i was just wondering if there were any other firefighters in this forum. where are you from, how long you been doing it, volunteer or career, etc.
i’ll start. i have been a volunteer firefighter at turner fire district for about six months now. i’ll be starting my emt basic in the fall and my pumper operator soon also. 
well… im not a firefighter, but my dad volunteers for the community unit or whatever they call it… i have to say he has a pretty cool firefighting suit…its blue!!
wow. never seen blue bunkers before, only bronze or black like i have.
technically speaking I am a Level 3 Wild-land Firefighter, but have never fought fires as part of a job. I got the level three certification through various fire, ICS, meteorology, and arson investigation classes I had to take to get my Forestry Tech diploma.
I helped fight a couple prairie fires back home but have never been involved in a forest fire (other than help evacuate people and be evacuated myself.
If I wanted to I could be a crew boss on a fire line.
I am not a fire fighter but part of my job involves fire safety inspections, fire extinguisher certifications and hot work policy instruction and permit issues.
Are your intentions to work permanently in the fire service?
Our club has a member who is a full-time firefighter. He used to take his unicycle to the fire station so he could practice.
There’s only 2 kinds of people in this world: those who fights fire, and those who surrender to it.
how bout those who start them?
my brother is a volunteer, makes me very proud of him.
that’s what i do too. i’m on shift this weekend and i’m going to set up a trials course with some scrap wood we have.
i do want to go career. i’m only a volunteer now. once i get my emt basic i will start testing for a job.
that’s a pretty sweet patch.
i wanna become a firefighter when im done with HS, for a career though,
How do you guys like it?
For those who do it as a JOB, the money and benefits are great. In many cities the shifts are 40 hours straight, and you get to eat and sleep and workout on the job. They cook in the firehouse, and have workout equipment.
It’s easy to get your shift done and work another job. In NYC, since overtime is fully taken into account as the earnings they use to calculate retirement pay, you can boost your overtime in your last year and earn MORE in retirement than you did while working, for the rest of your life!
And if you love fires … and the opportunity to be a hero …
If I were young enough, I’d quit Wal-Mart in a new york minute and be a firefighter. Highly recommended!
i absolutely love it. the first time you go interior, whether it’s on a practice burn or not, you will be hooked for life. i like how every day is new; you never know what to expect. i would volunteer at your local department as soon as you turn 18 and see how you like it. if you have any question just look me up.