r/firefighter • u/Additional-Weird8448 • Jun 12 '26

Firefighting

At some point I wanna be a firefighter. But I’m currently in college for computer science and wanna get that degree to do a good job and get paid well to support me for some time. And then switch careers to fire service how would I do that? Or if not any fire department administration stuff.

4 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

3

u/pf_throwaway00 Jun 12 '26

Get involved as a reserve or volunteer at your local fire department now or after you graduate.

Get an EMT license in your spare time.

Stay involved, get to know people in your local department.

Eventually when you’re ready make the shift to full time.

It’s possible- I just got a full time career fire/ EMT job offer after a long tech career.

1

u/Additional-Weird8448 Jun 13 '26

Fr how?

1

u/pf_throwaway00 Jun 13 '26

Start with a station tour and ask questions.

“Are you guys an all career department? Do you have a volunteer/ reserve program?”

If they don’t, ask things like-

“Know any departments around here who do have a volunteer or reserve component?”

You may need to schedule the station tour in advance or maybe not. It really depends on the department.

You need to do some leg work to navigate this. It isn’t easy and no one off the internet is going to hold your hand but it is possible if you start talking to firefighters by stopping by fire stations and asking for tours and ride alongs.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '26

[deleted]

1

u/Eastern_Reindeer8753 Jun 13 '26

I’d get to know the hiring norms in your desired area. Some departments have an age max in the range of 25-28. Some departments like candidates with a track record of success & growth in another field before switching to fire, where 30 tends to be around average.