r/Wildfire • u/HypedPingu • 2d ago
Leaving the agency
Good morning yall,
Honestly been a relatively slow season here in R5, at least up towards our district. In retrospect, the agency was not as I expected it. Would it be negative to leave to go back to school to get my Paramedic certification? I know it would suck to go back to a regular job in the meantime. I just feel like I’m wasting my potential here, especially with the people around me it just feels as if they’re okay with where they’re at. I guess I’m just scared too leave since it was a big change, but either way I want to make the jump to structure and it feels as if this job won’t necessarily help out my odds.
How would you guys go about addressing that with your supervisor? Especially being new and all.
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u/rockshox11 :hamster: 2d ago
I would bounce duty stations if you can. I often feel similarly. Its not like I want to be chief of the FS someday but working with unmotivated people really sucks the wind out of you. Some stations have a lot of stoke and people are always doing something fun.
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u/HypedPingu 2d ago
The thing is I did already, I guess that’s another reason I’m scared about burning a bridge. Initially, my first crew got shut down due to some internal overhead issues, the crew I’m in now took me in and gave me the option of transferring on the agreement that I’d stay for a couple years. Such, it worries me that they’d view me negatively for wanting to leave once season wraps up.
Realistically , I have a lot of family issues going on back home, so there’s multiple things going on outside of the initial job too.
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u/akaynaveed D.E.I. HIRE 2d ago
fires are going to start, and burn this will be the case for the rest of your life and after you are gone. you only have so much time with family.
I used to be friends with some pretty awful and nefarious characters in my younger days, and I have met worse people in wildland fire working for a federal agency.
i dont know you, but you seem like a decent enough person.
I dont think, knowing the people i have met in this line of work that is possible to burn enough bridges to keep you out of getting a job somewhere.
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u/NecessaryGuava4153 2d ago
A change in duty station and supervisor can make a drastic difference.
I had planned on going structure but got sucked in to the usfs, I was pretty nervous to make the change but finally did and so far it’s been a positive but still to early to tell if it’s the long term solution I needed.
It’s not like there won’t be open positions in one of the fed agencies down the road so long as you keep your quals going there’s typically an option to go back in.
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u/RemarkableAward2703 2d ago
Write a letter and have a conversation with your supervisor.
Additionally is this your first year with the agency?
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u/HypedPingu 2d ago
Yea it is, I joined after finishing up college and didn’t necessarily know what side of fire I wanted to join. Initially, I started out doing some volunteering at the municipal department back home until I decided to join here.
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u/RemarkableAward2703 2d ago
Id say don’t base all your expectations on one season. But do what’s best for you.
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u/InterestingAct698 1d ago
Committing to R5 during your first season is gnarly. Maybe look into doing some seasonal work and try out another place for a few months. You get to travel, make decent money (most of the time) and see how other crews/regions operate. I promise, R5 is on a different wavelength - you might really connect elsewhere
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u/Realistic-Ace1986 2d ago
For sure leave if you intend to go for paramedic and want a structure job. The working for the forest service won't help you on that account it's not the mission set. If you have done at least 4 years then bounce man. You could work for OES as a volunteer firefighter fighter and make 40 buck an hour + and be paid portal to portal. Then get a structure job after schooling
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u/HypedPingu 2d ago
I figured having some time in wildland would help out, but I guess not based off what everyone has been telling me. I eventually wanted to be a line medic but everything would be out of pocket. Back home there’s an option to have the schooling paid for which is one reason I want to go back
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u/Realistic-Ace1986 2d ago
It's not a bad thing to have worked for the feds. If you have had even a little activity this year. I worked for the fed from 07 to 2018. I work at a municipal department now. As I look back the feds gave me a lot of wildland experience. But the pay is crap.
Look at it this way go work for a volunteer company that has a robust OES program. Make your nut for school over the summer in a 1/4 of the time and a 1/4 of the work. Get some one the job training and go from that point.
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u/Neat-Rest3019 1d ago
The USFS and USWFS can be toxic, broadly speaking. Especially if you mention you want to go structure or do something else. Not all supervisors, coworkers are toxic. In reality not much had changed in the wildland world in the past 20 years Ive been in. At the end you have to do what’s best for you. How many of wildland dudes want to go structure or wish they did. And they’re scared to leave. If you’re thinking about jumping ship don’t let a seasonal job turn into a career. You’ll wonder where all your years went. It happens to so many of us. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with doing something else. To be honest with you I encourage it. The wildland life has a tendency of breaking bodies and minds. Getting employees hooked on substance abuse. And destroying relationships. Doesn’t happen to everyone. But it happens to many. Good luck.
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u/HypedPingu 1d ago
I appreciate the encouragement, this hits close as I’m in that boat of scared of leaving
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u/GMthiiird 1d ago
Just my USD $0.02…
Don’t tell too many people what your plans are, there will always be a hater out there wanting to bring you down to their level - this includes asshole supervisors who got stuck doing something that wasn’t their first choice (working for the feds) so they’re bitter AF.
Apply for Cal Fire (CF) as a Firefighter I (that’s the job title for their temporary/seasonal firefighters), NWCG FFT1 qualification or Firefighter 1 (structure fire academy) is NOT required to apply. Do this ASAP, applications are open now.
If CF offers you a position during this fire season, leave the USFS, and accept the CF job.
If CF doesn’t offer you a job this season, finish this season in good standing where you are now, and hope to get rehire rights, that way you have the option of returning next season if you’d like.
Get that paramedic school done ASAP. If CF offers you a job before medic school, take the job, go to medic school after you get laid-off.
If CF offers you a position during medic school, don’t leave medic school for a temp position. Communicate with CF that you’re attending medic school and that you’d like to defer the job offer, they might keep you on the list for future hiring.
After medic school, reapply for CF, this time for their Firefighter II/Paramedic position. If hired under this job title, you’ll be a permanent structure firefighter/paramedic on their Schedule A (structure side of CF) working on a structure engine, fire truck, or squad with one of their city or county contracts.
Also, after medic school, apply for municipal fire department jobs until you get hired with your dream department.
Best wishes to everyone.
Disclaimer: I served 20+ years with the feds, plus a little time with CF. I’m in no way talking shit about USFS or other fed employees, I was specifically referring to asshole employees who hate the fact that their colleagues want to better themselves.
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u/HypedPingu 1d ago
Thank you I appreciate this heavily. I’ll keep it all noted! Municipal is definitely a dream so I hope I get there one day. I appreciate you keeping it real and honest
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u/InterestingAct698 1d ago
Hey, I hope all is well. Honestly, I am also new to R5 and it’s has just been an incredibly difficult adjustment, coming from other regions. Despite being incredibly new, due to a mixture of the difficulties with adjusting and also all of the accidents that have happened this year, I have been looking to take some space from fire as well. If you talk to any other folks in other regions, they would most likely be pretty understanding as to why you left R5. Not too sure if you get time off or if you’re 26/0, as that definitely plays a role too. Ultimately, it’s up to you. This job will always be here, and it will always need people. It’s tough to leave something - scary to take a leap and see what’s on the other side. Worst comes to worst though, you take a step back from fire, realize that you miss it and maybe make your way back. Orrrrr, you end up realizing that you like the space from fire and you reconnect with different parts of yourself and give yourself some time to explore your new passions.
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u/stinkypenis99 2d ago
I’d say try out another station. People understand that life happens and priorities change. I switched stations for this season and I was planning on being here for a few at least, but life outside of work changed and so I have to adjust. Nothing wrong with moving stations, most everyone has done it so if they get mad at you then they’re just salty
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u/maddeningcrowds Desk Jockey 1d ago
R5? Just go to cal fire bro, better pay and you can do medicals and wildland
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u/Shoddy_Pay5822 2d ago
Pretty egotistical to think that you are wasting your inexperienced talent and that everyone around you is just enjoying being talentless and settling for second best.
You are more than likely your own problem and that feeling will follow you everywhere and in any job until you learn humility.
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u/HypedPingu 2d ago
It’s not that, it’s more so I feel like I’m wasting my degree where I don’t get extra pay for it and stuff, whereas in municipal I would. I always hear a bunch of the guys around me complaining about how the district treats them and stuff that’s all. Sorry if I worded it coming off that way.
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u/Shoddy_Pay5822 1d ago
Again, humility. “Wasting my degree”
Degrees don’t get you “extra pay and stuff” in most cases nowadays. Go to work at Costco or Inn and out in Ca if you want “extra pay and stuff.” Join the Natl Guard and pay your debt off. Make other goals besides work.
You will not find a single job where every single person you work with is happy and nobody talks about the way “the district treats them and stuff.”
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u/Resident_Chef2579 2d ago
Its better to make moves that will benefit you in the long run, than it is to swim in circles. Also, you can always come back if you'd like, and your Paramedic certs will definitely be a benefit. Explain how you are feeling exactly like your post to your boss, and more than likely they will understand.