r/firefighter

gut is trying to tell me something?

My boyfriend and I have been together for 2 years. I’m 35 F tall blonde and fit He is 42 M not super fit but handsome and we have intimacy every time we are together. We’ve already been having major relationship issues because I caught him going to multiple AMP and it deeply damaged my trust. Since then I’ve been hypervigilant and honestly questioning everything.
He’s a firefighter. Yesterday he worked all day, then went to a firefighter party/bar thing with coworkers. Around midnight I called him and he told me he was at a 25-year-old male coworker’s house “talking about firefighter stuff.” He stayed there until around 2am. During those 2 hours I called/texted multiple times and got no response.
Now my brain is going into overdrive wondering if this is normal firefighter bonding/drinking after work… or if something else could be going on. I’ve even started questioning if he could be secretly into men because of how much secrecy and lying I already feel exists in our relationship after the massage parlor situation.
I did see the coworker’s social media and my brain immediately started analyzing his appearance/body language/etc which I know sounds irrational. I honestly can’t tell anymore if I’m picking up on real red flags or if my anxiety and broken trust are making me paranoid.
is it normal for guys to hang at each other’s houses until 2am after work/bar nights? Or does this sound off to you too?
Please be honest but kind because I know I’m emotionally spiraling right now.

Im pretty sure Ill have to retake FireTeams since I bombed the HR portion of it by placing in the bottom 40th percentile. I only had one incorrect answer in the HR part of the practice test I took. I also felt pretty confident taking it, so Im not sure where I lacked... and NTN gives you zero feedback. Are there any other good sites to review the HR portion? How exactly have others worked to improve on this section?

It's really real. I saw a dude once who had it and I said "You look like a firefighter" and he actually was one, and we became friends. So like... who was the prototypical person? Was there a first person who grew it?

Has anyone heard anything from Shoreline Fire? Tentative pre-screens were supposed to start yesterday.

I'm 16 and my dream job is to be a FFPM. After graduating next year the plan is to move from the midwest to the bay area as soon as I can, which I do hear things are competitive down there but that doesn't discourage me.

Either way, I want to start working towards this career but I just don't know how much I can do before moving, since as far as I know any certifications I get here would be useless in California.

In my years with the fire department, I’ve learned one thing: most fires that result in injury or death didn’t have to happen. They are rarely like the ones in Hollywood movies, filled with explosions and massive walls of flame. More often, they are caused by small, inconspicuous everyday mistakes — the kind we push aside with phrases like, “It’ll be fine.”

I’ve been in smoke-filled apartments in the middle of the night, in homes where smoke detectors were missing or broken, and in stairwells so cluttered that every second spent escaping felt like an eternity. And almost every time, I think to myself afterward: “If they had only known, it never would have come to this.”

That is exactly why I’m writing this article. Not to scare you or to wag a finger, but because I want to show you some of the most dangerous fire safety blunders I see time and time again — mistakes you can avoid with very little effort. If you change just two or three things in your home after reading this, it could be the difference between a close call and a total catastrophe when an emergency strikes.

Let’s talk about the five biggest mistakes that can cost lives — and what you can do better starting today.

I just had my second interview with a fire department in Washington, and overall I think it went well. I answered all of the questions thoroughly, but I was definitely nervous.

I’m curious about how much weight departments place on interview performance versus prior experience. For example, if I have a background that transfers well to the fire service, but another candidate interviews more smoothly or gives stronger answers without having the same level of relevant experience, would they typically be ranked higher?

Update got a call to come back and do my physical test. That’s got to be good news right? Why would they call me if they weren’t considering me. Anyways I’m going to run my ass off lol

I got an 85 on the FCTC, is that a good enough score to be competitive with depts like SFFD? Do they even care about score or just that you passed?

As the title says, I have completed my NREMT, woohoo… right? Only, I do live in SoCal and due to certain things, have no ability to move away from my parents nor land a fricken EMT job ANYWHERE. Everything is so incredibly over saturated here I’ll be re-certifying by the time I get hired! Ultimately my goal is Firefighter/Medic.

Personally, I’m thinking of 2 things here:

1. Tuff it out, work some crap job to make money and save it whilst applying everywhere I can within drivable distance (anywhere from 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours away). Really it’s not different than what I am doing now. I’m already applying, already working that crap job, it’s essentially just that for as long as I need to. (Whilst doing this, I am also taking classes at my local CC in Fire Technology where I can get my AS in Fire Tech and my FF I)

2. Join the military and do either Combat Medic or do a Firefighter position (I believe they have those). This to me is the less appealing option but it certainly isn’t bad. FD’s love those who came from the service from what I know and to already have a job in EMS or Fire plus Military could be really sweet. However, it prevents me from working on said degree as all classes must be in person. And, it prevents me from being able to enjoy my next few years with those I really care about.

What do you all think about this? Thank you all for your input

My local fire station is hiring certified and non certified and I was thinking of applying but I have some concerns I’m currently around 120 pounds about 5’9 I’ve been working at a mechanic shop for 6 years so I’ve done my fair share of heavy lifting and have no problem for the most time I know the equipment is 75+ pounds so that’s more than half my body weight I’m also a month in on my emt school. yall think It’s even worth it? I’ve been working out eating better but I got sick a while back and lost a bunch of weight and haven’t been able to gain it back.

Genuinely curious, do a lot of firefighters use steroids??

I see a lot of firefighters talk about hitting the gym everyday on top of there shifts and just dont see how this is not taking a wear on there body not getting rest.

I have a panel interview coming up with a fire department and recently spoke with a couple firefighters there to get insight on the culture and long-term career path.

One firefighter told me if I had other options, I should seriously consider them. He mentioned the department pays around $60k, moves very quickly in hiring compared to surrounding departments, has a 3-year contract due to turnover, and recently installed cameras in stations which has led to a lot of micromanagement. He also mentioned the call volume is extremely low and that he’s gone multiple shifts without a single call.

Another thing that stood out to me is they do not run firefighter/paramedic roles at all. If you want your medic, you basically have to pursue it completely on your own time outside the department, and opportunities to actually use it there are limited. My long-term goal is becoming a firemedic, so that concerns me.

I understand every department has unhappy people, so I’m trying to get objective opinions from firefighters with experience.

How much weight would you put on:

•Low call volume

•High turnover

•Retention contracts

•Station cameras/micromanagement

•No medic pathway within the department

Would you still take the job just to get your foot in the door, or continue pursuing departments that better align with long-term career growth?

Have the opportunity for an on call position where if brought on would first have the Fire Academy then about 6 - 7 months as POC all paid hourly. Currently 33 and will be 34 at end of this year. My question is how realistic I can move up from POC to FT if I will at that end of 7 months be 34 . My states age limit is 35. Worse case if PT status is the best I can hope for in such a short amount of time before turning 35 I also wonder if “lateral hiring / transfer” to another department could be possible before my 35th bday.

Good afternoon, (throwaway account)

Background:
Graduated fire academy EMT last year and I just got hired part time (no full time available when I applied)

So I commute an hour and 30 to my department. It’s a fire EMS based system. I got hired on in December of last year (I’m still part time due to no one leaving their positions).

I’ve always wanted to be a firefighter…but the main issue I’m having is senior people always getting spots in the engine and moving me to ambulance. It’s rewarding…BUT it’s also super fucking annoying. Last shift I worked a 72 was SUPPOSED on the ambulance for 24 and 48 on the engine….some folks called out…and I got moved to the rescue for all 3 days despite adequate coverage. I just got shat on by seniority.

There’s a private EMS company that works 12 hour shifts 20 minutes away from me. If i wanted to fucking transport all the time…I’d fucking quit and just work there instead of being constantly blue balled by engine shifts.

Maybe I’m just being a little bitch probie and shut the fuck up and cater to the needs of the department…but I genuinely think I got some valid points here. 20 minutes away (guaranteed ambulance work…Pays 2 dollars more an hour) OR commute an hour and a half for the title of “firefighter” and then guaranteed placement on the fucking rescue.

Not to mention these motherfuckers don’t have sleeper channels and refuse to use them because “battalion readiness” even though literally 98% of the calls are medical related and I get woken up from a call that’s not even in my zone (constant sleep disruption for literally no fucking reason)

Idk I’m just kinda chuffed. Maybe I should start looking for a new department.

I’m am 30 years old and a want to become a firefighter I had a small buisnes (construction) but it hasn’t been going well the last couple of years my question is am I too old to try and become a firefighter ?

Hello all!

I am a 21 year old college student currently employed as a lifeguard but I am enrolling in EMT school and plan to attend fire academy soon after.

I have a history of anorexia in my youth and I have OCD, this would not effect my ability to preform my duties as a firefighter as I am in stable mental condition as well as in shape physically. I suffer zero physical side effects as a result of my disorder.

However I do track my calories and weigh out all of my food. I do not restrict nor attempt to lose weight but I do diet intensively. As a result of this it is noticeable and I do not wish to tell people.

I heard that very frequently the station will pool together money for meals. I do not plan on eating said meals, I don’t mind contributing for the stations sake. But I don’t know what to tell everyone when I am weighing out my 99/1 lean ground turkey and eating separately from them.

Hi, I'm 24 and recently graduated from the fire academy. I've been assigned to my engine company and have been working with my crew for about two weeks now. The guys have all been great about showing me how things work, giving me opportunities to gain experience on calls, and answering any questions I have.

Even after finishing the academy, though, I still worry that I'm getting in their way sometimes because I don't know as much yet. I want to pull my weight and become a solid firefighter for the crew. Does anyone have any advice for handling that feeling or improving faster?