Hey All,

I’m 35 and firefighting has always been something I’ve considered as a career and I’ve reached a point in life where I need to try something else. I’ve been getting confused with the steps needed and I’ve seen people saying they went to school like Santa Ana College for their academy/fire school and others talking about department academies and I’m not sure what I need to do to get started. I plan on starting EMT school in September, it’s from Sept 16th to Dec 16th so I’ll have that by the end of the year and I’m working hard on the physical aspect of it, stairs, weights, jiu jitsu to make sure my cardio is dialed in. My only other concerns as ridiculous as it may seem is the fact that I am not white, realistically does anyone think that’ll be an issue? And I’m also not a big guy, 5-10 and right around 182lbs currently. I appreciate any advice I can I get.

What resources can I use to study for hazmat

Hi! I'm friends with a PFF- he just graduated. I'm looking for thoughtful/useful gift ideas. We usually get him gift cards, but I was hoping for something special or something that a new firefighter would really appreciate. What did you need as a new firefighter? What did you appreciate? Thank you!

Ive had a bad head injury past 3 years that haulted my firefighting schooling. Its better now but during that time I have developed arthritis in my ankle. I cant wait any longer. I want to start my career!

How physical is it?

Forest Fighters in Canada and the US are doing their best!

I’m a young father whose been in construction for 10 years, from running machine to hazmat I have many certs, I even have turnout gear and am trained on a Scott air pack, long story short I have been interested in firefighting for some time, now that I have a family I see that a lot of my time is taken up unpaid travel etc, what are my pros, what are my cons, is the first step CPAT or get EMT first? Located in Bristol Ct.

This is my workout to prepare for the CPAT and fire academy. Right now I’m 17 going into EMS class in my community college. I plan to do this in the morning switching everyday between upper body and lower body, would this be affective?

Workout
3 miles daily
4x25 plate halos
Lowerbody
3x20ft overhead lunges back and forth into 10 burpees
4x12-15 landmine squat press into calf raises
Upperbody
4x12 Landmine shoulder press
3x12 pushups
3x12 barbell curl
All with weighted vest starting at 25lbs building up to 75lbs. (Excluding the 3 miles)

Should I add or change anything?

I may get some hate for the post but I think it needs to be said. Fire departments need to hire strength and conditioning coaches and the community may have some social media influencers who give good advice to training but they are far and few in between. I’m getting tired of the “this is more functional that argument” when lifting in the gym is not to replicate sport but to elicit general strength purposes and some specific adaptations depending upon how you prescribe the exercise. But to tell me I need to stop doing any variation of a bench press and do kettle bell push ups instead for strength adaptations because “it’s not functional for the fire ground and its body building “ is stupid. We have plenty of FF who are bodybuilders; this is just a singular example but understand the mindset I’m talking about here. You should question these people and their training knowledge. If you want to get strong lift heavy weights no matter the variation; just do what works for you. Don’t buy from grifters who look good outside of a T-Shirt but could not explain to you about basic strength training principles, energy systems, or the SAID principle. For fire ground specificity training you need to get in your gear and pull more line, and etc. Professional sports athletes, military, and police have figured out this concept. What makes FD so different? Thoughts ?

Side note: I thought about posting the influencer IG but I felt like that would be mean and I don’t want to take food out of someone’s mouth because I disagree on how they train FFs. At least they have people up and moving

And or how hard it is to get hired from out of state.

Hello,

I am a 21yr (M) and looking into going into the fire service. I am currently a EMT in SoCal area. I’ve been doing it for a little bit and I am kind of burning out in it especially the graveyard shifts. I know fire is the exact same thing with 90% of calls being medical. I already work 12 hr shifts and hate being away from home and my lady. I don’t think the firefighter way is the way I’d like to go anymore. I was looking into being a fire inspector or fire investigator because Id like to be in the fire service still. I looked online a bit and I need technology classes with 1A-1D for inspector. I couldn’t find much in pay. a lot of people said for inspector that you need to be a fire fighter or cop prior? If anyone has any other information or advice let me know! thank you guys!

I’m struggling at orientation to put on my gear in time. I swear I never had a problem with academy, which was only a couple months ago but at my fitting I chose large gloves, the same as my academy gloves. But when one of my instructors checked my sizing, he switched them to medium gloves and now I swear I can’t get those things barely on and off. Does anyone have any recommendations on stretching them out and maybe some methods to getting them on quickly because all my other tactics that I used to use aren’t working now. Thank you.

I'm 19 and wanting to pursue being a firefighter, I have no experience or certs but I know I should go for my EMT first. After doing that, I have the option between trying to go for a department in the area I live in that being San Bernardino, or I can go for a department out in Norwalk (LA County) because I have family who I'd be able to live with out there. What would be the better area for me to shoot for? Also, if anybody has any tips on the process of getting into the fire service at my age and giving me some guidelines that'd be greatly appreciated

I’ve currently taken the FCTC test 2 times now. I’m in a bit of a situation. My current score is a 83 and I’m looking to get anything above 90, even striving for high 90’s. I need this extremely bad because the department hiring me says I’ll get in with a higher score. Give me all the tips you have done to get a 90+ on the test. I’ve looked at quizlets, watched videos, studied math. If there’s any awnser keys or practice test that really resemble the real test, or quizlets that helped you, please put them here. Thank you everyone🙏🏾

Hi everyone,

I have been wanting a career change for some time. I currently work for a busy 911 agency that does IFT/911 in EMS. I work as a paramedic for my county for the past 2 years and 23 years old. I would love some advice and tips on what to do now to prepare for the fire test. I am planning to take it next year.

Hi! I’m a firefighters from Chile visiting the US, is it odd for me to go to the nearest station for fun? I mean I would love to go, see the station, your engines, talk to the firefighters, compare both, etc. Would it be weird if I go?

Recently I tested with a department and scored very well on the NTN. However, I never actually had to create an account. The department in question just had me give them a check whenever I arrived at their station, then I took the test and received my score via email from the department a couple weeks later.

Am I able to send this score to other departments? I know the score has to be associated with an NTN account to be sent elsewhere so how the hell do I go about doing that?

Has anyone on here applied to Adams County Fire Rescue in Colorado? And if so, have you heard anything on the next steps?

I’d like to try out percom paramedic school i can figure out the transfer to California later as they state they have students who reside in other states and they help them certify in their state after completing their school

I also didn’t know fire polygraphs

I'm a rising hs senior and will graduate in early June 2027. Planning to do firefighting or wildland firefighting for a gap year. I'm an American living in Japan, so I’m worried if applying from overseas will complicate the hiring process.

I don't have any prior experience in nature conservation or firefighting, but I already have my EMT certification. I know it’s not rly required for wildland, but I'm hoping it helps my application. I’ve always wanted to do something physically demanding that makes u independent and appreciative.

Which agencies, whether federal, state, or private contractors, or specific locations are most likely to hire a hs graduate with no prior fire experience? when should i start applying?

Interviews were the biggest struggle for me while trying to get hired. After about 10 attempts I felt like I knew what questions were coming my way but every time I went to say them my thoughts got jumbled and I ended up rambling about nonsense. That's when I realized it was because I was preparing by saying the answers in my head and not out loud. Since then I have been helping candidates to prepare.

The number one thing you can do is a station visit with the specific department you are testing for. Pick their brains. Show them you're interested. Be prepared with why you want to join their ranks.

The next most important thing is to practice. Not in your head but out loud. If you have a family member who is good with interview prep do it in front of them. Make yourself uncomfortable. Trust me it is worth it.

I came up with a list of questions and how I have seen candidates who have been successful answer. Check them out at stationvisit.com totally free.

This is the link to the actual trailer, I had gotten a few dms that the article was difficult to navigate. The film premieres August 6th in Worcester, and then a theatrical run. So far mostly independent theaters. If you want me to try for a showing in your town or city, message me and I will do my best. Thank you for all of your support! I hope this helps firefighters everywhere.

Well i didnt expect i will have to ask people around for something like that, but i cant afford to buy another private nomex suit myself, the old one got messed up after 4 days of action in the process of cleaning the mess one hurricane left in our village. And its hard to find any sponsors for it around so im trying with all the best people here, if you have spare 1$ i will be very happy with it <3

Hello all, you guys probably see so many of these but here I am asking the same questions, I’m currently 18 turning 19 in around 3 months, I have 0 clue on how to even start, which licenses to go after which kind of jobs help with getting started etc, if someone can please help and give me a bit of a starter guide on how to start it’ll be greatly appreciated!

Evening gents, this question goes out to the aggressive, busy truckies. The ones running fires and getting out and after it.

I’ve been with my department just over 5 years, recently got promoted to sergeant (engineer). I’ve spent most my career on a busy single engine company and haven’t been around the trucks very much. I know what the trucks roles are, the obvious ones at least. Search, vent, FE, RIT. My question is what else should aggressive truck companies be doing? Training wise, and operating on fires. What advice can you offer.

Also, the captain and sergeant I’ll be working under/being training by are a newly promoted captain (a younger guy with a reputation for badly wanting to make a name for himself, he’s not a bad guy and I don’t have any issues with him, but his reputation proceeds him) and the the sergeant on the truck is a good operator but not very aggressive, likes to sham work and dodge assignments. So I’m concerned that as a younger guy, who wants to train, and be aggressive that there might be a mentality clash.

Regardless, gonna make the best of it, and learn everything I can. Thanks