Firefighter

Firefighter

arringnl

32 Years Experience

Goose Creek, SC

Male, 54

Currently serving Jasper County Fire Rescue in south Carolina along with Charleston County EMS.

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Last Answer on June 29, 2022

Best Rated

I'm 18, female & was planning to volunteer after hs. I was going to do it as a full time job, but i heard that the written tests are every 4 years & the recent one will be this year, but im not physically ready. i was just wondering how i can apply?

Asked by Rose over 9 years ago

Join a volunteer Dept and get yourself ready. Down South we don't have civil service exams. When the vacancy occurs we advertize the position for applicants.

I have a small metal rack that fits right behind the steam pipe in my bathroom. My bathroom small and not a lot of wall space & want the rack hold nailpolish. Is this safe. Will steam pipe & nail polish pose a fire risk?

Asked by ANGELA about 10 years ago

Not the smartest idea. Fingernail polish can be flammable. I would keep it in another location if you are hurting for the room.

when you join a vol. fire department do they give you a pager or do you have to buy one

Asked by ... over 9 years ago

Kevlar will breakdown, also it is probably not OSHA compliant in that the uniform is 26 yrs old.

Can a clean up take place right after a fire is put out, and is this ever done if arson might be the cause

Asked by kim almost 10 years ago

Clean up or salvage begins immediately so that more items can be rescued. As for arson fires that would be no due to it being an active crime scene.

How do firefighters determine if it's too risky to enter a house or to climb on a roof? It seems like a lot of injuries happen from collapses.

Asked by Beasy over 9 years ago

Some departments have chosen to still cut holes in roofs and videos are abundant showing how dangerous this is. In my 25+ years of firefighting I have only cut a hole in a roof twice. My department uses Positive Pressure Ventilation and has not had a case yet where it didn't meet is goals. Now there are times where cutting holes in roofs are necessary but the risk vs gain has to be looked at. If you have a large strip mall fire and the fire is running the attic due to lack of firebreaks that were not required at the time you may have to cut a trench line across the roof to stop the flames from continuing. Any time a firefighter steps on to a roof the firefighter should sound the roof with and axe to feel if the roof is "spongy" if it is there is risk for collapse. The new construction has not been firefighting friendly, It is now that economics comes first where building components are lighter and fire burns through it faster thus collapse time shortens for us. So burn time prior to fire dept arrival and type of construction should be your big determinants of roof operations.

I forgot to turn off my oven broiler (oven was empty) for about 10 min, but sitting on the top of stove were my Publix Pilgrim salt & pepper shakers. My son said I could burn down our town house.
Is that true? if so how long would take?

Asked by Roxanne over 9 years ago

I would be amazed to see that happen but with that said stoves are designed to keep the heat in the oven. It is never a good thing to put things on the stove. So yes you could have a fire but it would take a faulty stove or accidently turning on the stovetop burners.

I am in the process of debating the location and type of light I will carry on my ppe, wondering if I should have just a right angle light or a helmet mounted light. Or should I have both ? LMK...

Asked by joe about 9 years ago

I keep my mounted on my chest where there is a holder for it. I also carry one on my helmet but when you are taking care of pts you dont usually use it since I would be shinning it in their eyes.