Comments for Journey To Firefighter

Comment on My First Fire!!! by Andrea Torres

Andrea Torres — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:08:13 +0000

You are a very good writer! Glad you got to “tame the beast.”

Comment on Fire Interview Questions & Tips by My First Oral Board « FireCareers.com – FCBlog

My First Oral Board « FireCareers.com – FCBlog — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 05:49:21 +0000

[...] a look at this list of questions, come up with your answers to each (write them all down) and then review them with any firefighters [...]

Comment on Fire Behavior- Quiz 1 by Bill O'Brien

Bill O'Brien — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 07:58:47 +0000

I love these tests but I have one problem with # 13. If you are talking about how fire works then no it still burns until an element is removed or until it runs out of fuel. But if you are talking about fire changing and fire behavior you better bet that fire has changed over time because flashovers are occurring sooner and at lower temperatures due to materials in the area burning being of plastics and petroleum based.

Comment on Salvage, Overhaul, & Fire Cause Determination Quiz by Anthony Emanuele

Anthony Emanuele — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:43:08 +0000

very good quiz but some thing I dont think are right, I spent 15yrs in NYC Fire Patrol Last Paid fire salvage.: Squeegees can move large amounts of water from places water vacuums can not access, Squeegees we used did move more water than any water vacuums.-large drop heads, and many newer sprinkler heads, An active sprinkler head can displace oxygen within a __ to __ foot area around the head.can be every number ratio u have listed-When valuables are covered during salvage, how should this be indicated?•Place a piece of glass on top, were are u getting the glass from 2nd glass can break and injure a member and valuables. let the office in comand what is under the cover.-Common overhaul tools include all but which?
•pike poles, carry-alls, wheelbarrows
•pitchforks, rubbish hooks, axes
•kelly tools, vise grips, punch & chisel- how can u say this, maybe for a car fire
•chain saws, pike poles, carry-all

Comment on Office Of The State Fire Marshal – Accredited Training Facilities by Mario

Mario — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:31:56 +0000

Hey,
I am currently gathering information so that i can begin to pursue my firefighting career. I was planning on getting my EMT cert. First then attend a fire academy. Can i have anyones opinion? Also, to join a community college fire academy do you need to be a current student of that college?? Thanks!

Comment on Office Of The State Fire Marshal – Accredited Training Facilities by Gary

Gary — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 02:53:31 +0000

Hi Josh…

I noticed that Columbia College isn’t listed an an accredited regional academy. Have they
lost their accreditation? If so, what are the ramifications of graduating from a fire academy
that isn’t California State Fire Marshal accredited?

Comment on Office Of The State Fire Marshal – Accredited Training Facilities by Josh

Josh — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:20:30 +0000

Chris,

That’s exactly right. There is a definite distinction between your states Firefighter 1 certification and the completion of a state certified Firefighter 1 academy. If an application or hiring department requires a Firefighter 1, the academy alone is not enough. You’ll still need either 1 year of part time experience, or 6 months of full time experience as a firefighter to earn your certification. This is usually accomplished by working with a volunteer department or in a reserve program.

Comment on Office Of The State Fire Marshal – Accredited Training Facilities by Chris

Chris — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:10:28 +0000

If I complete a fire academy, but have not completed any hours what do I check for having my fire fighter 1? No if it asks for california state fire marshal, but yes if it asks if i have a certificate from an academy?

Comment on Fire Service Education – Q&A by Josh

Josh — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 01:09:46 +0000

I work at the Cordelia FPD which is a small department as well, but we see a good share of wildfires among the occasional MVA and Medical call. It’s rare that a hiring fire department will ask for either a resume or a cover letter, but on occasion they do. If they don’t ask for it, don’t worry about it. I don’t think it hurts to include them, but fire departments get so many applications these days that they don’t want to spend the time going through every resume and cover letter. That may matter to them as you get further along in the process, but even then, they’ve got what they need. My feeling is give exactly what they ask for and don’t complicate it.

Ride-alongs are always a great thing! The more departments and stations you can become familiar with, the better. You’ll end up with a lot of great experience, knowledge and connections that you didn’t have before. I’m not sure you have to mail a thank you to the chief after each one, but it wouldn’t be anything less than positive if you did. More importantly, make sure when you show up you’ve got something like ice cream, cookies, or a healthier treat. It shows appreciation, respect and thanks, and by doing it at the start, you look good from the first foot in the door.

If you do write a post-ride-along thank you card, make it out to the whole crew that you ran with that day. The Chief is probably the guy you’d see the least during a ride along. Most likely, you’ll be spending the day with a probie or the newest firefighter on the crew.

Comment on Fire Service Education – Q&A by Whats up man

Whats up man — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:52:43 +0000

Cool California, you work out their? I have some family out that way. Right now I work at Riverside Missouri Fire department, its cool but small. Its so hard to get on anywhere, I have alot of friends on departments in Missouri and Kansas, I am from Kansas. Ya so the cover letter thing alot of places out this way dont ask for them but you can turn one in?
Another thing I have learned is doing ride along with departments, tell me what you think about this? After I do a ride along type up a letter to the Cheif and mail it to him?