[CJStudent]

Well, I'm looking at trying the volunteer FF deal with a local department, and I'm looking for some insight, advice, etc. Just trying to get a feel for what I'm thinking of getting myself into.

A little background: I'm 26, have zero prior FF experience. I do have some hazmat training (CBRN in the National Guard; was in a chemical recon/decon unit, as well as the hazmat certifier for shipments for my unit), though. I'm a full time federal correctional officer (I know, I know, don't start the cop/firefighter mess again, or I'll invite you over to CopTalk ).

[seagravedriver]

While I lurk over at the cop talk section, I was a vol FF for 12 years, and a paid FF/PM for 13 years. (I was a reserve officer in a small Western WA town as well, for a few years). So, a lot like law enforment, military and CO, go in eyes and ears open, mouth shut for the most part, though departments do vary. While I have not been involved with the process for our volunteers, I know there is a test, a physical, and a fairly easy accademy. Those usually take place on weekends and some nights. Coming in with some medical skills like an EMT cert is good as well.

I had an absolute BLAST being a Vol FF! It was fun. The people were great, I was in my community, (sometimes that can be a downer, but, I am assuming you are a Christian, (do to the signiture line), or may be aware of the teachings and beliefs of them, so you know there is nothing perfect on this earth). But, being on a scene, if you know the people or not, allows you to DO something about a problem most people drive by and just wonder about. There is also baggage with that.

There probably be some folks who "know it all", some who will NEVER "get it", and you wonder why they are there. And many who are a true asset to the department and their community. Once in, learn who to listen to, and who to smile and nod to. There are always a few. Of course, early to drills, late to leave them. Keep your gear squared away, and the drinking with the guys to a minimum. Again, I do not know the dept. where you are going, or even the state for that matter The East Coast has a diffrent culture then where I am on the West Coast. Heck, I am 30 miles south of the City of Seattle, and their dept. has a much diffrent culture than mine, not to mention MUCH larger and no volunteers. If you some questions that I did not cover, just PM me, or I will check this now and again. Good luck! Craig

[NDCent]

Originally Posted by seagravedriver

While I lurk over at the cop talk section, I was a vol FF for 12 years, and a paid FF/PM for 13 years. (I was a reserve officer in a small Western WA town as well, for a few years). So, a lot like law enforment, military and CO, go in eyes and ears open, mouth shut for the most part, though departments do vary. While I have not been involved with the process for our volunteers, I know there is a test, a physical, and a fairly easy accademy. Those usually take place on weekends and some nights. Coming in with some medical skills like an EMT cert is good as well.

I had an absolute BLAST being a Vol FF! It was fun. The people were great, I was in my community, (sometimes that can be a downer, but, I am assuming you are a Christian, (do to the signiture line), or may be aware of the teachings and beliefs of them, so you know there is nothing perfect on this earth). But, being on a scene, if you know the people or not, allows you to DO something about a problem most people drive by and just wonder about. There is also baggage with that.

There probably be some folks who "know it all", some who will NEVER "get it", and you wonder why they are there. And many who are a true asset to the department and their community. Once in, learn who to listen to, and who to smile and nod to. There are always a few. Of course, early to drills, late to leave them. Keep your gear squared away, and the drinking with the guys to a minimum. Again, I do not know the dept. where you are going, or even the state for that matter The East Coast has a diffrent culture then where I am on the West Coast. Heck, I am 30 miles south of the City of Seattle, and their dept. has a much diffrent culture than mine, not to mention MUCH larger and no volunteers. If you some questions that I did not cover, just PM me, or I will check this now and again. Good luck! Craig

Pretty good advice.

[CJStudent]

Thanks for the advice! I'll be completely honest and say that most of my focus is wanting to be towards the medical end; I'd really like to get my EMT certification and keep it (KY requires you to be working for an agency to keep your certification annually) with something "part-time", though I'm considering switching the full-time and part-time roles, lol.

[seagravedriver]

If EMS intrests you, you are going in the right direction. Well over 80% of what we do at my dept. is EMS. This causes some folks to be very unhappy, but this is real life and not a TV show. With better fire codes, drywall, smoke detectors, there are less fires all the time in my area. I went the paramedic route and that has worked out well for me.

EMS is great. You get to meet and deal with dirtbags that suck energy out of you, and some WW2 vets that are a living history lesson, and you feel you are a better person for meeting them. You deal with friends and neighbors, kids and a lot of elderly. When you are looking in the mirror at a 46 yo, EMS can open a lot of doors for your future, if that intrests you. It is nice to have options.

In closing, LIFT WITH YOUR LEGS, NOT YOUR BACK! Or you will have a very short life in the fire/EMS service.
http://www.eastpiercefire.org/ I am in the wildland photo, (yellow shirts), left side facing camera

[CJStudent]

Originally Posted by seagravedriver

If EMS intrests you, you are going in the right direction. Well over 80% of what we do at my dept. is EMS. This causes some folks to be very unhappy, but this is real life and not a TV show. With better fire codes, drywall, smoke detectors, there are less fires all the time in my area. I went the paramedic route and that has worked out well for me.

EMS is great. You get to meet and deal with dirtbags that suck energy out of you, and some WW2 vets that are a living history lesson, and you feel you are a better person for meeting them. You deal with friends and neighbors, kids and a lot of elderly. When you are looking in the mirror at a 46 yo, EMS can open a lot of doors for your future, if that intrests you. It is nice to have options.

In closing, LIFT WITH YOUR LEGS, NOT YOUR BACK! Or you will have a very short life in the fire/EMS service.
http://www.eastpiercefire.org/ I am in the wildland photo, (yellow shirts), left side facing camera

Thanks again!

Dang it. We (correctional officers) end up helping and being the first to respond to medical emergencies inside the fence, though we'll usually have a nurse or PA there shortly thereafter. Well, after one such call last night, when I was sitting with the inmate and the nurse up in the clinic, I got to talking to the nurse while the inmate was dozing on phenegrin (sp?). Now I'm halfway contemplating complete career change. Grrrrrrrrrrr.........

It just seems like it's a lot more rewarding, you know?

[seagravedriver]

Just back from a short camping trip.
The job is VERY rewarding. I would say what you are doing is VITAL, and I thank you for it. I truly enjoy what I do, and I like to see other good people get into it as well. There is always room for good people, though sometimes it takes a bit longer to get on somewhere at times. A career change is not a bad thing, often the sooner the better. Talk to people who work where you are considering it, get some insite. Baby steps before you leap.

[Tvov]

In my volunteer fire department, the "old timers" say (only half jokingly) to new members: keep your mouth shut for the first 3 years.

Every VFD is different, but also very similar. Seriously, it can take 3 years to understand how the department works, with the politics and cliques. Unfortunately. And you might get some grief, hopefully jokingly, about being a cop. But, having gotten that out of the way...

Definitely talk to the local VFD. They most likely are looking for people. Preferably people that are "townies", lived in town for at least a while (3 years is many times used as a minimum), and planning on staying in town. Most VFD will require you to take a Firefighter One class before being "interior". My department issues full gear right away, and has newbies do airpack drills as soon as possible. Newbies aren't expected to go inside a burning building until they take FFI, but in real life you don't know what's going to happen and we want everyone to have at least a minimum of training.

Most likely, you will be expected to be VERY active your first 3-6 months or even a year. This is usually a probation period, where guys get to know you and you decide if you want to continue as VFD.

In my department, we actually do very little "hazmat". At a real hazmat situation, our "job" is primarily to secure the perimeter until the regional and/or state hazmat guys show up. Which is fine with me. Also, the worst thing you can do as a newbie in the department is to barge in as an "expert" on things, such as hazmat. You will be dealing with fellow newbies that joined last week, and also guys that have been in for 40 years and have seen things that course instructors don't even know about. As I said at the top, listen and learn for awhile.

It can be a lot of fun, and you will learn all the dirty little secrets of your town. And the budget process... you will learn that the problems with the Federal budget start right in your own hometown, lol! And also that most small towns actually get things done using volunteers of all types.

I don't know what else to say... join and find out! and whatever you do, don't flash a VFD badge at a cop... that can go over badly... lol!

(don't worry, I have never done that, and don't plan on it)

[CJStudent]

Originally Posted by Tvov

In my volunteer fire department, the "old timers" say (only half jokingly) to new members: keep your mouth shut for the first 3 years.

Every VFD is different, but also very similar. Seriously, it can take 3 years to understand how the department works, with the politics and cliques. Unfortunately. And you might get some grief, hopefully jokingly, about being a cop. But, having gotten that out of the way...

Definitely talk to the local VFD. They most likely are looking for people. Preferably people that are "townies", lived in town for at least a while (3 years is many times used as a minimum), and planning on staying in town. Most VFD will require you to take a Firefighter One class before being "interior". My department issues full gear right away, and has newbies do airpack drills as soon as possible. Newbies aren't expected to go inside a burning building until they take FFI, but in real life you don't know what's going to happen and we want everyone to have at least a minimum of training.

Most likely, you will be expected to be VERY active your first 3-6 months or even a year. This is usually a probation period, where guys get to know you and you decide if you want to continue as VFD.

In my department, we actually do very little "hazmat". At a real hazmat situation, our "job" is primarily to secure the perimeter until the regional and/or state hazmat guys show up. Which is fine with me. Also, the worst thing you can do as a newbie in the department is to barge in as an "expert" on things, such as hazmat. You will be dealing with fellow newbies that joined last week, and also guys that have been in for 40 years and have seen things that course instructors don't even know about. As I said at the top, listen and learn for awhile.

It can be a lot of fun, and you will learn all the dirty little secrets of your town. And the budget process... you will learn that the problems with the Federal budget start right in your own hometown, lol! And also that most small towns actually get things done using volunteers of all types.

Thanks. Yeah, this is a decent-size city (metro area of around 1.4 million residents), but a suburban FD of mixed Volunteers and Career FFs.

Trust me, after 7 years military (and counting), and law enforcement, I know about the "two eyes and one mouth for a reason", lol. Plus, I have very basic hazmat knowledge, and realize it; I can check and sign off on shipments, and respond to WMD incidents, but that's it.

I don't know what else to say... join and find out! and whatever you do, don't flash a VFD badge at a cop... that can go over badly... lol!

(don't worry, I have never done that, and don't plan on it)

That's what my federal one is for!