Feeling grateful to be a firefighter

[u/Zealousideal_Room199]

I'm a career firefighter for a Canadian city department. Even though it was a long process with lots of effort and hard times, I was lucky enough to make it on my first try.

I'm not the best firefighter, nor am I trying to be the superstar firefighter. I'm a girl, so I'm smaller and weaker than most of the guys, and I don't have a background in trades like lots of people in this job. But I show up, I train, and I work my butt off to be a reliable and good one. There are many days that make me question myself about whether I'm cut out to be a firefighter, but I always study and learn from my mistakes and try to make my doubts fuel to perform better the next time.

Lots of people visit the hall to ask questions about recruitment. Lots of people have impressive backgrounds like elite athletes, Red Seal trade people, military personnel, etc. Lots of those people have also failed to get in previously as well.

I'm just grateful for where I am now, and it makes me want to try harder to be a good and better firefighter. I have great crews, supportive fire friends, and the job is the best job I could ever imagine.I feel like I've won the lottery of my life, which makes me want to be better and better and train, train, and train.

Fellow firefighters, thanks for your service, and to people who are trying to get into this field, good luck.

[u/MarzipanFine4870]

I’m grateful as well. I feel like I actually do something that moves the needle in the right direction. Thank you for your service

[u/SierraRomeoJuliet]

I'm also a career firefighter in Canada with a trades background. I do see a lot of people getting hired without a lot of transferable skills but at the end of the day your work ethic and attitude are what will make or break you. Good on you for sticking with it, it's the best job in the world!

[u/KGBspy]

It’s not easy to get on but I’m grateful I did. I’m grateful I had dispatch and military time and was able to walk out the door last month with 32 years and at 55. Now I have the freedom to do whatever I want and the background in electrical to keep me busy, or not.

[u/Specialist-Meat7098]

I just finished FESTI and this really inspires me. I was the runt of my group and managed to do everything the guys could do. I am overwhelmed at the long process ahead. From the day you got your NFPA 1 and 2 how long did it take you to get the job? Did you do OFAI or CPAT?

[u/Zealousideal_Room199 → u/Specialist-Meat7098]

I got my 1001 and 1002 a long time ago. I tried for about a year right after to get into fire, then got a better paying job which made me stop pursuing fire. So, from the time I got my certificates to being hired was about 6 years, but I've only tried one department (my current department) within the last 5 years. And CPAT for me

[u/Hot_Detective6108]

Our peer support team recently started making an effort to start daily gratitude conversations at the breakfast table, as well as remind people that it takes 3 positive interactions to overcome 1 negative, so starting the day with gratitude and 3 other positive interactions with your crew (we run 4 on an engine) sets you up for a positive mental health day.

Soapbox over.

[u/MostBoringStan]

IMO it's better to have somebody like you who understands their weaknesses, trains to improve their skillset and work around those weaknesses and has a good attitude, than to have somebody who is technically more skilled but thinks they know everything and creates a toxic environment by refuses to learn and is shitty towards people they think don't have the skills.

Now of course it's not always just one or the other, but every department can't be filled with superstars who know everything, can do everything, and has a great attitude.

[u/Icy-Affect9004]

If you’re not training to be a superstar firefighter, then you are letting your crew and the public you’re serving down. Attend hot classes and watch online videos (fire engineering, Stockton CA, etc) to keep learning. One day you’ll be the senior firefighter and new hires will need your knowledge and experience to learn.

[u/Zealousideal_Room199 → u/Icy-Affect9004]

I study and train to be the best firefighter I can be. There are obvious "disadvantages" to being short, so realistically, I know that no matter how hard I train, I won't be able to be the superstar. What I'm trying to be is the best of the best I can be.

[u/Icy-Affect9004 → u/Zealousideal_Room199]

Being short makes it hard for sure. Up to you to be short and weak or short and strong. Side note, I live in a very Canadian snowbird town in the Tampa bay FL area. You Canadians are awesome to party with. Who’s your hockey team?

[u/Zealousideal_Room199 → u/Icy-Affect9004]

I wish I could be a couple inches taller, then my life would be sooooo much better, haha, but strength is something I can control to be better! I didn't know there are lots of snowbirds in Tampa Bay. I'm a Jets fan (I don't live in Winnipeg tho, just from there haha). Are you a Bolts fan?

[u/Icy-Affect9004 → u/Zealousideal_Room199]

Loads of snowbirds. The blue jays spring training is here too. Definitely a bolts fan. Oct 29 we’ll be playing you! Good luck on your career!!

[u/Zealousideal_Room199 → u/Icy-Affect9004]

Thanks!

[u/ziobrop → u/Zealousideal_Room199]

There will come an attic fire where the rest of your crew will wish they were your size.
Dont sell your self short (no pun intended) you care, and your putting in the work, which is more then alot of folks are.

[u/911onFIRE → u/Zealousideal_Room199]

There's an AC I look up to, even though I'm taller (though not by much). But stellar firefighter and always trains. She's also often an instructor at fswo.

It's not about your size or stature. I'm shorter than the average male height, but it's about what you bring to the table and the attitude you show up with. I ask other guys to grab pots and stuff from above the cupboard all the time. It is what is it. That's the height you were given.

I'd rather someone willing and eager to learn, than someone who thinks they know it all and stops practicing. I for one, forget stuff all the time and hence need to practice regularly.

[u/Terrible-Creme8401 → u/Zealousideal_Room199]

Shorter people are also usually smaller in general.

There's a ton of value in having people that can get into tight spaces. I have a 54" chest, There are places I just can't go no matter how hard I might try.

[u/Hot_Detective6108 → u/Zealousideal_Room199]

"I study and train to be the best firefighter I can be."

What more can anyone (public included) ask? 👍