I wanna be a fire fighter?
go to your local fire station and ask them if you can voultenter then once you have experance you can become one in the city and get paid.
What does it take to be a firefighter?
Volunteer Firefighter - okay, this is going to sound simple but it really is this easy:Go down to your local firehouse and ask how to become a firefighter.If you don’t want to just “drop in” email the fire department or give the a call instead.Most fire departments really need new volunteers - there’s lots of work to be done and not enough people to do it, both on a call and in preparation for future calls.Once there you can talk about the necessary training - depending on your physical abilities, available time, and the needs of your department. (In a different answer I highlighted the most common firefighter training paths).Paid Firefighter - assuming you are over 21, you can begin to apply to departments recruiting new firefighters (most cities will have a web form you can sign up to to announce the next round of hiring - go to yours and read everything you can about what that department wants.)The paid department hiring process will typically include:a written examination (civil service test)oral interviewbackground investigationdrug screeningphysical aptitude/agility exam.Some departments have residency requirements (NYFD requires that you “are aresident of one of the five boroughs of New York City or live in Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk or Westchester County.”)Many also require that you have your CPR/ AED certification prior to the Academy.The application process, at a minimum, will take a few months - and for many applicants take will take a year or more.And even paid departments with civil service exams will still be biased to candidates that have experience as a Volunteer Firefighter and EMT-B or Paramedic certifications, or who have prior military experience… so if you’re interested in being a full-time paid firefighter, it still behooves you to start as a volunteer and get some training and experience under your belt.
Can I be a firefighter if I have asthma?
Hi,As a pediatrician specializing in Asthma, I do not think that this would be a good idea. For starters smoke can ‘precipitate’ or worsen asthma. In addition you would be going in to enclosed spaces with strong smells that could trigger asthma attacks. S unless you are very well controlled and have not had any attacks for many years, it is not, IMO a good idea to become a fire fighter if you have asthma.Asthma Expert, MD, India
Become a firefighter?
Not sure where you live, but here in FL you must attend a fire academy prior to hiring on with a FD. You also will probably need to be an EMT prior to hiring on. Most FDs are ALS and want you to be and EMT at a minimum. The academy is 4-6 months long depending on whether you take a night class or day class. It consists of nearly 400 hours of classroom and drill hours. FL has the highest standards for training and is accepted by the PRO BOARD which is a national certification and accepted in 43 other states. Outside of FL, other FDs will hire you on as a probie firefighter and put you through their academy, but usually there is a waiting list, especially in the bigger cities NY, Chicago, Phoenix, Cincinnati, LA, etc. The others are right, it is very physically demanding, but it's also very mentally demanding. The Essentials of Firefighting IV is the book most academies use as the main instruction manual for the basics of firefighting. Good luck in your endeavors! And remember our motto "Everyone goes home!"
Is 27 too old to become a firefighter?
There was a time when most fire departments had strict age limits for firefighter candidates, but in recent years most departments have relaxed these requirements, or in some cases have eliminated them entirely. Still, age is an important factor for anyone seeking to work until they are eligible for full retirement benefits which is usually a minimum of 20 years, although this varies considerably from state to state. There is a current trend in many areas to increase this time frame in order to keep retirement systems solvent in future years. Regardless of the specifics, it is generally advisable to secure an appointment at a relatively young age in order to maximize the employee’s benefit. The physical demands of the job also tend to favor the young, however age is not as important as maintaining physical stamina.I must say that 27 years of age is certainly not too old to begin employment as a firefighter. In fact, it may be close to the optimal age for many candidates in terms of physical fitness and maturity. Education is often not a requirement, but that is not to say that it is not important because today, most entry level recruits have some formal college education. Keep in mind too that many candidates take the examination more than once for many different departments. Practice makes perfect and it often takes several attempts to achieve an aggregate score that will be competitive against many of the highly qualified people that apply for these coveted jobs. The hiring list may also last for several years or more, so that is also a factor that must be considered in many cases, because it can be a very long and frustrating process. So, 27 years old is a great age to begin your fire service career and you will probably find that there are others who will be much older than that depending on the size of your recruit class. My final advice is to prepare like your life depended on it and you will likely achieve your dream of becoming a firefighter.
How difficult is it to get a job as firefighter?
It’s very difficult… Firefighting is one of the 10 most competitive jobs in America, believe it or not. For every job opening, there are usually hundreds of applicants. I know out here in CA, it’s extremely difficult unless you already have your Paramedic license, extensive experience, and/or a family member or strong connection already on the job. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. If you REALLY want it, you can make it happen.Need to start by getting your EMT Certification (4–5 months) and then your Firefighter I & II Certificates. That takes about 2–3 years in itself. Then you need to make sure you are physically fit enough to pass the PT exam that will be administered by any department you apply to. Firefighting is a physically demanding job and you must remain fit at all times. You will be tested on your PT scores every year. It is a Pass/Fail test.Thirdly, you need to prep for and take the FCA (Firefighter Candidate and Assessment). You need to get a high score on the FCA just to be considered for the job. It’s a timed computer-automated exam that includes math, science, reading comprehension, problem solving skills, attention to detail, etc. It’s not easy, but there are prep-courses and prep-exams that you can take for it to prepare.Then lastly, you have the Oral Interview. This is where the department guys get a feel for you and decide whether or not they want to work with you for the next X amount of years. They’ll ask you about your work experience and what you’ve done to prepare for this job, as well as general questions just to try to get a feel for your personality. This can make or break your chances of being a firefighter. Firefighters spend a lot of time together and they want to make sure whoever they hire is going to be a good fit for the firehouse, as well as reliable and professional, obviously.So in all, Firefighter-EMT/Paramedic is a really difficult job to get, especially in major cities, but it is a rewarding career with good benefits and good job security once you do. If you really want it, you can make it happen. It will take a lot of hard work and patience to get there. A lot of guys wait years to become one, and many don’t get in til their 2nd, 3rd, or even their 4th try. Best of luck if you decide to go that route. Cheers.
Can't Decide Firefighter or Cop?
Hello, Everyone I cant decide on what to be I know I want to be either a cop or a firefighter. Im only 14 going into 9th grade but im thinking about going to a high school called first responder it is like a firefighter type school with regular academics. I know this school would benifit me alot if I want to become a firefighter but this leads me to the point on which i would like better i only know the cons about being a cop and the pros about being a fire fighter from my principal at my school his two sons are fire fighters who wanted to be cops when they got out of colledge but now are fire fighters. Anyways my principal told his sons the same cons about being a cop to me that he said to them, he told me that being a cop your always around negative people that dont like you and they disrespect you all the time and alot more stuff like each time you give someone a ticket you dont know when you get up to the window if they have a gun in their lap. Also the pros he told me about fire fighters is that you still work the same amount of hours and get of 2 extra days and when you go up to someone and ask if they need help they would be like thank god your here but if your a cop they would be like Oh no! a stupid cop. Their was alot more stuff he told me trying to convince me like you know what they called fire fighters after 9/11...Heros you could be a hero. I dont know guys im still debating. Any one have a perspective on this :) Thanks.