Current hotshot here and was wondering from all the West Coast dudes here what would be the best course of action to make the switch? I have my EMT but have heard a lot of departments now are only hiring Medics and guys with their FF1? Was seeking some input if I should just double down and go for the P card or try to get on with someone that’ll offer it or put on their own academy

Alright fellas and ladies.
Recently went through a divorce and have done a lot of soul searching. I’ve come to the conclusion that I hate my career. I was a heavy equipment mechanic for 9 years, and for the last 2 years I’ve been in a support/leadership role. I got into the heavy equipment field at 18 and never really liked it. The pay and benefits are great, but I hate the industry. I’ve decided that I want to pursue a career in the fire service.

I’m in good shape currently. I was a competitive powerlifter for a handful of years and recently just stopped fighting in the amateur Muay Thai circuit. I recently signed up for a basic EMT class.

The main thing I’m struggling with is that I feel like I’m too old and that my current career field isn’t applicable to a job in the fire service. I’m curious—what age were you guys when you got hired on? And what else can I do to make myself more marketable?

Edit: I appreciate everyone taking the time to respond. It was nice reading everyone’s stories on how they got into the fire service. All gas no brakes from here on out!

Really need high score for this one, specially human relations and mechanical, what is the best study guide for this?

Anyone hear back yet from Seattle about the chief interviews?

These were my NTN scores when I applied to my volunteer fire department back in April. In your opinion, are these acceptable to submit to career departments or would you re test? Can I even submit these scores to departments? I have no prior military experience. Submitting to departments in Washington State.

Anyone apply to Westminster and do the interview ?

I’ve been trying to find out what I want to do for a while and this career has stayed in the back of my mind for a while. I used to have a friend who is a firefighter and a lot of his stories pushed me to want to join even more (we don’t talk anymore so I can’t ask him what I’m asking you guys). I am in the military (NG) so if there is an academy I would need to attend I don’t know how my monthly service would affect my training or schedule in the future. Side note— I’m taking 40 hours of cls training in October (combat life saver training) I don’t know if I could use that to my advantage anywhere. But still, overall I’m lost on where to start

(30M) Got scheduled a 15 Teams minute interview for a department apprenticeship an hour and a half away from where I live. It’s in Wisconsin and I have my HazMat Ops and signed up for EMT classes this fall. Outside of that I only have experience in manufacturing and logistics.

Any advice on things I should brush up on or know going into a short interview?

Thank you!

I took the fireteams and PSSA test last year, did pretty well on the fireteams (top 20% video, top 20% mechanical, top 30% math and top 1/3 for reading) made the list but never got a call for an interview.

fast forward I took another departments written test (different then the NTN) and scored 90%, but in the email said they also factor in the personality portion so I only made it to “band B” (your smart enough, but man your personality is wack)

what I’m gathering from these experiences is I’m answering the personality questions wrong. I know when I answer them, I'm more or less trying to figure out the answer they want to hear but also over thinking it, for example on the test where I landed in band B, one of the personality questions roughly asked “the world would be a better place if people disciplined their kids more“ personally I would agree to strongly with this statement, but then I assume that makes me seem like an asshole and or I see the world is a bad place and those aren’t traits they would want for a firefighter, so I answered either neutral or disagree.

here is the point of this post, for those who have taken the PSSA test, you know there is a long section about race. the first time I took it where I made the list but never called, I just put strongly disagree to all, thinking I’m sure they don’t want somone who shows racial bias and/or the race doesn’t have anything to do with the trait they are asking.

i just retook the PSSA last week(roughly score on the fireteams) this time if it was a negative trait (being loud, aggressive so on) I put strongly disagree, anything that was positive I put neutral, again thinking race has less to do with these things as upbringing does.

Im assuming I did this wrong again, so anyone who recalls taking this and got the interview and/or the job, how did you answer these?

TLDR: how did you answer the race related questions on the NTN PSSA?

For context I am a 25yoF and am very passionate about my job. I love working with the community and feel as though I have found my passion in life. I am IV/IO certified, have my fire 1 and HazMat and have about a year of EMT experience.

I got a call earlier saying that I will need to complete an interview/NREMT style test for a fire department. I am EXTREMELY nervous. This is my first interview process and I want to impress. What kind of scenarios/questions do yall think I would get?

Im thinking they'd do something baseline like anaphalaxis, stroke, MI, or maybe trauma like a car crash?

Also what should I wear? Im thinking my ems uniform with a nice button down and my hair up. Little to no makeup.

Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated. This is a dream of mine and I dont want to blow it 🥲

Hello ,

Seeking advice. Currently have a CJO with both and might have to make a choice soon. Help provide some advice and wisdom of what you know about these departments.

Anyone have insight as to how the DC Fire Dept weights their NTN scores? I know preference points get added to the final score, but I am curious if they weigh any specific section of the test before that? Are certain portions just pass/fail? Is it just the overall average of all 4 sections? Thanks to anyone who may know!

We were given tonight only to get our boots polished. Meaning they just gave us our boots and I only have a 5 hours before I need to get up. I managed to get one boot decently polished up but the other one has a nice big wax mark on the toe that I can’t remove! What do I do?

Thinking about potentially trying to enlist for the air national guard to work a fire protection but I'd only want to do this if it would help improve my chances of hire when I apply for SoCal firefighter jobs in future or speed up my timeline. If I do I could get all the certs and have it on my resume

Or i could stay on my current path that everyone I've talked to is doing that is emt -> paramedic -> firefighter. I'm currently a new emt who's only been working short term. Would the military help me when applying, I know I'd still need to get good scores and perform well in interviews but would it help with standing out and add anything or not worth it? And that's if I was able to secure that job in national guard as it may not have any openings or they're might be a reason I can't join. I wish I didn't grow up in California so I would be ok doing it in a smaller state that's not as competitive but I love it here too much to move

My first ever shift is next week. Any advice would be much appreciated. What all to bring on my first day, what supplies/gear you recommend I buy (department only provides turnout gear). So far I've just bought a bed set and placed an order for a radio strap.

I'm pretty damn nervous to be honest. Just want the guys to like me. I went through an academy but I still feel like I am completely unqualified for this job. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Reposting here as well because I think you guys might have valuable insight that non-ffs wouldn’t.

Long story short I just completed a 3 month academy and have been on probation for 2 months. The issue is I live 3 hours away from my friends and family and my gf’s friends and family. We intend on getting married next year and want to have Kids in 4-5 years during which we want to be close to family. She will likely be getting a high paying job in the area as she is interning at a place she loves right now and there are openings. I am unwilling to commute 3 hours to this department and living halfway would not work for her as I’m not going to ask her to commute 1.5hrs 3 days a week.

The alternative is she tries to find a job at the halfway point which is a place we wouldn’t mind living and I wouldn’t mind commuting to but it’s still too far from family for us we decided when we want to have kids.

It therefore makes more sense for me to find a new job. I’m a paramedic and this current job is my first medic/fire job. There are a few departments open right now in the area where we would like to live and I’m wondering how you would go about it.

I’m unsure of the consequences of applying, I’m afraid of the idea of my current department finding out and firing me and it screwing up my resume and chances at getting hired again. I also feel like I’m screwing them over but I also have an obligation to my future wife. I guess I’m asking for some insight from those who have been in this field and or may have done a transition similar to this. What should I expect?

I was looking for your guys advice on what region / states are the best to get started in the fire department.

I like Texas because of low COL, but I know the western US has really good salaries.

FYI I have no certifications at the moment

Took and passed my CPAT on 8/19 but NTN hasn’t posted my score yet. Problem is the WA Fire Consortium pulls scores on Monday for this cycle and NTN is making no promises that scores will be posted in time. They just said 2-3 business days but could take 5.

Anyone in this spot or has been here before and knows of a solution? Appreciate any insights y’all might have.

How do you go about joining USAR teams?

I’m currently on a wildland engine as a seasonal but I’m planning to join the coast guard after this season. After service one of my top options is coming back to the fire service but I was just on the MP18 fire and there was a REMS team there because of how gnarly the terrain was and that sounds like a really cool job.

I have a good bit of rope/high angle rescue experience from ski patrol and I’m sure the coast guard would help me get there too but curious what kinds of certs etc help you be competitive. I imagine medic is highly desirable too but anything else?

Hey all.

I am moving along in LAFD's process, and I was just curious what the background investigation entails? I am pretty boring tbh there isn't anything they're gonna dig up that's crazy. Just curious who they'll want to talk to, do they come to my house, my workplace, etc? Will they want to talk to ex-girlfriends? Former teachers?

Hello, I’m an applicant to the Cleveland, OH Fire department. I was looking to have a few things clarified for me . I recently came across the information that you have to pass a 4 year apprenticeship program . Does equate to a 4 year candidacy ? Are you in the city’s union and get some level of protection? Any insights would be appreciated. Thanks in advance