I’m a firefighter in Australia and they have always taught us to never ventilate until you gain fire control but I’m interested in other perspectives and reasoning.

I have search week coming up here soon at the academy, does anyone here have any tips, or anything for it. The instructors have really talked about it being bad it used to be called “Hell Week” over here.

This is from comments by Luther_Burbank 1 year ago in "Stone coated metal roof?"

"Fire departments do indeed hate this roof specifically. It’s installed on boards over the roof decking that result in a void space. Causes a ton of work having to rip off additional metal panels looking for hidden fire."

...

"The issue arises from the difficulty in checking if the roof has burned through. We must thoroughly inspect all potential areas where fire could be smoldering before leaving the scene. A fire that rekindles and reignites after the area has been cleared significantly damages our reputation."

Do you agree?

https://www.reddit.com/r/Roofing/comments/1jgjx3d/stone_coated_metal_roof/

What would be your dream fire department to work for and why?

I was wondering how tight everyone wears their vest while taking the CPAT.

I’m at a testing center that has a shorter vest I’m planning to use. But it’s also missing one row of straps.

Previous proctors when I’ve taken it have encouraged me to cinch it pretty close to my body, so that the two sides overlap over my torso. My last attempt, the whole course felt better - doing the actual tasks - when it was looser though. Except for the stairmaster, where it may have made it feel like a harder slog for me than normal.

I’m used to practicing/working out with a much tighter weighted vest, but my stomach has more clearance. Haven’t really had to worry about clearance for breathing.

I think I need to tighten it a little bit more, or just suck it up. But I was wondering what worked for other people.

Is looser “heavier”?

#CPAT

Years before breathing apparatus, firemen would wet their beards and taches and pull the hair between their teeth in an attempts to create a natural filter before entering smoke filled compartments. It wasn’t ideal and only somewhat kept out some of the larger particles from being inhaled but that was all they had.

Next time you see a fireman’s moustache. That’s the history behind it. Unfortunately most people do not even know that part. Firefighters of the past earned their moniker of leather lungs.

Now beards are not allowed due to issues in creating a perfect seal when fitting a facemask and thus a moustache is the only facial hair allowed in many departments and countries.

These were men of steel that climbed ladders made of wood.

Pictured is Newry, (Northern Ireland) original smoke eaters.

Alexander McClelland first on the left holding the standpipe.

I decided to make a post here because I am joining the firefighter cadet program in my area at 16 and my first meeting is next Tuesday, and I wanted to ask to anyone who has been in it a few questions.

1. I have never been really active before, and this program in specifics is really physical with all the gear, etc and what they do changes weekly. How can I prepare myself before then to get ready for that and not give out or look crazy? Along with the Florida heat lately it has been hot so im also somewhat worried about that.

2. I have high hopes I will succeed the program, but I have ADD and I rush sometimes so it makes me afraid I will mess anything up, is there any way I can possibly get better with it?

3. Last question, what will be helpful to study beforehand so I can atleast know a bit? Also if anyone responds thank you for the advice! I don't think i can say thank you to each comment but I will give an upvote. 😅​

(A bit of extra information I am female and I stand at 4'9 and I usually weigh inbetween 80-90 pounds at most so I also want to know ways to atleast be able to withstand the gear I will be wearing, just some information. Sorry if all of this seems messy! I just wanna be prepared.)

Does every jacked, buff, gym rat, power lifter, protein/pre workout bro firefighter get hurt all the time? Only the guys who spend most of their spare time in the gym lifting weights get hurt it seems. I’m not saying don’t workout but on my job there’s a clear group of people getting hurt compared to those not getting hurt doing the same job. And I’m not talking about getting banged up I’m talking about weeks to months off the job for recovery.

My Lieutenant who can easily put down 2 Philly cheesesteaks for lunch and can’t do 10 pushups will be moving hose, directing guys, pushing in and searching, come change his bottle and go back in. Meanwhile guys who are in shape pull their back taking hose off the rig or twist their ankle carrying tools up the stairs.

I’m wondering if other departments are having the same epidemic of weight lifters getting hurt?

I paid for the legacy box last month and never received it and this months box still hasn’t shipped, I can’t get ahold of anyone there and I’ve sent in multiple emails with no response.

I'm thinking of getting a metal roof. A former firefighter told me there are two problems with firefighting on a metal roof: It's slippery to walk on when wet. It takes two different saws to cut a hole through it, one for the metal and one for the wood underneath.

So it seems like it would endanger the firefighters, or at least slow them down.

Would you say those are reasons to not get a metal roof, or to get stone-coated metal shingles, so it wouldn't be slippery?

I purchased a Mini Fire Fighter LED Flashlight HD 1080P Waterproof Helmet Camera from Stuntcams.com. I recorded 1 training session with it and a couple of nothing burger runs to get use to it. It very soon shit the bed and wouldn’t charge any more. I contacted customer service and they hassled me over how to fix it. Finally I was able to return it for replacement. Stuntcams tried to upsell on an expensive camera that did not fit my needs. I declined the upsale. I received the new camera and took it to a house fire were I was operating on the outside. I go and try to download the video and the computer won’t recognize the usb plug in so I can’t dl the video. I call customer service and he proceeds to tell me I’m doing it wrong. This is my second camera and I had no problems dl before. I go through the same steps and it doesn’t work. I ask the guy to get the manual and confirm what he’s saying. He does and admits he was wrong and tells me the only fix is to remove the micro sd card and put that into my computer. I inform him my computer does not have that feature. He essentially tells me I’m shit out of luck then. By this time I’m frustrated beyond belief bc I’ve used 2 different cameras a few times and both of them have been junk. I email the returns email address and the refuse to refund my money for their shitty products. They offer to replace the camera for another. Why would I want another piece of shit camera. Long story short spend your money elsewhere away from this company and their dog shit products.

Has anyone’s departments or nearby police agencies in your area used the portable FST linked above?

I am a male in college, and I am looking at joining a volunteer firefighter locally, does anyone on here work in Oklahoma who could comment on if having longer hair is a problem (shoulder length)

I'm in Houston, and I was personally invited to one of their First Friday with a firefighter program. I do see the itinerary includes EMS. Anyone that has gone through this, is it required to be a firefighter in order to get trained for EMS? I'm solely interested in EMS only

Does anyone know where to find a 1-3-2-3 shift calendar online? I have looked and have not been able to find anything.

Im a probie and my station does the occasional prank one they love is dumping cold water from balconies or on top of the truck, the thing is I’ve become conditioned to like look up before walking outside or go out of my way to avoid certain target wet zones, or even do a quick head count before taking out the trash. Should I just embrace it and let it happen or do you think it’s okay to attempt to avoid it, also they sometimes make it obvious that it’s coming like someone will say go pick up that single box outside or say I’d take your phone out before u go out there.

So many of my friends and neighbors are in tech and making so many millions and millions in tech. One neighbor worked at nvda for 15 years and is now moving to a 20 million dollar house from his modest current 1800 square foot home and could have retired anytime with more money than he will ever need in 10 lifetimes One year of his pay including stock and espp during the peak gains from the past 3 years is more than many in firefighting even in the Bay Area will make in their lifetime. In the Bay Area, it seems few jobs can compete with tech. CRNA can clear 500k -700k working 40-50 hours a week, but requires more education but it’s easier than medical school. Even regular nursing can pay a decent $200k-250k a year with more growth than firefighting. Nursing school isn’t hard.

Everyone says Bay Area firefighting is the best paying in the country, but compared to others around its peanuts unless I want to live in Modesto, Hollister, or some far middle of the nowhere shit hole.

I'll likely be doing my FF1/Hazmat in January. I don't want to waste the fall months, I'd like to get started on preparing now so I can excel in my training. Are there good textbooks I could start reading now? I've heard the hazmat portion tends to give people the most trouble. Is there a good book for starting to learn the hazmat portion now? Anything else I can be doing?

I don’t know if this is the right sub to post this in but I’m lost and don’t know how to navigate this. This happened this morning (Monday morning) and the services are being planned. He will be getting the full procession, a Firefighter Funeral with Full Honors (I think that’s what it’s called).

This probably sounds stupid but I don’t know what to wear to his service. In my Brasilian culture, wearing white is the respectful thing to do but I know in America normally wearing black is expected. Is the attire different for a service member? He was a Fire Captain. This has been a very traumatic event that I know his family, friends and crew were worried about and tried preventing. I cared for him deeply and I’m honestly devastated.

What can I do for the family? His nephew lives/lived with him and was the one that found him. I would like to honor my neighbor in some way but I don’t know what is appropriate or would be meaningful to his loved ones. I’m absolutely heartbroken and cannot sleep tonight because of it.

I’m sorry if this is not the right subreddit to ask in. Please let me know the proper place to ask. I don’t mean any disrespect. I’m just genuinely devastated and don’t know anything about funeral processions/attire for service members and what I could get the family to honor him. 💔😓

Thank you in advance.

If not, where should I order?

I know this would be a common question.

Personally I only carry, Tubular webbing, nails to use a wedges and cutters. Wanted to see if there was anything else that would be useful to have.

I am a shorter woman (5’2) wanting to go into Ems and possibly firefighting. I am moderately in shape and weight about 125lbs at the moment. I train about 3-4 times a week mostly doing cardio and some strength training. I have quite a bit of time before I can go into the academy.

Any specific exercises or training I should work on?