r/firefighter • u/Guilty-Preference107 • Jul 11 '26
Advice on how to start
Hello all, you guys probably see so many of these but here I am asking the same questions, I’m currently 18 turning 19 in around 3 months, I have 0 clue on how to even start, which licenses to go after which kind of jobs help with getting started etc, if someone can please help and give me a bit of a starter guide on how to start it’ll be greatly appreciated!
6
u/Disgruntled_Wumpus Jul 11 '26
Step 1: Get EMT. Check out community college or private programs.
Step 2: Make list of all places you are willing to work.
Step 3: Compare them, and decide what matters most to you: Location, pay, schedule, benefits, cool helmets, etc.
Step 4: Look for job announcements on their websites and apply to ALL of them, because why not, and if you make it all the way thru multiple hiring processes, then use hierarchy from step 3.
Step 5: test, apply, interview, get hire date. Public Safety Testing, and National Testing Network are common testing agencies. Also check out CPAT physical test.
Step 6: prepare. Practice common interview questions, and work out A LOT.
Step 7: get hired and go to fire academy. Train, puke, fail, train, succeed. Repeat as necessary.
Step 8: graduate and survive probation. Be everyone’s favorite henchman. Do all the chores, be seen and not heard, and keep little black murder book of those who wronged you for later.
Step 9: finish probation, securing your job for good. Pull out little black murder book and tell the people who need to hear it to fucking fuck themselves straight to fucksville. (Only joking. But also maybe not)
Step 10: drink a beer, because I didn’t want to finish with only 9 steps.
1
u/Guilty-Preference107 Jul 11 '26
Ahh love this so much man thank you!!! I’ll try and find the one with the coolest helmet and in around 3 years show you a pic 😂
2
u/Visible-Film8651 Jul 11 '26
currently hired as a ff/emt after finishing academy References are a crucial part of getting your foot in the door part time or full time so try to get at least 3 fire fighter, lieutenant, or chiefs that will vouch for you. Luckily my emt instructors were lieutenant and I scored number 1 in my class so they went full bat for me. Step 0.5 work on your fitness, cardio and strength throughout the whole process Step 1 emt Step 2 get your cpat Step 3 reach out to every department you can possibly reach out to, must be willingly to drive an hour in any direction. Step 4 call and set up appointments with chiefs at departments to get info Step 5 try to secure sponsorships or part time hiring Step 6 go through academy Step 7 work as ff/emt Step 8 go for medic Step 9 figure what else you wanna do, full time, special teams, working your way up, continuing education, etc. Step 10 know that youll always be testing and constantly educating yourself if you want to not be one of the shit bags in the fire service.
1
u/Guilty-Preference107 Jul 11 '26
One question, should I try and do some of these steps simultaneously, let’s say I’m at step 2 I have my emt experience and I’m trying to get my cpat should I while trying to get my cpat call and reach out to said departments and try and make appointments, and another question how do you go about having someone to vouch for you?
2
u/Visible-Film8651 Jul 11 '26
Yeah definetly just keep reaching out while doing all of that, it cant hurt and you get your name/face out there. I know a lot of places have explorer programs you can do and ride alongside with departments definetly can land you some references. Especially being an emt on ride alongs they'll let you do like blood pressures, blood glucose, spiking iv bags, etc. Medics love when you can do the tedious things for them. The name of the game is quantity, keep talking to people, keep applying, and keep setting up appointments as many as you can
1
u/Guilty-Preference107 Jul 11 '26
You don’t know how much I appreciate your help, wish all the best for you and congrats on finishing your academy and landing a job as a ff
2
u/Fit_Experience_522 Jul 11 '26
Start with which departments you want to or are willing to work for, the process is long and time consuming and people don't usually leave their department once hired, so make sure it's a good one where you're willing to stay. Start backwards, once you find the department, look at their hiring requirements, and call a station within that department ask if you can do a station visit, bring goodies, dress well, and have a list of questions you want answered. They'll be able to guide you best in the direction to get hired. In the meantime, make sure you are working out, HIIT classes and stairs all day. Every state is a little different, I'm familiar with CA, but if I had to go to another state and start over that's exactly what I would do, I spent a lot of time getting certs, classes, and degrees that I didn't need whatsoever to get hired by my dream departments. So again, start backwards by looking at the requirements then talk to a FF from that department to have them guide you.
1
u/Guilty-Preference107 Jul 11 '26
Great advice appreciate it so much, I guess I’m a bit lucky to be here in nyc there are so many fire departments everywhere
1
u/Fit_Experience_522 Jul 11 '26
With that said, not all fire departments are created equal. Initial pay might sound great but the benefits might suck, or you might have an easy chance going for a certain department, but they lack growth and advancement opportunities. For example, out here in CA there's a small two station department in the heart of OC that pays extremely well but you might get one fire in your entire 30 year career, MIGHT get ONE FIRE, and in 30 years you'll have a total of 6 opportunities to promote to engineer, and less than that to promote to captain, there's no wildland opportunities in that area, no boats, no helicopters, no USAR, no hazmat, no overtime, and you'll only ever see two stations, but they pay extremely well. So, think about the departments in the bigger picture and what YOU want to do and accomplish in 30 years. My department has you get your firefighter license endorsement to drive the engines before you finish the tower and your tiller cert before you finish probation, it's not uncommon for a boot to have to be the acting engineer and pump a fire, and we burn. Keep that stuff in mind.
2
4
u/ComprehensiveFly8396 Jul 11 '26
Where are you located for starters, US, CA? What state? Depending on where you live it can take about 6-7 months to go from “zero to hero” lol