to become a firefighter....

[devildog]

Hey everyone. After 5 years of active duty, I am again a civilian. I got an awesome paying job at a powerplant, but I hate it with a passion. Reenlisting is not an option for me at this time. I have always wanted to be a firefighter. I need information on taking the steps tobecoming one. I know we have members here that are ones. Those are the folks I wantto hear from. I don't care about you uncles friends dogwalkers babysitter that knows someone. Thanks for the help!

[wimag]

Drop in and talk to a local station. They can point you in the correct direction.
Review local community colleges that have fire academys. There will be adequate personnel in the office that can answer anything you throw at them.

[kopfjaeger]

Los Angeles County is taking apps. They are the department that all other California departments want to be on. Very well paid!

Check out eatstress.com

All the info is there.

[Ken Majors]

Been a career firefighter for 15 years.

My advice is to go to school. College.

Get a degree in Fire Science, or something similar. EMS is also a quicker way into the fire service. The degree is becoming more and more crucial in securing a career position.
So go to college, get a degree in something fire or EMS and while you are in school, work as an EMT either on campus or nearby. Get ya some practical experience.
Start applying and taking civil service tests. You can do that before you graduate too...and sometimes the job of a lifetime will fall in your lap.

Good luck!

[devildog]

ugghhhh, school....

well, paying for school is not a problem, i have the GI bill. going to school on the other hand is tough, i have a family to support....

i make 35 bucks an hour with plenty of overtime right now, so going to school part time or online is an option, but school full time is not. can you elaborate more on the civil service tests?

can you tell me the process to become one? do i just need certain training and i get certified? or do i HAVE to go to college?

here in CT we depend on the volunteer fire departments. through them i can get the training for free. is this a viable path into career work?

[BeaverEater]

my buddy went the national guard route for a firefighter, then went and volunteered at a local station. After about a year there they hired him on full time. They also gave him a lot of schooling and such while he was a volunteering.

[Ken Majors]

ugghhhh, school....

well, paying for school is not a problem, i have the GI bill. going to school on the other hand is tough, i have a family to support....

i make 35 bucks an hour with plenty of overtime right now, so going to school part time or online is an option, but school full time is not. can you elaborate more on the civil service tests?

can you tell me the process to become one? do i just need certain training and i get certified? or do i HAVE to go to college?

here in CT we depend on the volunteer fire departments. through them i can get the training for free. is this a viable path into career work?

Sure that works too.
Volunteering, and getting trained is what most people do. Then they move on to bigger, career departments.

I was giving you the sure fire, quickest way to get hired on a full-time paid department without having to volunteer. Which is school, work for a part-paid while in school (not an option to a guy with mouths to feed), and then apply, take tests, apply, take tests, rinse, and repeat as needed.

$35/hour is more than you would make as a firefighter anywhere (starting out). I would stay there and suck it up. If you make that now. You should be making anywhere between $75-$100/hr in a few years time. <---dripping with sarcasm

You don't HAVE to do anything to get on a career department except exactly what it says on the anouncement of opening. BUT...college will get you in ahead of the guys that don't have it. Paramedic training will put that much further ahead, and any other specialized stuff is better yet, i.e. scuba, high angle rescue, water rescue, extrication, etc...

The tests are usually fairly easy. The testing process is a pain in the ***. The bigger the department...the bigger the pain. Chicago had the best run test I ever saw. At the conference center downtown. 8,000 guys in one room. It was a cluster...but it went well.
You will remember situations like that from the military. Standing around for hours on end waiting for someone to tell you where to go and what to do...

Good luck!

[fire1811]

First which state are you looking at? A lot of states are harder to get jobs in. IL for example is a very competitive state.

Also if your looking to make a lot of money, your looking in the wrong place. lol Don't get me wrong some "nicer" i.e. rich, towns pay very well but who wants to reset a panel and sit all damn day.