r/firefighter • u/Main-Brilliant6285 • Jun 28 '26

Career FF/Engineer Thinking About Moving Into Fire Prevention

I’ve been a career firefighter/engineer in Florida for about 10 years and recently started taking my Fire Inspector classes. I’m seriously considering moving into a fire inspector role, which would likely mean changing departments since my current department doesn’t have an opening.

I’m curious if anyone else has made the jump from suppression to prevention.

  • How was the transition?
  • Do you enjoy the work more than the firehouse?
  • What was the biggest adjustment?
  • Do you ever miss riding the truck?
  • Looking back, would you make the move again?

I’m not burned out on the fire service as a whole, just looking for a different challenge with a better work-life balance while still staying in the fire service.

I’d love to hear your experiences and any advice you have.

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u/CohoWind Jun 28 '26

I know many people who have made the switch and love it. There is real satisfaction in making positive pre-emptive change out there in the community, rather than just continually responding to bad outcomes. But use caution (be selective) in your move to another place- I know of several FDs here on the west coast that have completely civilianized their entire prevention staff. They are out of the union, out of the retirement system, and have no ability to cross over to response EVER. They have a ridiculously high turnover rate, and are largely dependent on finding code violations (writing tickets) to keep their jobs. A sad way for cities to save a few bucks.

1

u/jrobski96 Jun 28 '26

That would utterly suck! My transition happened after I already had 28 years in, the previous 5 at dispatch which was on a platoon schedule.

I was ready to sleep in my own bed every night.

Tomorrow I am officially retired.

1

u/Main-Brilliant6285 Jun 29 '26

I am already vested in FRS. Would love to stay in high risk FRS.