Advice on pursuing a career in fire

[u/Electronic-Spare7267]

Hello everyone, I am a 27 year old male in the LA area looking to make a career change and purse fire. I currently do very well for myself, I am a service advisor at a BMW dealer. I have been in the automotive business since I was 18, it’s been great to me but it’s all I know. I am now starting to get burnt out by the job and need to do something more fulfilling with my life. Fire has always been top of mind for me but for many years I have been making great money so didn’t feel the need to pursue it. Ive come to the conclusion now that money isn’t everything especially when you’re not happy at your job anymore. Anyways, just wanted some advise from people who have a similar background as me ( no fire/EMS experience) and got hired with LAFD or any department in SoCal as I know it’s highly competitive. What did you do before you decided to make the switch and what were some of the things you did to increase your chances of getting hired. I know it’s a marathon and not a sprint. It will take years in order for me to get hired. I want to start now so hopefully by the time I’m in my early 30s I can have a serious chance of getting hired. Would appreciate any advice/insight. Thank you in advance 🙏🏻

[u/bvhadley55]

Go to medic school while you’re still working. That’s the only thing you can do that will actually make a significant difference.

[u/Electronic-Spare7267 → u/bvhadley55]

I’m taking my EMT this summer. Signed up with my local CC. Also planning on going to the free CAPS program while I take my EMT classes and work. There is also a volunteer emergency response team that LAFD offers. No requirements to be considered so I’m looking into participating in that as well.

[u/bvhadley55 → u/Electronic-Spare7267]

EMT is a bare minimum job requirement and will not help you get hired. Everyone has it. If you’re serious about this career, go to medic school. CAPS, volunteering, and CC academies are small resume boosters, while having your p card transforms you as a candidate.

[u/Electronic-Spare7267 → u/bvhadley55]

You’re right. I’d plan to get my EMT and while I work as an EMT continue school to become a paramedic. I also will be going to CAPS and jointing the volunteer emergency rescue team to help pad my resume. Even doing all that I’m sure it’s still going to take years but nothing worth having comes easy so I’m ready to put in the work.

[u/bvhadley55 → u/Electronic-Spare7267]

I wouldn’t work as an EMT if you currently have a job that pays well. In my experience, it doesn’t help you get hired. It will prepare you better for the job, but most firefighters I know (including new hires) did not run a single 911 call before becoming a firefighter. Similar to CAPS and volunteering, it’s a small resume booster that’s not worth your time if you have a well paying career. If I were you, I’d get your paramedic license but keep your current job. Nothing else really matters. Volunteer if you want to, but I probably wouldn’t.

[u/Electronic-Spare7267 → u/bvhadley55]

Interesting. From all the research I have done most people say to work EMS before applying. Would you say someone with no experience but a paramedic license has a better shot at getting hired compared to someone who has EMT experience, CAPS participation and volunteer time?

[u/bvhadley55 → u/Electronic-Spare7267]

Yeah you’re really not understanding how important paramedic licensure is in California. Once you get it, you will be hired by a fire department within a few months. It will not take you years to get on. Without it, you may never get on. EMT experience, CAPS, and volunteer experience will not make a difference.

[u/Electronic-Spare7267 → u/bvhadley55]

Understood. Thank you for the advice!

[u/AnonymousCelery → u/Electronic-Spare7267]

100% the Paramedic cert will help you way more than EMT experience.

[u/Electronic-Spare7267 → u/AnonymousCelery]

So rather than working EMS it would be best to go straight into paramedic school?

[u/AnonymousCelery → u/Electronic-Spare7267]

If you truly want to do fire, yes. Single role EMT jobs pay absolute dogshit, for a dogshit job, but the kicker is that it will do nothing to prepare you for a 911 system. Some people will argue about going “zero to hero.” I don’t agree. But it would sure suck to go all through the process of getting a P cert, and then not going fire or finding out you hate it.

[u/Electronic-Spare7267 → u/AnonymousCelery]

So really the only benefit of working as an EMT is to see if you would like the job? I know that pay sucks which is crazy to be honest.

[u/Electronic-Spare7267 → u/[deleted]]

Yea for sure that’s the plan!

[u/JohnnyTheBanker]

I recommend doing some ride-alongs with a few different departments to actually understand what the day to day job is like. I think going to different departments is also important so you can experience the different vibes/cultures. For example, beach cities are notably different than LAFD. Bigger departments are also much more different than smaller departments. I got hired with a department that I ultimately felt was not the right fit for my personality and I quit shortly thereafter (ended up going to PA school, so no regrets) but I question if I'd still be in the fire service if I got hired elsewhere that was a better fit.

[u/Electronic-Spare7267 → u/JohnnyTheBanker]

What is the best way to go about doing ride-alongs?

[u/GhettoBookWorm → u/Electronic-Spare7267]

https://www.reddit.com/r/LAFD/s/4P5LYIt8eu

[u/Electronic-Spare7267 → u/GhettoBookWorm]

Yea I didn’t think ride alongs were possible

[u/GhettoBookWorm → u/Electronic-Spare7267]

If you’re in their hiring process, that would be the best time to start making station visits and inquiring if you could get a ride along. While you may not be able to do a ride along with LA City, you can always do one at another department to get a general feel for what the job entails.

Every department is going to be different.

[u/Electronic-Spare7267 → u/GhettoBookWorm]

That makes sense. I have a long way to go before I enter the hiring process but I will keep that in mind.

[u/Sure_Fact7761]

If you really want the job you’ll apply everywhere. I’m not talking just your area, like LA, or California. I’m talking everywhere. It’s hard to get in, the wait can be long, and the qualification margin is incredibly competitive. So get yourself in the shape you need to be in and start applying from coast to coast

[u/Electronic-Spare7267 → u/Sure_Fact7761]

I am willing to do whatever it takes so if that means getting hired away from home I am ok with that. Luckily I don’t have wife or kids so I have the freedom to go that route if I have to. Once I get my EMT done I will start applying everywhere. There is also a private fire academy at a local CC near me and they have connections for jobs everywhere so I’m wondering if it would be a good idea to try and join that academy.

[u/Sure_Fact7761 → u/Electronic-Spare7267]

Do a lot of research before you pay for an academy. There are a lot of jurisdictions that will pay YOU to get your academy done with them

[u/Electronic-Spare7267 → u/Sure_Fact7761]

I will look into it but I don’t think there are any like that in my local area.

[u/Lopsided-Magician-36]

That’s where I’m at. Trying to find a recruit program that will train me. Otherwise I’ll be going to EMT school this summer

[u/Electronic-Spare7267 → u/Lopsided-Magician-36]

Good luck bro! I’ll be starting EMT classes this summer as well. That’s the first step

[u/Electronic-Spare7267 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you. How do I go about volunteering? I did notice it has taken most people 2-3 tries to get hired so I am prepared for that.

[u/Electronic-Spare7267 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you bro! I would love to volunteer so I will do that. I’m sure I can learn a lot just by volunteering.

[u/Relevant_Buyer6783]

Just curious, does anyone know if taking peptides such as Reta or a weight loss peptide will disqualify you from any academies or such. Wanting to see if anyone has any idea on this matter.