Joining the volunteer fire department

Just put in my application to join the local volunteer fire department. Dose anyone have any advice or comments on what to expect?

 

Keep your mouth shut and your ears open

 

• You should learn something new every shift.
• Learn from the older guys, they may look deceiving but they're the ones who have been on fire trucks since before you were born.
• Be wary of those who talk the talk but never walk the walk.
• Don't be a "220" (2 years in, but think they have 20).
• You can never train too much for a job that can kill you.
• And finally as the great LT McCormack said, "The garbageman doesn't get excited when he turns the corner and sees trash, because he expects it. Likewise, you should be expecting fire on every run!"

Good luck fella

Matt

 

It's a great experience.. you can go as far as you want as long as you put in the time and effort. Try to keep a clear head, don't let adrenaline take over.. and train as hard you work.

 

Thanks for the help.

 

Find someone willing to mentor you. Be prepared for a ribbing. Listen. Practice your skills until you can do them in your sleep. It may one day save your life.

Always wear your PPE, especially seatbelts. Clean your gear after a fire to limit exposure to cancer causing toxins.

Be aware of things around you. Things can change in moments for the worse.

Get help after a bad call. Don't keep it inside.

 

Thanks

 

Lot of good advice keep it coming

 

Be a Rogue, learn the big 4.

But really, the single most important thing you can do is to have a good attitude and understand to keep your mouth shut - no one cares what you know. And remember, you're not too important to do the bullshit jobs that noone wants to do.

I had a senior fireman tell me that the day he's too lazy to help clean the truck will be the day he turns in his retirement papers, and for whatever reason that stuck with me (mainly because I hate it when I have a junior guy around, and he has to watch a lazy senior guy watch tv while I'm trying to teach the junior guy about taking pride in the station and the truck)

 

Learn the apparatus inside and out. When your asked to get a piece of equipment off of the trucks go to the compartment where that piece is located and get it. Don't go looking for it. Know It!!! TRAIN!!!! Take Pride In What You Do.

 

I want to learn as much as I can before I actually get started

 

Good advice.

@RearViewMirror shared here on TW about the dangers of not seeking help when needed, maybe he'll chime in, or check out his PTSD link at the bottom of his posts.

You'll see some stuff that will change you - my neighbour is a paid-on-call firefighter, the day he was first responder when someone climbed into the hydro substation to steal copper wire wasn't a good one. Fatal car accidents, the like. It won't be all fun and games, though it certainly won't be all bad either. Bottom line, don't brush it off and act tough. That approach doesn't usually work well.

 

Yep... It's all documented in my sig.

 

I can't wait to get started I've always wanted to join.

 

Tyler, I wish you good luck with your endeavor on the FD. I don't know how close you are to a major city but after you get a few years under your belt I would highly recommend you trying for a position in a paid dept. if you so wish. Might as well get payed for what you love doing right? Depending on the city you will get a lot more specific training that you wouldn't normally get on a volunteer dept. and (if they are anything like ours) you can retire in 28 years. I've got a little over 4.5yrs left and I'll be 49 when I retire. I've been fortunate enough to work for a large city and have received training in the form of Paramedic, Swift Water Rescue Technician, Haz Mat Chem, Radiological / Nuclear Technician, etc... I'm now the Senior Captain on the only fully staffed Haz Mat unit in the state.

You asked for advice on your first post and I'll leave you with this. Never ever turn down a chance to learn something. It will always benefit you in the end.

 

I'll pitch in to what is already a lot of good advice. I've been on a paid dept for 7 years, and while it's a little different than volunteer, there is a lot of carry over.

Learn the position above you. In my department the Pipeman (lowest man) is expected to drive the apparatus on occasion, the driver is expected to pull Captain duties on occasion, and the Captain is expected to do Battalion Chief duties.

I'll also echo the sentiment of joining a paid department. You might as well get paid to do the job. There are volunteer departments that offer per call pay, or some type of retirement supplement. That'll help, but in my opinion, the job is too tough and we put up with too much to not get paid. I do respect volunteers, because they do it for free, but if you find that you love the job, then you need to get on full time somewhere so you can enjoy the benefits as well.

Get yourself physically fit. Firefighting is no joke. 50-60 pounds of gear on while hauling a 200 foot hose will absolutely destroy you in 20 minutes or less if you aren't ready. The adrenaline will wear off quickly and you'll wish you'd done the exercise to prepare. There may be a time you're asked to ventilate a roof, and the chainsaw won't start. At my department, the rule of thumb is 60 swings to ventilate a 4x8 hole in a roof. That's a lot of swinging in full gear. There's a quote I read somewhere, "Fatigue makes cowards of us all".

If you run a bad call, talk about it. Don't be a tough guy in this situation. You don't want that hanging around in your head.

Get to know the guys you're going to be working with. If you get on a paid department, you will be living with those guys. Get to know them. Get comfortable with them. Because a 24 hour shift with someone you like is a lot easier than 24 hour shift with someone you hate.

 

the department I'm joining is paid and volunteer.

 

First thing we tell the new kids in our department.
I may have missed reading it here already...

But you have two things you wear on your gear.
Your last name (not all the time but it should be on your accountability tags) Your parents gave you that name.
Your departments name and station number.

Respect both, and do right by both.

 

And then you will be saddled with the name your brothers and sisters on the dept will give you lol.