff like that. But if your dream is to work for your home town, that's cool too. Don't know your level of education, but don't let getting on a department stop you. Higher ed might not be required for hire, but it might play a role for eligibility to work towards higher ranks so just be aware of that. I was in the army before I started working here and being part of a tight-knit team was something I really liked (having brothers in arms watching your back, etc.) and the Fire Dept. has that same camaraderie. Oh and develop a thick skin. As a "new boy" (FNG, probie, etc.), you'll catch hell but don't worry, the other guys do it 'cause they like you and trying to show you the way (in their own special way...). Learn to laugh at yourself and roll with the jokes, and you'll be totally fine. Be willing to learn and listen to the guys who've come before you. Keep it up!

~Bob

Thanks for the advice! As far as my education goes I'll be done in December with my Fire Science Associates if that counts for anything. And I have opened up a lot to testing outside of my hometown. I have several tests coming up for large departments immediately surrounding Denver. I'm studying hard for that written test.

 

[bob3dsf]

Thanks for the advice! As far as my education goes I'll be done in December with my Fire Science Associates if that counts for anything. And I have opened up a lot to testing outside of my hometown. I have several tests coming up for large departments immediately surrounding Denver. I'm studying hard for that written test.

Yea man, just keep up the hard work. It'll pay off. Not sure about the hiring processes in your neck of the woods, but getting on the bigger departments can sometimes take more than one try. If you find that you aren't selected, even after passing all the different steps, remember that a LOT of people are trying for just a few positions (ex: one of our recent academies had over 1000 applicants for only about 30 openings). And along with that, it's usually not the fire dept. personnel making the final decision on who gets selected. Many times the FD runs the process and submits a list of recommended candidates to the city or county personnel dept., and THEY might have other factors being considered like demographic quotas, etc. It's not as simple as taking the top 'however-many' people for the number of openings... although that's how it should be...

Bottom line: just stay focused on your end goal and don't be discouraged if things don't work out ideally the first time out. BUT I'm hoping you don't have to worry about that. You're being proactive and if that kind of initiative can be noted by the people making the assessments along the way, it will be.

 

[Hayden_]

I'm sorry but trying to move the focus of the conversation here but what's the age to become a volunteer firefighter? I'm 17 and it's always interested me and figured I'd try it before I made any major decisions. Thanks everyone and thanks for your service to the communities!

 

[zopperman]

I'm sorry but trying to move the focus of the conversation here but what's the age to become a volunteer firefighter? I'm 17 and it's always interested me and figured I'd try it before I made any major decisions. Thanks everyone and thanks for your service to the communities!

I was a volunteer EMT from when I was 16-~20 and it was one of the best experiences of my life.

 

[MikeInNH]

I guess you have to live in Civilized areas to get paid to be a Fireman.

I have an engineer who works for me and he's also the head of his towns Fire department. Has been doing this for over 30 years. Has every certificate you can get. But like his fireman job...most small towns in NH..it's all volunteer.

He would LOVE to go full time and take full time position in one of the few cities that actually pay...but he can't afford to take a 70% cut in pay. Which is sad. We don't pay our firemen and police nearly enough.