Ask a Firefighter anything

488 Questions

Last Answer on June 29, 2022

I am looking to become a firefighter buy my college does not have any fire science programs. Are there certain majors or minors that would be more beneficiary for me to be in?

Asked by Alex about 8 years ago

Taking your core classes at your local college and then you can continue with Eastern Kentucky University or Oklahoma State among several others that offer a online BA degree.

638 Votes

Do black smoke come from grease fire or electrical fire

Asked by Ms herbert about 8 years ago

Black smoke comes from fire involving Petroleum, Oils and incomplete combustion where the temps have not reached their maximum for full burning of materials.

630 Votes

So you wanna be a Firefighter?

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Hello, I'm a collage student and thinking about going into firefighter paramedic. Is it a good career when it comes to level of stress, pay, and time with family? And what's the rules about growing a beard?

Asked by Ahmed over 7 years ago

Well, Lets go with the easy first- EMS does allow beards dependent on the service and there tolerance. Fire dept- No BEARDS. Me personally would not wear a beard due the exposure of bodily fluids and being retained in the beard, but what ever rocks your boat. Stress, hmm well I am working on a 24 hr shift right now and was sitting by the computer when you submitted this question and have only run 1 call so it has been a pretty non-stressful day. So dependent on the service you work for stress can be minimal or maximum, it is all based on call load, employer and the way that they treat employees work environment. In general there are times that I have high stress but it has been manageable for me for 30 yrs and I still got probably 13 more to go. Pay if you plan on getting rich don't start. When I started in 1987 I made 8.35 an hr for private EMS service. The first fire dept I worked for was 14,261. Try supporting 4 kids and wife with that which is precisely why so many of us have part time jobs. I teach CPR part time and make 5 figures doing that in conjunction with that and the fire dept I can complain. Time with the family I work every 3rd day for 24 hrs. So if you look at it as only 10 days a month or 122 days a year that sounds like not a lot. But if you look at missing birthdays, anniversaries, holidays etc cause you are at work for 24 hrs then its a long time and detrimental to family life. But hey I been doing it for 30 yrs and still love going to work cause I don't know what I am going to be doing in 5 min.

629 Votes

Is Fire Ecology and Management something good to major in ?

Asked by Jay over 7 years ago

Yes it s specifically if you are looking for jobs in Fire Service dealing with Forestry.

627 Votes

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is there any REAL way to fireproof a large closet and its contents?

Asked by VintageSoul almost 9 years ago

Unless everything is made of concrete or the room is oxygen depleted the answer would be no.

627 Votes

If I am an RN right now, and want to become a firefighter would I still have to become a certified emt before I do that, or is a bachelors degree in nursing work instead of that?

Asked by ZZZZZZ about 8 years ago

No, obviously you are referring to be a volunteer. If you are anticipating working on a medic unit then the state would require you to obtain one.

624 Votes

What's the difference between a grease fire and electrical fire

Asked by Ms herbert about 8 years ago

Grease is a flammable liguid that water is not effective unless additives such as AFFF is added.Electrical water can not be applied until power is turned off but also some oils re used in transformers thus putting it under grease catagory.

623 Votes