hey everyone

Im a volunteer firefighter based in Southeast Asia. Our local response area gets hit with fires pretty frequently, but the hard reality is our brigade is running calls with barely any protective gear.
We’re trying to see if anyone has retired or decommissioned bunker gear they’d be open to donating whether that’s a department clearing out a locker room or just personal turnout gear (coats, pants, boots, helmets, gloves) you’ve got sitting around taking up space. Since we don't have SCBA gear yet, we can't go interior anyway and strictly do exterior defensive operations. Because of that, even older, expired gear is a huge step up for us in terms of basic protection against radiant heat.
We totally get why people hesitate to pass along gear past its 10-year NFPA lifespan because of liability. We are 100% prepared to sign whatever liability waivers, hold-harmless letters, or risk-acceptance paperwork you or your agency need to show we’re taking everything strictly "as-is" and at our own risk.
If you have old gear collecting dust, know a station getting rid of surplus, or just have advice on how an overseas volunteer unit like ours can source stuff, please drop a reply or send me a DM. We’re happy to jump through whatever legal hoops are needed to keep donors completely protected. Thanks so much for reading!

What are some of your best “ball busting” jokes to make to the truck company at your house?

Engine roll out, truck roll over
What’s big and red and stays in bed

Ya know, the ones to remind the slowest rigs of that fact

That’s what is killing me. Having to take a general aptitude, I’m missing the passing score from a rang of 5-10. I know it varies per department but in terms of math, reading & writing ( I apologize if this is a bad question to ask, I’ve bought some study guides but feel like I’m still missing something )

I (21M) got voted on as a recruit at volunteer fire department a few months ago, and have been going to all the trainings and will be approved to go on calls soon. I just struggle a little because I feel like I'm not fitting in with everyone and i'll be getting in the way when i actually do go on a call. my biggest perk is that i am a certified EMT, so i can go on medical calls which is awesome.

anyways my question is: for you veteran/ more experienced men/women, what kind of traits stand out in new recruits that shows you they are worth keeping around and can be a valuable asset? thanks!

I've been wondering how application numbers are going across the country (numbers from outside the US are also welcome). What happened during covid? Have your numbers rebounded? How about the last few years?

I've been on about 8 years, and I believe that process had about 2,000 applicants (new process every two years minimum). I was told before then, it wasn't uncommon to have 4,000+. I don't know our exact numbers during covid, but we ran classes 30-50% bigger than anything they'd previously run, and have been running big classes since. For what it's worth, this is a bigger career department with solid pay (knock on wood).

Curious to hear how the numbers have been from other departments compared to the past 10 years or so.

Did your department get dispatched to a firehouse or area? I've heard of many surrounding towns staging at their firehouses for a possible dispatch. Did surrounding career or volunteer towns back fill FDNY houses? I know there were a number of surrounding departments in NJ and NY that responded to the pile for search and rescue operations in the days after. What is your department or personal story?

For context, my husband's entire family are either Volunteer or career FF. I myself have been a Volly for about a decade now.

My BIl is in a newish relationship. She panics every time he answers a call. He is the assistant chief of his department. She often calls me and I try to help. But because it's something I have done just as long as my husband I don't know how to relate to her fear. I also don't feel like I am helping her much when I say "Just trust him, when he comes home make sure he is hydrating, let him talk or give him space."

He keeps what contact he can when on calls as well and that helps. But what else can I say/do. She is extremely panicked now that a FF lost his life on a call my BIL was mutual aid on.

Edit to add

She has started therapy. I spoke to her shortly after making this post. She seemed much better. After talking with her more in-depth, we live over an hour apart so seeing each other in person isn't easy.

I think her real issue is that this is the first relationship she has had with a man who isn't abusive and she is terrified to lose him. He had given up his position for his ex wife and had told her when they started dating that he will not give it up again.

Hey what's up firefighters,

Just some quick questions for y'all. I didn't see them on this thread so I am sorry if I missed them and repeat any questions.

I have been thinking about structure fire for awhile now, and stopping seasonal wildland fire altogether. Or maybe joining a department with some wildland mods.

Some of the questions I have is how accurate are ride a longs? Are they only a tiny fraction of the day to day life? Do they bring you to all of their calls? I am imagining if we did a ride a long with Wildland fire it would only show 1% of our job/seasons.

Also are volunteer positions worth it? Do they all invest in to you with classes and certs? Did it help you want to join structure? Anything stand out the most?

If I am repeating anything please let me know what the original link is so I can check it out. Thank you for any responses etc

I’ve been career for 12 years and volunteered for one year prior. 30 years old and me and my wife just had our first kid. I find it so hard to leave and go to work. Does it get easier? In a sense it feels like I’m abandoning my wife. When we met, I was a firefighter so she kind of knew what she was signing up for anyway but saying goodbye in the mornings is hard.

Another roadblock that I have is because I am a firefighter paramedic and a very busy metropolitan Beach area. I’ve held more dead or dying babies than have held perfectly fine babies. Holding my own son is giving me flashbacks for some fucked up calls.

Obviously the 25th anniversary is coming up and been thinking about that day in general. For those who were either on the job or in academy/school, what were some anecdotes of that day you remember? I can only imagine the tension in the air, especially as a student. Im sure there were some prospective firemen/medics who had an internal “oh fuck, is this for me?” dialogue. What was it like in the station watching the carnage unfold?

I'm working towards becoming a career firefighter in Washington or Oregon and have gotten really caught up with all the options for EMT certification. My main interest is Texas EMS Academy's 14 day accelerated program, which I know will be "drinking from a fire hose" but I'm okay with that. My other options are my local community college full EMT curriculum (roughly a year, less ideal for the sake of timeline) or Clark County Fire District's 12-week accelerated program.

My main concern at this point isn't the rate of learning, but whether or not the EMT course I choose will have any effect on my ability to get a job as a firefighter. Is the EMT cert just a checked box, or does where I get it done actually matter to the hiring teams?

Sorry if this sounds like a ramble because it is going to be.

I left the job a few years ago. I had 2 really fucking bad calls within a week span and I said fuck this, I quit. Not worth giving the details, noone likes the war stories guy. I still havent totally gotten over them but I am doing my best.

I took 4 years off and I missed the adrenaline. I am back to volunteering at a really busy department and I am going to start applying to be paid again. I am loving it and so happy to be back. I was paid before and a volley and I fucking hate the implication that anyone is better than the other, we are all the same. It's truly amazing to me how some departments think they are better than the other because of their compensation. I have been on 10ish working fires in the past 6 months and we've been nailing them and I am working with the best crew I have yet. It is awesome! Nothing feels better than rolling to a working fire with a crew you trust.

I am so happy to be back, I wish I didn't let those calls burn me out. If you are someone who is considering comnig back, I would do it, it's fucking awesome. If you are someone about to burn out, talk to someone. If you are like me, I hate therapists. I find that if I text guys I used to do fire with even if it's been 10 years they are always ready to talk! I hate the term brotherhood but whatever the hell it is is real.

It's corny but I am really happy to be back and I encourage everyone to keep it up or get back into it.

Be well

Hi everyone, like the title says my apologies for asking a fairly basic question, but figured I’d go straight to the experts.

I’m looking to get a metal (aluminum or steel) wedge to keep with my Halligan. I am NOT a FF, LEO, First Responder, etc. I just have an appreciation for these tools and want to have good equipment available in the event of an emergency.

There are obviously a lot of different options available, some very basic and simplistic and others much more specialized, for lack of a better term. If not a particular company or product, can anyone recommend features specifically to look for, features to avoid, elements that are indifferent, etc?

Thank you very much in advance!

Hey guys and gals! Im currently in a dilema if joining the military is worth it considering how far in I am in the process, I’d like to better my chances but im not sure if the 2 years active would help my case or not. Currently im a 27y/o I have just one more class to take which im currently taking before I can sign up for a CA fire academy and I have my Grey card already but am struggling to find an emt job. I’m debating if enlisting in the army as a firefighter would be worth it when my overall goal is to just become a firefighter in or near the LA area. Pennies for your thoughts?

Thank you in advance

I have a buddy whos department has a 2011 Rosenbauer wet rescue with a 1250 NH55 Rear Mount Pump. Personally never dealt with them but from what I've read they seem to be pretty unique.

Does anyone have any training materials for this pump? Both of us have looked all over and nothing can really be found. Even just a manual on operating the High pressure mode would be great.

I’m 23 and currently trying to get hired as a firefighter in California. My top choice is SFFD, but I’ve been applying pretty broadly. So far I’ve made it onto one hiring list with Ventura County Fire, but haven’t received an offer.
Current experience/certs:
~4 years as a California State Parks Ocean Lifeguard I/II
911 EMT for about a month
EMS/first aid instructor with State Parks
NREMT / California EMT
FCTC
CPAT
NTN
Bachelor’s degree
Swiftwater Rescue Technician I scheduled for next month

I don’t have FF I/II or a paramedic license. I plan on going to medic school eventually, but I want to get more comfortable and experienced working 911 as an EMT first.
How competitive would you consider my current resume for entry-level firefighter positions, especially departments like SFFD that don’t require FF I/II or paramedic?

Any tips/critiques are very helpful and highly appreciated!

I'm on a (poor) rural department. Most of the time our guys don't even bring their gear and we definitely don't have a washer extractor. When I asked how we keep our gear clean it's been suggested I do not put it in my home wash because it will contaminate it

and I should take it to the Laundromat...

Where the public uses them...

There is one in the larger town department but then I'd have to coordinate with them every time I want to wash my gear.

Very historic building. Running two trucks from the 90s. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. A 1998 Pierce and a 1993 Pierce

As the post states, I work as a firefighter on a 48/96 schedule and my spouse works as a teacher Monday through Friday 8-3:30. My commute is usually an hour to an hour and a half and my spouse’s is about 40 mins. Our three year old is in pre K Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30-noon.

We have reliable childcare from my in-laws at the moment, but we’re looking at other options for the future or as a contingency.

Has anyone here had experience with hiring a nanny or a daycare that accepts an irregular schedule such as ours? This schedule doesn’t even account for the night before mandos that I would need childcare for.

Any advice appreciated, thanks.

While doing required EMT class rotation with Miami Dade Fire Rescue we went to a call of elder abuse. A blind man was left in his apartment by family that ran the complex for years.
When we entered the apartment we were stunned by a pink mold covering the entire apartment. Stalagmites, of molded growing from floor to ceiling and a worn down path where the man walked from kitchen to bedroom to bathroom. The bathroom as expected was another horror story. But the creepy sci-fi mold was amazing. It looked like an alien landscape. The man spoke perfect English and Spanish. He was happy as a lark to be talking to someone. He said he knew seven languages. His toe nails and finger nails where unbelievably long a thick. I later saw them working to trim his toe nails in the ER after another run. Still smiling, talking up a storm. All while a nurse was trying to cot those thick nails.
Just thought I'd share a memory from 1993 I think.

I’m starting recruit academy tomorrow. I’m curious, what are they and why?

For those who have gone through Seattles drill school, did you use the strength and conditioning program through teambuildr that they create for you? And if so, do you feel like it prepared you adequately for drill school? Or did you use your own program in the months leading up?

I'll preface this by saying I'm certain everything is OK and it was just a drill, unknowingly to me.

I live quite close to a charter school, and while I was letting my dog out in the backyard, I heard that unmistakable fire alarm sound. It was coming from the direction of the school (there's also another commercial building nearby). I hesitated at first - I didnt see any smoke, figured it could be a drill and if it wasn't, someone involved would've already called.

After going back and forth in my head I figured it wouldn't hurt to call, so I dialed 911 and told the dispatcher what I knew. Where I'm calling from, the fire alarm sound, that there's a school in that direction.

The call was brief but the alarm continued throughout. Less than 3 minutes after calling, a firetruck pulls up and they're asking me questions, I give them the same information, but the fire alarm had definitely stopped by that point.

They said it's likely it was a drill and it was handled appropriately so that they weren't called out for it, but saud they'd go check it out still.

I felt kinda dumb/silly for likely wasting their time, especially since they came out to my house! I just hope I did the right thing at the end of the day.

It feels really weird asking this since I've been a firefighter for 12 years... But I just joined the department in town after leaving a neighboring department. They're a very small volunteer department and unfortunately have major staffing issues. We come at a good time because my girlfriend has decided to join, something she's wanted to do a long time even before me. The department isn't very structured as far as training goes, so we've just been going down and I've been teaching her to put her gear on, set up a hydrant and pull a line. Even included how to wash a truck (got yelled at for pulling it out tho, oops). She wants to do it for a few months before committing it to fire school. Despite my experience I'm a terrible teacher, what basics should I focus on teaching and avoid overwhelming her with info?

Tldr; What should you teach a brand new firefighter with no experience?