What does it take to become a firefighter? I was wondering because i was thinking about doing this. I am nineteen almost twenty (may 8th) and i was wondering about the class etc, that u have to take. Thanks for any information!

 

I'm an EMT on our local FD, not a FF - but all the kids I see joining up who are serious about becoming professional FFs are all in college chasing Fire Science degrees, and many of them also going for their Paramedic ticket also. Like everything else nowadays, lots of schooling - check out the community colleges in your area. But best to stop in and talk to some of the members of your local dept too - they'll be the best source of information for you...

 

hey what you need to do is go to the fire dept one that is hiring fill out the app if your app is accepted they will set up a interview if you make it threw the interview you will have to do the firefighter challenge if you complete that they will put you threw the academy
thats the rough of it if you have more questions pm me

 

Around here you kinda have to know somebody to get in...

Tim

 

RDJ184, i can see that your a FF. Do you have to be a paramedic before you can become a firefighter? Also what did you have to go through in the FF challenge?

 

Do you want to be a volunteer or career?

To become career you must possess ff/emt B or P more and more Departments want you to be a medic to become a FF career.

As for volunteer go to your local Department and fill out an application.

I would first join the local volly Department to see if its for you or not. And as for volunteering the Department will pay for all your training, as if you went on your own you must pay out of pocket for all the classes.

If you have more questions PM me or email me.

 

no on paramedic unless thats what they are hiring for most will require a emt basic most depts will help you achieve that but not all

the challenge will kick your butt its tough and very much meant to be that way to make sure you are in decent shape ........each dept has there own challenge......something you might consider is finding a volunteer dept to try it out and get your feet wet see if it something you really want to do...... it is not an easy job

 

RJD, so not all fire departments require you to be a paramedic? It just depends on that departments policy? For the challenge, do you have to do alot of running? I lift like 1.5 hours a day, and am in pretty good shape. But i dont run a whole lot. What did your challenge consist of?

Ryan, i would like to become a career firefighter. Whats the local vally department?

 

cardio cardio cardio start running walking any thing that will get your heart pumping hard

 

i am not a paramedic but i do hold my intermediate license again not all depts are the same

 

Ok, sounds good, ive to start runnin again lol. Thanks for all the info and keep it comin!

 

I meant to lay volly as in volunteer, I highly recommend that you try out the volunteer Department before you get into it and its something you rather not do. Yes its very rewarding but it will get to you mentally and physically at times.

I didn't say you must be a medic but some do require you be a medic. Do you want to be in the big city Department or more of a suburb Department?




Big city departments like Cincinnati don't require in prior FF experience as they will put you through there Fire Academy. Although not all departments do so, they will most likely require your Fire and EMT card. I'm not sure about other states but in Ohio its the 240 card. Dont get discouraged about that because you could also find a Department that will require you to get your EMT like within a year of employment or how ever there SOP's say.



Most Departments require a CPAT test. Be prepared to do a lot of running and lifting. ITs just pretty much to see if you will be able to do all aspects of the job IE: lifting patients, and or pulling, and being able to handle the physical part of the job.

Here is an example of the C-PAT test:
Stair climb
Hose Drag
Ladder raise
Search and rescue
Breach

Anymore questions just post it here and Me or rdj184 will answer

 

And It Is Physical

 

I got the lifting down but i gotta start running again. Ryan are u a volly firefighter or a paid one? Whats the difference (work wise) of a suburb or inner city FF?

 

Right now I am a previous Firefighter, I resigned when my full time job started to interfere. When I was FF I was a Volunteer. remember don't do this to become rich. The differences between a inner city Fire Department is that the 9 times out of 10 will put you through there academy and don't require experience. Suburb Departments usually don't put you through academy and require you to have experience as some will not put you through school. Also it is rare to become a full time firefighter at one department if you work in the suburbs, because I know here most of them are part timers, and most work at 2 different houses to make up for the part time. As for inner city you got Full time mostly.

Work wise do you mean type of calls? Id have to say it all varies on what Department it is and your location. The calls range from town to town, you could go days without making any calls then theres days your going from one call to another.