Any firefighters outside of California on here?

Hope you weren’t one of the 200 that got cut to make room for that pay raise

 

Bump!

I graduated from my town's five month academy last week. We're a volunteer department and I am proud.

 

I worked for the Little Rock FD and retired a little over a year ago. Little Rock pays well and the cost of living here is low. Granted I don't live in the city. Fuck Little Rock and Fuck Arkansas. I hate it here. I grew up in Hawaii, California, and Norfolk VA. We moved here when I was a teenager. My parents got divorced and we moved here because my Mom's parents were here. I got my degree in Business Administration and used it for about 8 months until a buddy of mine talked me into taking the FD test. I asked him "why would I want to do that?". He said "because you work one day on and your off two". Well... that sounded good to me.

Long story short... I finished my career and I make more money now than I did on the FD because I paid so much into our pension system. Starting pay for a FF here is around $49,000 IIRC. We are one of the highest paid FD's in the South. I was lucky and got promoted on the first time I took the Drivers test and Captain's test. So I was promoted to Captain with 10 years on the job. I was able to get two other degrees in Chemistry and Radiological / Nuclear Physics paid for by the FD and the FBI. I was also a Paramedic which helped. I got to do things that most people never do. When I retired I roughly figured up how many runs I made and it came out too close to 34,000 in my career. I was never assigned to a slow company. I retired as a Captain and my pay was right at $100,000. Now that I'm retired I get a 3% cost of living increase (compounded) each year for the rest of my life. I got to retire at 47 years old so no.... you don't have to get a second or third job to support your family as long as you become a professional FF. A volunteer FF will not make the money and you are on call 24 / 7. So, if you get a job in a large city you will be just fine.

I will say that being retired at 47 is the shit. I don't have to do anything and I get paid more than I did when I actually had to go to work.

This was the Truck that I was on. It is the busiest Truck Company in the South.

 

Just wondering I’m currently in the army now but get out next April does it actually help being in the military to get in the fire academy easier?

 

In short, yes. Most departments give points for veteran status while going through the hiring process which, depending on how you do with everything else (written test, physical test, panel interview, chief interview), can really give you an advantage.

However, there are many academies fairly easy to enroll in and attend. Getting hired by a full-time department is a whole different animal. In fact, a lot of departments require you to have already completed an academy. Sort of depends on the department.

I would recommend you visit some stations with the department in which you are trying work and they will tell you exactly what you need to be doing to get in the door.

 

Not here. But that said... I much preferred those that had served. Those that had served already had the chain of command down compared to those that came from civilian life.

If you're talking about just getting into a fire academy, you can do that at anytime on your own. The best route is getting hired by a Professional FD and they will pay for your academy then give you on the job training afterwards. The way it works here is, for the first year you have to meet certain requirements quarterly. Then at the end of the first year you have to put all of the things you have learned throughout the year and put it to use in a test. You have two attempts to complete the test and if you fail you twice you are let go. So it gives you motivation to hone your skills so you don't fail that last test.

 

Thanks a lot for the advice! My only problem is that we don’t know where we’re moving to when I ETS I’m currently in Virginia but plan on moving back to California

 

When you say HERE where is that? I’m only asking cuz I’m open to move any where I get out

 

I worked for the Little Rock FD. in Arkansas (post above). Little Rock has the 4th highest crime capital per capita in the nation and there are at minimum 4-5 structures fires on any given day. I got lucky and got on during my first attempt. I got to retire at the age of 47. Little Rock is a very progressive FD and is a class 1 FD. Starting pay is close to $50,000 and I retired as a Captain at $100,000. I got my degree out of college with a Business Administration degree and then we worked closely with the FBI so I was able to get my Radiological / Nuclear Physics degree paid for by the FBI (since I was a HazMat coordinator throughout my career). Then I got my Chemistry degree through the FD through Emmitsburg MA. paid for by the FD. I was never on a slow company in my career. As mentioned before, I roughly figured up when I retired that I had made 34,000 runs during my career as a Professional FF. I was always assigned to a Truck Company which means we were in charge or rescuing people trapped in a fire, ventilation, and salvage and overhaul. Not to mention we were also the ones that ran all the accidents on the freeways by cutting people out of the wreckage.

The pension system is what makes this department so good. I'm not sure how it works in other parts of the country but here I make more money off the job than I did when I was on the job. Add to that... I get a 3% cost of living increase (compounded) each year for the rest of my life. It is a great job but it will take a toll on you physically and mentally. You will see things that no other human should see and you won't be able to get those memories out of your mind no matter how hard you try. But it is also a very rewarding career.

 

I am EXTREMELY proud to say that I am finally a Firefighter with the City of San Antonio. I tried for years to get hired and now that I'm in I never want to work any other job ever again. I was actually incorrect in my original post, I've tried since 2011 to get in and I only missed one year or two of testing.

 

Congrats!!!!

 

Thank you!

 

Congratulations! Don’t be a dipshit and get the boot during your probation. Ears open and just do your best. And remember if you don’t know you don’t know. Just ask.

I saw quite a few engines out here from Texas in California this summer working some of our big ones. Maybe I’ll run into you one day!

Good luck!

 

Congrats brother. Best of luck from Austin Metro.

 

Probation is over, but I'm not letting off the gas anytime soon. I've worked with a few of the older guys that were sent out to California earlier this year. They said it was no joke.

Thank you!

Hopefully I can get in on the wildland training they have here whenever it opens up, it's something I really hope happens soon.

 

Thank you, thank you!

 

Member of a suburban department in south east Michigan, Local 3472, just curious if there are any other's in here from that part of the country, and as well as offering any info for anyone looking to become a firefighter in Michigan

 

I'm a member of the Lucky 13's, our volunteer department here in eastern Washington. I joined after a huge fire in our area last year (Evans Canyon) burned to the edge of our town, it just felt wrong to be a capable dude sitting here watching while others were actively helping.

After a few weeks of Tuesday drills I was interviewed by the officers and offered a recruit position which I gladly accepted.

I completed the BLS/AFA/AED trainings in December, an ice rescue training in February, an advanced high/low angle rescue training a couple weeks ago. I've been in Structural FF school since October and will be done May 25th. We had an all day hose/ladder/search & rescue training yesterday that was pretty tough - getting through the entanglement prop on air dragging/pushing the RIC pack was nasty. Still feel like I could have been more efficient getting through but the instructor said we did well.

I am a little sore today but that is ok - at 46 I'm the oldest dude in my class and I'm keeping up with the 20 year old kids.

Huge thank you to all you firefighters that have paved the way with your blood and sweat. I won't let you down.

Evans Canyon fire from my house:

Car fire simulation drill night:

My summer fishing hole after several departments doing ice rescue:

Freshly issued 5.11 coat:

 

Congratulations on all you've accomplished! It sure feels incredible when you've reached the other side, doesn't it! I'm fairly new myself and I already absolutely love this job.

 

Thank you. It does feel good but I still have a long way to go.