Firefighter

Firefighter

arringnl

32 Years Experience

Goose Creek, SC

Male, 54

Currently serving Jasper County Fire Rescue in south Carolina along with Charleston County EMS.

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Last Answer on June 29, 2022

Best Rated

I live in NYC, and there are only a few volunteer departments available, but I heard they clashed with the FDNY. Can I volunteer with the FDNY or does it have to be an all-volunteer department?

Asked by KJ about 9 years ago

You can volunteer if they have them but I do not think FDNY has volunteers. You can volunteer with any volunteer FD, of course you need to apply and be accepted. I have heard that FDNY can be a little cocky, I do know NYPD and FDNY do not always get along though.

hey i noticed when people are going to the fire academy to being vol. firefighters , their helmet says their town and their status but the status says auxiliary . What does that mean and are you able to respond to calls while in the academy ?

Asked by ... over 9 years ago

Auxillary members are those members that can provide help outside of a structure but are not able to work inside

How does a person get hired as a firefighter by cal oes?

Asked by Dillion almost 9 years ago

Go to caloes.ca.gov, it explains the process.

I'm in SoCal, I'm 23 w 2yr of 911 EMT experience, about to complete Fire Academy, then take Paramedic classes and hopefully work for a volunteer FD at the same time. What else should I be doing to stand a better chance of getting hired in SoCal?

Asked by SoCal almost 9 years ago

Are you working while going to paramedic? If you are, you are going to find it difficult generally to volunteer/work and go to school all at once. Paramedic is a pretty tough class. Getting hired in CA can be difficult due to the competition. You will have a better chance applying nationwide. Paramedics are a dime a dozen in CA. They are hard sought for for instance in SC where I work. Most depts are going to an ALS system and require PM license.

Why did you decide to become a firefighter?

Asked by Carrie almost 10 years ago

1. There was an instilled desire to help others which probably came from being active with Boy Scouts and a Explorer with our police dept. I obtained my EMT which led into firefighting.

2. Working a 3rd day can be taxing even if you don't run a calls it is the mental wear of the 24 hr shift that is the most tiring. Holidays, Birthdays, school activities with your kids sometimes have to be missed due to working which can be frustrating.

3. There are numerous hazards from fires, collapses and car accidents. We are in dangerous locations as you may have witnessed on the news of a firefighter fall into a roof while fighting a fire. We have been killed while working in the street at accidents. So it is difficult to point your finger at the most dangerous things that we come across.

4. We do not have Sgts we have Engineers. These positions are obtained by time on the job, testing both written and practical exams.

5. Become an EMT first and volunteer with a Fire dept or Rescue Squad in your area.

6. The satisfaction of helping others and knowing that they call you when they know that you will take care of their problems.

7. Probably saving a 2 yr. old that had fallen in a pool and we brought him back.

8. I do not have a particular specialty since we are all trained to do the same but I guess you could say that I enjoy EMS the most.

9. Changes in Construction- Things burn faster and hotter, Increased EMS responses with no increase in resources, and increased cost of equipment makes it hard to obtain.

10. Study. Workout, Sleep, Run Calls.

Hi, I'm only 16 as of yesterday and I know I have much to look forward to but one thing that has kept roaming my mind is College/University. I would like to know if college is beneficial to my future position or should I go straight to Fire Academy?

Asked by Nicole Ortiz over 8 years ago

can you do both? As online college degree in fire science?

do vol. firefighters have to do physical endurance test and if so what types should i train for to get ready for the Acdemy ?

Asked by ... over 9 years ago

Depends on department requirements and state certification requirements. My dept does not do physical endurance tests prior and during employment. Is this a good thing, technically no. A firefighter has to be in shape for hard work and hot environment. Example are community did a Silent Walk on 9-11 in memory of the firefighters that were lost in the WTC collapses. The event had the firefighters wearing all of our gear including SCBA and walk 2,5 miles across our main bridge and the 2.5 miles back. Temperature was 85 deg plus significant humidity which is common here. Many of the firefighters such as myself prepared for the event for weeks exercising in full gear getting body accustomed to the long hours working in gear. The ones that didn't was shown to them yesterday morning by the effects of the walk. Being fit, not necessarily olympic level is required to perform your job just due to the working conditions that we operate in. There is the CPAT test that are conducted and by doing a google search it reveals what you need to do and you will be able to judge your current fitness as a starting point.