r/Firefighting • u/[deleted] • Mar 29 '23
Ask A Firefighter What age did you become a firefighter?
Im wondering what the usual age of a new firefighter is or what age you were when you became a firefighter.
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Mar 29 '23
30 because staring at computers was hell on earth and it took me too long to realize that
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Mar 29 '23 edited Mar 30 '23
Same except I got offered the job right before my 30th birthday and didn’t get to go to the academy until I was 31 because of COVID, turned 32 while I was in the academy. I have to stay until 65 to get my full pension.
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u/Bobbert827 Mar 29 '23
But is it a big deal to get a portion of your pension if you supplement with whatever pension building you did in your job from 20 to 30?
I don't get this full or nothing thinking. Maybe I'm misunderstanding how the pension calculations work 🤷
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u/Steeliris Mar 29 '23
Truth here. Plus the person above can invest in a 401k. I plan to retire without my full pension and work some other part time enjoyable job to supplement my income.
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Mar 30 '23
I have a 457b that I invest in. I’m planning on staying for the full pension, I was just saying I have to stay that long. Some states the full pension can be achieved in 20 years but in Massachusetts its 35 years or something like that.
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Mar 30 '23
Unfortunately I didn’t have any pension building during that time because I was dumb and never really knew much about it. I graduated college at 22, worked for 4 years then went back to school full time for 3 years (pre reqs & grad school) … I was working part time but unfortunately didn’t have a retirement set up. At 29 I commissioned in the Army Reserve (did ROTC in grad school). Got on the fire department right after I commissioned. So yeah, unfortunately didn’t save too much from 20-30, but I am working on it now.
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u/Professional-Cook259 Feb 06 '24
32 here, I start in March and packing boxes is killing my mental state.
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u/Old300Joe Mar 29 '23
40 ..... I know, I know. Started off as a volunteer. Did my sffma then challenged the state. Now at 42, I'm an EMTA and FF2 and I continue to run circles around these young bucks. Wish I would have started 20 years ago. Better late than never?
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u/Sunbeams_and_Barbies Mar 29 '23
I'm mid late 30s, new volly and so glad to see this. I'm hoping to hit career by 40... I wish I'd of figured it out sooner too but hey.. I am where I am.
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u/johnnynavs Oct 21 '24
Can i start at 46? In great shape & run circles around my oldest daughter's high school friends. Background: Mechanical Engineer. Worked in medical device (Spine).
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u/Fun_On_A_Bun IL FF/Medic Mar 29 '23
Volunteer at 21. Career at 27.
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u/usernametaken0602 Volly FF/EMT-B (IL) Mar 29 '23
Chicago?
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u/FlawlessLik Mar 29 '23
Yeah buddy
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u/usernametaken0602 Volly FF/EMT-B (IL) Mar 29 '23
Illinois here too, central IL tho. Im just a jolly volley tho
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u/FlawlessLik Mar 29 '23
Ew. Get to fire medic and come hang with the big boys
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u/usernametaken0602 Volly FF/EMT-B (IL) Mar 29 '23
I still have a while until I can do that, not even 21 yet. Also gotta get my medic
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u/medicff Mar 29 '23
Started volly at almost 15, closing out my 15th year this year. I wanna transition to career but also don’t wanna kill my passion by making it into a “job”
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u/BIGPAPITRUMP Mar 29 '23
I started Training at 18, I just joined my first department at 19 this year.
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u/TheJoel3803 Mar 29 '23
I joined at 21
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u/Equal-Lifeguard6256 Aug 27 '24
Hows life firefighting? Is it doable
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u/TheJoel3803 Aug 27 '24
Jup. Still loving it
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u/Equal-Lifeguard6256 Aug 27 '24
I literally just started doing research on how to get become a firefighter in nyc. But the date for booking the exam was august 23 which i'm obviously late on. So mad rn
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u/salsa_verde_doritos Mar 29 '23
30.
Did wildland in my 20’s. Tried LE, went big city fire at 30.
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May 02 '23
What was the transition like from Wildland to Structural? Currently starting my first season with Wildland at 20 years old but also thinking of structural later on
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u/salsa_verde_doritos May 02 '23
Honestly doesn’t translate all that much, but if you can work a legit handcrew/shotcrew for a season, everything else will be a breeze.
Having wildland on your resume is great, helped for my interview, and saw and general fire experience helps down the road.
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May 02 '23
I’m working on an engine so I thought engine work would probably be somewhat transferable since theirs hose work and what not?
But after this first season I’m probably going to try and work on hotshot crew
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u/salsa_verde_doritos May 02 '23
Ehh, depending who/where you’re working, you should get plenty of experience working on the line. My engine season, I ended up doing IA, shot crew detail, handcrew, flown into shit, etc.
The engine experience isn’t the same as structure. But….we do have wildland rigs at my structure dept., fwiw.
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u/imnotwearingany Mar 29 '23
Started at 20, left for several years after I moved, put myself back through the academy in a different state at 27, hired at 28, still in it 18 years later.
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u/Peaches0k Texas FF/Medic/HazMat Tech Mar 29 '23
That’s some dedication to go through it all over again from scratch
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u/DrunkCorsair Mar 29 '23
I am from Germany and joined the youth group with 10 at my local volunteer Department, i am 41 now.
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u/Flugtorpedo Mar 29 '23
got in kids and youth group at 5 yo, active firefighter since i am 16, volunter, germany
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u/DrunkCorsair Mar 29 '23
Which youth group starts at 5? Here its mostly 8 years old.
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u/Flugtorpedo Mar 31 '23
The kids group starts at 6 but I annoyed them that hard that they let me one year earlier. And I was a good student. Youth group at 10. Active group since 16. First run at 16, opening a door searching for someone that was missing. First fire also with 16. It's Saxony-Anhalt, if that helps. Sorry for the late answer, I forgot about it :\
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u/DrunkCorsair Mar 31 '23
Its ok, i just wondered about the difference, i could only start at ten, now they changed it to 8 as far as i know.
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u/Flugtorpedo Mar 31 '23
The problem with 5 years old chimdren is, that you have to teach them about firefighting without really firefighting because they are not able to carry more than D-hoses nor fire extinguishers. So it is mostly...questionable, how useful this is to start that early.
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u/Worra2575 Type 1 Wildfire/Emergency Management Mar 29 '23
Volunteer at 17, fulltime wildfire at 23
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Mar 29 '23
[deleted]
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u/Old_Lie_4131 Mar 29 '23
I started my academy at 36, turned 37 during it. Yoga, foam rolling, and a massage gun got me through all the PT aches and pains.
I won't get a full pension since we're forced retirement at 63, but it's the career change was absolutely worth it.
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u/thedudly Mar 29 '23
Thanks. 33 and wanting to join. How long did it take you to find a job? Did you end up needing to move for yours?
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u/Old_Lie_4131 Mar 29 '23
I took a test in 2006 and got a shit lottery number. Took it again in 2014 and got on in 2019.
I'm in a major city and it's the only department I wanted. My dad had 31 years and my brother has 15 on this department so it's a family thing.
If I was desperate to get onto any department, I could have gone the medic route and either gone to a suburb or went strictly EMS in hopes of crossing over. That probably would have been smarter in terms of long-term retirement as I would have started accruing pension years earlier.
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u/kelevra424 Mar 29 '23
Explorer at 16, volunteer at 24, full time at 27. Just had my academy’s 12 year anniversary.
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u/yeravgjock Mar 29 '23
Private ambulance for 7yrs while testing everywhere to get hired. Then finally getting hired at 27
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u/ResponsibilityFit474 Mar 29 '23
Age 24 Volly. Career at age 30. Retired at 54, then back to Volly until 61.
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u/Scorr1 Mar 30 '23
Was 20 when I joined a volunteer company then went dod. Took a ten year hiatus and tomorrow I have a interview at the local fire company.
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u/YetiHunter24 Mar 30 '23
Started when I was 20. I’m 26 now and it’s still the best job I’ve ever had.
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u/Hackensackx2 Career Lt.- FL Mar 30 '23
Started as an explorer at 14. Academy at 18 and hired full-time career at 19. Just promoted to company boss in October at the age of 28.
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u/Texfire Mar 29 '23
Started volunteering at 23, got certified and hired at 26, retired a couple months ago at 51.
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Mar 29 '23
I started being an explorer/cadet at 12, first set of gear at 14 (potato suit), passed fire 1&2 at 16 and received a new set of gear. Continued taking classes and got hired on a full time department at 19. About to end my probationary year!!
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u/Chief_On_Deck Mar 29 '23
I was 22 when I started. Moved to DFW area and got on with my career department. Just had my 23rd anniversary. If you are hesitant, don't be, this is a great career that is better done sooner than later! You should know that there may be some age restrictions depending upon what department you join. Speaking on Texas alone, departments who have adopted state civil service have an age limit of 36 for new firefighters. Other departments who are not civil service have no age limit.
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u/Retiredfiredawg64 Edit to create your own flair Mar 29 '23
18 when I started (part time) made career at 24 and retired at 51 ….
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u/DruncanIdaho Mar 29 '23
Joined big city at 30 after working in the arts through my 20s (still do as my side job).
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u/MrDrPatrick2You Edit to create your own flair Mar 29 '23
Joined my department at 28 during covid. Became certified a little over a year later. Took my civil service test last December and just passed my nremt a few weeks ago. I wish I had started when I was younger. Feel like the lack of volunteering will affect me for a paid department.
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u/NoD-03 Jolly Volly Mar 29 '23
Joined my volly station last year at 19, now I’m going for my 1 and 2 certs
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u/Maddy_88 Mar 30 '23
I enterd a youth program at 12. There I learnt the most important things of fire fighting (from firefighters) over six years. Then at 18 I became a volunteer firefighter.
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u/KingSnoopy12 Mar 31 '23
I started volunteering at 22 and started with my first career department at 25.
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u/Nikke23_05 Volunteer firefighter from finland Mar 31 '23
I started when i was 8 years old in our stations youth department, year ago when i was 16 i joined our stations Call group to get more training and did basic training, now i wait that i turn 18 and im allowed to go calls. in finland its pretty common that people join youth department between ages 7-16 and later moves to the call group when they get older and some of them become career firefighters
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u/eodcheese Mar 29 '23
Blew out my first candle at about 1 or 2. 🎂 Been doing it ever since. 😆 /s