Ask a Firefighter anything

490 Questions

Last Answer on June 29, 2022

I'm in SoCal, I'm 23 w 2yr of 911 EMT experience, about to complete Fire Academy, then take Paramedic classes and hopefully work for a volunteer FD at the same time. What else should I be doing to stand a better chance of getting hired in SoCal?

Asked by SoCal almost 10 years ago

Are you working while going to paramedic? If you are, you are going to find it difficult generally to volunteer/work and go to school all at once. Paramedic is a pretty tough class. Getting hired in CA can be difficult due to the competition. You will have a better chance applying nationwide. Paramedics are a dime a dozen in CA. They are hard sought for for instance in SC where I work. Most depts are going to an ALS system and require PM license.

927 Votes

i am about to start the process to join my local volunteer FD, in nj and i wanted to know do volunteer fireman just have to take firefighter one or both one and two , also on average how long does the fire academy take to become a vol. firefighter

Asked by joe over 10 years ago

I can only speak for South Carolina so hereis ours.The first step if FF1 IFSAC takes approx 2 months meeting a few evenings and Sats. This certification allows exterior firefighting. FF2 is approx 3 months same schedule. SC does have a fire academy that is 12 weeks but they come out with EMT

925 Votes

So you wanna be a Firefighter?

Check our Jobstr's career page for salary information, educational requirements, suggested reading and more!

I was out back near the bottom side of my home right under roof gutter run off there was black and when I picked and smelled there had been a fire there and I dont understand how it happened

Asked by Dellen over 9 years ago

Lightening strike possibly

925 Votes

Does becoming a fire explorer for a fire station help you later on when applying since becoming a firefighter is quite competitive

Asked by Benjamin about 10 years ago

Simple answer is yes it helps especially for exposure to the career

923 Votes

Also on Jobstr...

Small Website Owner

What made you go the entrepreneur route after college instead of a typical job?

Personal Stylist & Life Coach

What makes someone qualified to life-coach someone else?

Special Education Teacher

How come it often takes years to figure out that a kid is dyslexic?

So my mum told me the other day that it's against the law to block my bedroom window in case of a fire emergency. What I want to know is what exactly constitutes as blocking? (my bed doesn't have a headboard and it stops ~10cm UNDER the window ledge)

Asked by KC about 10 years ago

First off, is this a residence that you own and not rent, If it is a rental property there can not be any fire hazards also required smoke detectors. Commercial properties can not have exits blocked. They are required based on Sq. ft of the establishment. With that said do they have excess exits thus allowing them to block a particular opening. That is commercial for private homes we have no jurisdiction to determine what you are allowed to do since it is your property. Your mom is right but also wrong from fire department standing it is unwise to block an exit. If you bed is below the window frame it gives you the ability to effectively exit the window without a ladder for example. So is there a hazard with your bed in my eyes the answer is no.

922 Votes

I used to be a fire investigator but never looked at a fireground where AFFF was used. I was wondering, if that is used to extinguish a structure fire, does it dissipate quickly or does it have to be washed off?

Asked by pam almost 9 years ago

So what is the principle of foam. It is used to smoother a flame by completely covering the fire and taking Oxygen out of the fire. Yes it does breakdown rather quickly but as for a residual film that needs to be rinsed really shouldn't matter. There is no bunker gear breakdown that requires the gear to be cleaned other than the byproducts of a fire from cancer causing materials or petroleums. So as for your answer I would be inclined to say no.

922 Votes

Compared to an ambulance, how sophisticated are the medical supplies that are usually carried on a fire truck? Do they usually carry AEDs?

Asked by 1738 about 10 years ago

My Engine carries the exact same as the medic unit so the sophistication would be the same. And the majority of ALS departments operate the same.

921 Votes

Showing 211 - 217

Show All

255 More Answers by Firefighter

Last 7

28 29 30 31 32 33

...

Next 7 Answers

Firefighter

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

I'm in SoCal, I'm 23 w 2yr of 911 EMT experience, about to complete Fire Academy, then take Paramedic classes and hopefully work for a volunteer FD at the same time. What else should I be doing to stand a better chance of getting hired in SoCal?

i am about to start the process to join my local volunteer FD, in nj and i wanted to know do volunteer fireman just have to take firefighter one or both one and two , also on average how long does the fire academy take to become a vol. firefighter

So you wanna be a Firefighter?

I was out back near the bottom side of my home right under roof gutter run off there was black and when I picked and smelled there had been a fire there and I dont understand how it happened

Does becoming a fire explorer for a fire station help you later on when applying since becoming a firefighter is quite competitive

Also on Jobstr...

So my mum told me the other day that it's against the law to block my bedroom window in case of a fire emergency. What I want to know is what exactly constitutes as blocking? (my bed doesn't have a headboard and it stops ~10cm UNDER the window ledge)

I used to be a fire investigator but never looked at a fireground where AFFF was used. I was wondering, if that is used to extinguish a structure fire, does it dissipate quickly or does it have to be washed off?

Compared to an ambulance, how sophisticated are the medical supplies that are usually carried on a fire truck? Do they usually carry AEDs?

Firefighter

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

I'm in SoCal, I'm 23 w 2yr of 911 EMT experience, about to complete Fire Academy, then take Paramedic classes and hopefully work for a volunteer FD at the same time. What else should I be doing to stand a better chance of getting hired in SoCal?

i am about to start the process to join my local volunteer FD, in nj and i wanted to know do volunteer fireman just have to take firefighter one or both one and two , also on average how long does the fire academy take to become a vol. firefighter

So you wanna be a Firefighter?

I was out back near the bottom side of my home right under roof gutter run off there was black and when I picked and smelled there had been a fire there and I dont understand how it happened

Does becoming a fire explorer for a fire station help you later on when applying since becoming a firefighter is quite competitive

Also on Jobstr...

So my mum told me the other day that it's against the law to block my bedroom window in case of a fire emergency. What I want to know is what exactly constitutes as blocking? (my bed doesn't have a headboard and it stops ~10cm UNDER the window ledge)

I used to be a fire investigator but never looked at a fireground where AFFF was used. I was wondering, if that is used to extinguish a structure fire, does it dissipate quickly or does it have to be washed off?

Compared to an ambulance, how sophisticated are the medical supplies that are usually carried on a fire truck? Do they usually carry AEDs?

Login

Forgot Your Password?

Register