Ask a Firefighter anything

490 Questions

Last Answer on June 29, 2022

Do you need to have a drivers license in order to be a firefighter?

Asked by Brad Houpt over 9 years ago

Generally yes, unless you do not plan on driving any apparatus. But generally yes.

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 over 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.

950 Votes

So you wanna be a Firefighter?

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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 about 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.

950 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
As

Asked by 99 over 10 years ago

To go interior firefighting you have to be FF2. I would imagine your system is similar to SC in that it takes approx 4 months based on volunteers work fulltime jobs.

949 Votes

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How long does it take to put out a house fire? And what was the longest time it's ever taken for you to put out a fire?

Asked by emma about 11 years ago

It depends on response time. Was dispatched lastnight to arson fire and the firstarriving unit had the fire knocked down in 5 min. So it all revolves withresponse time and how fast water gets to the fire. My longest fire has been 3 hrs.

948 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 over 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.

947 Votes

Are there some emergencies (specifically technical rescues) that are just too complicated for normal fire departments to solve? Sometimes the victim just can't be saved, but what if they CAN be saved, just not with the tools/training of the local FD?

Asked by 1738 over 10 years ago

yes, that is why you have mutual aid from depts that are better equipted or trained to do more intrinic work.

946 Votes

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Firefighter

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Do you need to have a drivers license in order to be a firefighter?

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)

So you wanna be a Firefighter?

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?

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
As

Also on Jobstr...

How long does it take to put out a house fire? And what was the longest time it's ever taken for you to put out a fire?

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

Are there some emergencies (specifically technical rescues) that are just too complicated for normal fire departments to solve? Sometimes the victim just can't be saved, but what if they CAN be saved, just not with the tools/training of the local FD?

Firefighter

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Do you need to have a drivers license in order to be a firefighter?

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)

So you wanna be a Firefighter?

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?

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. firefighterAs

Also on Jobstr...

How long does it take to put out a house fire? And what was the longest time it's ever taken for you to put out a fire?

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

Are there some emergencies (specifically technical rescues) that are just too complicated for normal fire departments to solve? Sometimes the victim just can't be saved, but what if they CAN be saved, just not with the tools/training of the local FD?

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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
As