Ask A Firefighter #4 - How late is too late?, firefighting and military, and more!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 มิ.ย. 2024
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00:45 - What happens when you go on a call before your shift ends?
01:54 - What do you do as a Volunteer Firefighter?
03:39 - Live Q&A
04:37 - Moving to a different state as a firefighter.
06:07 - College degrees for firefighters
07:46 - Ride Along
09:17 - How late is too late to start firefighting?
10:54 - Top advice for new recruits.
12:13 - Vacation time in the fire service
13:07 - Engineer responsibilities
15:18 - Firefighters with health conditions
16:21 - How to research a department
18:44 - Being a firefighter and in the military
20:51 - What do jr. firefighters/explorers do?
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I’m 40 and just starting. It’s never too late. Mentality and commitment are much more important than age. Life experience is a good thing..!!
I’m 20 getting my diploma now then going to the local fire department to figure out the next steps I dropped out do you know if they care about that
Started as a Paid-on-Call at 48 years old. Became full-time at 52. Get yourself in good shape. It's never too late to serve your community.
That's amazing!
love this! I just turned 29 and start my Fire academy this week. Once completed I go straight to EMT school. So excited and such a deep dream of mine. I cannot wait to make this dream come to fruition and make a difference in this world.
I just turned 30 and I am doing the same just in reverse! Good luck!
@@JoshBlomquist good luck brother! Let's make it happen
Just turned 29 also and starting EMT school. Did you end up finishing the firefighter academy?
@@pernellvspnut25 I ended up doing Emt school first and am in fire academy now!
@@Rkazaboss nice how was EMT school? I’m going to do an accelerated program that’s about a month long. Was the NREMT test hard?
God bless you
Wow I was looking forward to sharing this with you and the folks who check in. And I’m hearing your list of the questions asked. I’m 48 yrs YOUNG...turn 49 this year October. Oml also started academy TODAY. Man it was deep and intense and challenging but rewarding in a weird grueling way. I clearly must have some masochistic qualities. Very deep and intense though. I’m the oldest recruit seated next to the youngest (born 2002). So age is a factor in NYC they max out at 28-29. Where I’m at there is no age limit one must past the cpat and other stages. And yeah MUST BE IN SOME FORM OF DECENT TO EXCELLENT (not 7 day professional athlete but have endurance stamina strength AND WILL plus openmindness). I moved from NYC south and the drive was grueling 5 hrs sleep and a 20 hr drive, ALONE WITH NO CRUISE CONTROL AND THR TRUCK MAXED AT 75mph. So this is a blessing. Interestingly almost all the questions posed were discussed today. Very grateful for your site brother it’s been very supportive. Tomorrow is day 2
Im 30 years old and looking to reinvent myself. This has been helpful because I don't know where to start and it all seems overwhelming to me.
Thank you for sharing
Hey! I’m 16 and I signed up for my schools firefighting program and hear if I get accepted on April 9th. These videos are very helpful for my future in the fire service and I just wanted to say thank you cause they really help!
Great Video 👍🏿
Is it difficult to take vacation time off ? In your experiences how much seems to be the average for how much vacation time you receive? Could you tell us a general area your located in ?
I was 37 when I started full time 17 years as a volunteer though so that helped 👍 but yeah never to late if you have the right mindset
In regards to the question about being a firefighter with fibromyalgia, I am a retired firefighter of 15 years with fibromyalgia. As long as it doesn't impede your ability to do the job, there shouldn't be an issue. I think that it's very important to let the department know that you have this issue, so they are aware. In my case, both my superiors and co-workers checked on me frequently, until I had proven myself over time and they know what you can do and what you might have some difficulties with. As time goes on, make sure to report ANY changes to your condition or any meds you take. Understand that structural firefighting takes a toll on your body differently than most people, but can also worsen faster due to the beating your body will take over time. After 14 years, I could no longer get on and off the trucks regularly (or quickly). Fortunately, I was promoted to Fire Prevention/Safety Officer - 1. I earned the position, and 2. So I could stay on the department and keep my job. Unfortunately, after my 15th year, we had budget cuts and they wanted the position to go to someone who could also go on runs regularly, as our run volume had increased a lot. So I had to take early retirement. That, in turn, cost me receiving a full pension (20 years is required), so I only get a fraction of what I would've got. All in all, I don't regret my choice one bit. Not only was I a firefighter/medic, but had several specialty certifications (Hazmat Tech and Specialist, Confined Space Rescue, Combine/Large Farm Equipment Rescue, Silo Rescue, and others). In the end, it's better to live your dream, if even just for a little while, than not at all. God bless.
Appreciate all the information. It’s been very helpful. You mentioned working as an EMT to gain experience while looking for a department gig. I am currently a wildland firefighter and have just acquired my EMT. Would you recommend getting an ambulance gig over continuing wildland? Cheers.
I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your channel and all of your videos. These videos gave me all the information I needed to get through the hiring process in the county that I live in. I start April 16th! :)
RE: guard and reserves My department follows the law, but only after I was forced to involve he ESGR people and 20 years ago. the impression I have is that many employers will follow the law because because the have to, not beacause the want to
Could you possibly tell us about what you did from a high school age to become a firefighter?
I went through rookie school at 30 and a few guys were older than me. I was a medic though.
Hey Mike, thanks for consistently putting out content to help out! I am wondering, do reference checks play a big impact towards the end when the panel is deciding between a few candidates or are the reference checks more to confirm the candidate does not have a poor background?
ASK A FIREFIGHTER currently in medic school planning on associates after, how would you explain when asked in an interview that a candidate would like to finish school and that it is a goal for the candidate. If applying at a BLS dept? Thank you, love the videos.
Hey this is a bit of a silly question, but can I wear clothes that says fire department or something that just supports firefighters without being one? My end goal is to be one someday but I want to help support you guys now.
I’ve read once about someone that got stopped by the police about it, but I’m not sure if it’s true and if it was if it was justified.
@@jakub_pie4940 no, that can’t be true. Unless you have a shirt that says “POLICE” on it. Lots of family members get handed down shirts, hats, jackets to represent their family members dept. I wouldn’t worry about it, but if a firefighter asks you I’d suggest making it clear you’re just a proud supporter.
Ask a firefighter: Due to covid they're not allowing volunteers or ride alongs, how can we get any experience if they're not letting us in?
Best bet would be google for now. Learn what you can and better prepare yourself for when you can go on ride alongs. Look for any sort of opportunities around you might not even be with a department from your city.
Would you happen to know if a department like LAFD requires any swimming portion throughout the academy?
Reach out to someone in the department.
Im 34 years old and my ultimate goal is to become a carrier firefighter but have 0 experience.
I'm planning to go to the navy to have some sort of experience and something that looks good on the resume, then start at a volunteer firefighters. Should I start the process of volunteering now before I join the navy or wait until after basic training? Or should I go straight into volunteering and not go into the military?
Ask a firefighter: hey mike I was just curious about at departments how do they decide who rides where in the truck/ ambulance?
I’m 42 and applying to departments in CT where I live 🤞🏼- I’ve heard of someone getting hired at 52 so it’s definitely not too late.
Can you explain the difference in training between states? Your videos are awesome by the way man.
Ask a firefighter: Hello I am very new on my local fire department. I don't want to be the "obnoxious new guy", but at the same time I want to learn as much as possible. When a fellow firefighter does something on a call that's not by the books (or how I learned) what would be the best way for me to ask them about why it was done the certain way without being annoying or condescending in a way? Hopefully that question makes sense and came out the way I intended in my head
What do full time departments think of the NREMT versus just a state EMT certification?
NREMT means nothing to anyone . Over regular state EMT.
Ask a firefighter: I am currently a volunteer FF/EMT student going to college this fall for a dual degree, one of the degrees being a fire medic associates. The college I will be attending is in a fairly large city in Ohio, do you know if it’s possible to obtain field experience with a city department while attending college? Thanks for making these videos, here’s to 100k!
Ask a Firefighter: is being too young something that could make it harder to get hired as a career firefighter? I am 21 years old and have tested for three different departments, is my age something that would help my chances, hurt them, or doesn’t really matter?
Doesn’t matter at all. Your age should play no factor in getting hired.
Hi I’m in the Air Force right now and I’m almost done with my service. I’m from Cali and I want to work a area different from my home but back home I have 3 family members either in city or county FD. Thinking I have a better chance getting hired back home. Is moving to another FD easy depends? I’ve seen FF’s get demoted or accept a lower rank to move to another FD.
Also is there any online EMT programs you know that is accredited nationally and possibly California state specific?
Do you have to take a swim test and tread water to become a firefighter? If so do teach u how to swim?
How do I apply or is there a requirement on how long you should be a firefighter before you can apply abroad I'm from South Africa
Hey mike, I'm planning on applying to be a volunteer firefighter after I graduate from high school in the next few months. I'm wondering if I would have any success in becoming a volunteer firefighter right after high school? Or if I'd be better off going for any schooling that would help, and then applying.. I appreciate your amazing videos, they have been extremely helpful. Much love from Canada 👍🇨🇦
Ask a firefighter. What’s more important, ems experience or volly fire experience?
You can never have enough experience
Get that EMS!!!!
Lol easy. EMS. Volly does nothing. Prior military or especially former military firefighter is millions miles more helpful to get hired than a volly. No comparison.
Every professional dept I know of. And been a member of one in Los Angeles area and Now Ohio. Couldn’t care less about prior volly experience.
How do you prepare for and then pass a polygraph? I’m very nervous about an upcoming one for a department, I don’t necessarily have anything to hide but it seems intimidating.
Hey Taylor, did you see the video I posted a week ago about the polygraph?
@@mike_pertz Sure did, thanks for putting it together. Great info!
Ask A Firefighter: I am a teen I live in CA and I wanted to know if it is alright to go up to the nearest station to hang out ,help them clean and ask them questions about the job. Is that weird or even possible with the pandemic going on? One last question. Dose becoming a firefighter junior cost money
Ask a firefighter. Can you get hired in a different state then where you live and travel to that state on work days ? Thanks for the great content
As a firefighter. How often do you get in scary situations, like walking on a roof of a burning building
Rarely in a small town
That’s a hard question to answer because it’s relative to what you consider scary. To answer your exact example of walking on roofs, I’ve been at my department for 2.5 years and have only walked on roofs for training. Now…even with that said, that doesn’t mean I never will, but so far I’ve had a few battalion chiefs that I’ve worked with that have told me they don’t like putting their guys/girls on roofs unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. So it really depends, BUT. I would have to agree with the other person that commented here, as far as the roof question, rarely. But “how often do we do scary things?”….well, depends on what you’re “scared” of, but you should be training in fake scenarios of all kinds on a very regular basis (especially when you’re a rookie like me) to where when you get the real deal, it’s not so scary. I remember my first structure fire I couldn’t see ANYTHING. I mean NOTHING….but I wasn’t “scared” really (I mean I guess I was a LITTLE bit), but I had trained on a blackout scenario like that about 100 times, so it was just going through the motions.
@@brandonrickrode thanks man that was really helpful. I’m about to be in rookie school in a month or two. I’m hoping I’ll learn how to deal with stuff like that so I’ll be a great firefighter
I really want to become an Firefighter and Paramedic. But, I'm and over thinker. By over thinker, I mean I'm only 14 thinking that when I hopefully get into a Fire Department, I should get to romantically attached to someone, because this is a dangerous line of work. And how I don't want to leave a wife or maybe even children without a father or a husband. That I think I shouldn't be over thinking about at age 14, but I do this over many different topics. Should I still think about going into the Fire Deptarment?
HOW OLD IS TO LATE ? WELL A CITY DESERVES TO GET 20 YEARS OUT OF YOU SO 20 FOR WOMEN,BECAUSE BY THE TIME THEY ARE 40 THEY ARE COMPLETELY USELESS. 35 FOR MEN, ONCE , ONCE THEY HIT 55 THEY JUST DON'T TAKE THE SAME RISKS THE JOB REQUIRES.
Ask a Firefighter: If an individual is diagnosed/taking meds with a “Psychological disorder”, such as anxiety or depression, would this prevent the Fire Department or Police Department from hiring them?
just don’t disclose that information
THE JOB IS NOT FOR YOU
Hey I’m in the Cleveland, Ohio area do you know of any volunteer Stations near me??
In Cleveland or suburb of Cleveland?
There are a bunch depending on where you are, and how far you want to travel
when is the live stream?
Sick profile lmao
Hey, I'm a volly right now, just started college as a chem major and I'm getting a paramedic cert as well. Are there any jobs or career fields that I should get into now that would be do-able part time or over the summer that would help me later on to get on a department? Also, nice video.
See if your department has any paid opportunities. For example, in my volunteer town, if there's heavy standstill traffic which would block our members from responding, we may be paid a bit to stay in the firehouse on "warden duty". Usually a fun time and we get some cleaning/training in if it's slow.
D/E is the best job in the FD hands down!
Ask a firefighter. Can you be a firefighter if your scared of heights?
Absolutely. We are humans. We all have fears. I’m personally not a fan of heights at all. Now keep in mind there may come a time/be a call you go on where you have to face your fear, but absolutely don’t let that hinder your decision to become a firefighter. To add to that, if you have a specific fear, my advice is to train on those scenarios so that when the real call comes in, you can confidently face your fears. For example if you’re scared to jump in the ocean and rescue a drowning victim, train and “practice” in a pool or something.
NO NO NO THE JOB IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.
What helped you memorize the NREMT skills sheets?
Make copies of the skills sheets like 4 or more . Tape them to different places you go like bedroom, kitchen, bathroom etc.. say them outloud each time. Every couple of days write them down and compare them to the skills sheets. Lastly practice practice practice
Do volunteers firefighters get pay?
So you’ve mentioned going to trade schools a few times throughout some of your videos, can you talk more about them and different routes you could take? thanks
Do firefighters get annoyed by station visits and what is the best way to go about it?
YES
No. We don’t. We’re all regular humans, so sure, some may get annoyed, but it is a public building and we are professionals, therefore every firefighter should treat visitors professionally and accept that it’s part of the job. So no, we shouldn’t get annoyed. To go about it, you can usually call the fire department’s admin department and ask them when a good day/time/ would be for a particular station.
Hi, I have a question. I am planning to become a fighter fighter but I have misophonia (basically a hatred of certain sounds that irritates me, such as heavy breathing) and I can use headphones to block out the noise but are we allowed to wear headphones or something like that if it leaves out the smaller noises but you can still hear voices? Thank I love your channel!
Ask a firefighter: do you know of any firefighters that have diabetes or if diabetics can even be firefighters?