{"id":2913,"date":"2019-08-27T00:06:18","date_gmt":"2019-08-27T04:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.167.168.176\/~phillips\/kerriansnotebook\/kerriansnotebook\/?p=2913"},"modified":"2025-03-22T20:18:42","modified_gmt":"2025-03-23T00:18:42","slug":"kn-p-118-how-do-you-become-a-firefighter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/2019\/08\/kn-p-118-how-do-you-become-a-firefighter\/","title":{"rendered":"KN, p. 118  &#8220;How do you become a firefighter?&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/FireHelmetNikon2280.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-882\" title=\"FireHelmetNikon2280\" src=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/FireHelmetNikon2280-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/FireHelmetNikon2280-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/FireHelmetNikon2280-1024x680.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">I have several pals around the country who are firefighters. Some put out wildfires, some work in rural areas, others in big cities. A couple of them helped out during and after September 11<sup>th<\/sup>. Firefighters have a dangerous job and a whole lot of guts. No doubt about it. They save lives, they help people, they serve the community in countless ways. Yet, many civilians assume that the job is just about putting out the flames. In most towns, there is much more to it. Their duties can include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">responding to requests for help<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">putting out fires<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">assisting at highway accidents<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">rescuing people during floods or other natural disasters<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">rendering safe any bombs<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">rescuing trapped people and animals<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">And, after they do all that, firefighters are usually responsible for the cleanup and checking the incident site afterward.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">One of the first ways children meet firefighters is in school. Each year in October (National Fire Prevention Month in the USA) firefighters educate the community by visiting schools and public venues, demonstrating how to avoid getting hurt during a fire. \u201cStop, Drop &amp; Roll\u201d is taught everywhere, so that children will know what to do if they smell smoke in their own homes. In communities where wildfires are an unfortunate fact of life, wildfire preparedness is taught, with a focus on how to protect the house year-round and what to do when it\u2019s time to evacuate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Sound like a career you\u2019d like to have? Read on to discover the job requirements. It\u2019s a competitive field and not for everyone, but it is highly rewarding for the guys and gals who qualify.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">You must be 18 and have a High School diploma. Beyond that?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Education<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Because of the changing demands on firefighters, many fire departments now ask that applicants complete some kind of coursework beyond high school.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Some departments (generally in larger cities) even require a full bachelor or associate&#8217;s degree in fire science or fire engineering.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Most potential firefighters will then have to undergo five areas of testing in order to determine readiness for training:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Testing for Firefighter Qualification<\/span>: <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Written Exam<\/strong> \u2013 150 to 200 multiple choice questions including reading comprehension, math, judgment, listening comprehension, oral &amp; written communication, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Physical Agility &#8211; <\/strong>the various parts of this test simulate situations a firefighter would encounter on the job and depending on the town\/city, all must be completed in under ten minutes (in some cases as little as seven minutes)<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Hose drag \u2013 <\/strong>in general, 200 feet of hose line is dragged at least 75 feet while walking or running upright, and then perhaps dragged an additional distance after dropping to one knee<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Stair Climb \u2013 <\/strong>a set number of stairs is climbed while wearing or carrying equipment<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Equipment Carry \u2013 <\/strong>some versions of the test require hauling\u00a0 equipment through a second story window via rope; others require carrying equipment for 75 feet while walking on the ground.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Ladder Raise \u2013 <\/strong>those tall ladders have extensions that must be managed and adjusted while several feet off the ground.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Forcible Entry \u2013 <\/strong>using a sledgehammer, the applicant has to hit and move a device a certain distance in order to demonstrate an ability to use force when smashing through a wall, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Search \u2013 <\/strong>the applicant has to crawl through a tunnel maze with right angles and limited visibility &#8211; about 3\u2019x4\u2019 in some spots, smaller in others<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Rescue \u2013 <\/strong>a full-sized dummy (about 165 pounds) must be dragged 75 feet in one direction and then 75 feet back.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Ceiling Breach \u2013 <\/strong>tools are used to poke and pull at a hole in a ceiling \u2013 sometimes including a sixty pound door.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>This video from Cuyahoga Community College demonstrates some of the challenges to be met:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff0000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Tvwp2r2BzdE&amp;feature=youtu.be\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; text-decoration: underline;\">http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Tvwp2r2BzdE&amp;feature=youtu.be<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">If the applicant fails the physical part of the test, he\/she is typically allowed to sign up for a later attempt, usually after several months.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Other sections of the test battery include:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Medical Exam<\/strong> &#8211; thorough checkup, plus drug testing<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Psychological Exam<\/strong> \u2013 are you psychologically suited for the job \u2013 are you afraid of dark, tight spaces? Do you work well in teams? Can you take orders? Why do you want to work in such a dangerous field?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Oral Interview<\/strong> (pass\/fail section of testing) <\/span><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Possible questions might include: Why do you want to be a firefighter? What are your strengths\/weaknesses? What is the job?\u00a0 Are you qualified? Why should we hire you?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">After passing all five areas, the applicant will be permitted to apply to a fire academy and\/or fire department for the training program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Some towns are set up to allow for on-the-job training after the testing is complete. The applicants become candidates at the firehouse and complete their training with the firefighters they will be working with, but most towns require attendance at a formal program before this step.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/FirefighterUniformsDSC_2289_2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2915\" title=\"FirefighterUniformsDSC_2289_2\" src=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/FirefighterUniformsDSC_2289_2-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/FirefighterUniformsDSC_2289_2-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/FirefighterUniformsDSC_2289_2-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/FirefighterUniformsDSC_2289_2.jpg 1501w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Training Program<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">A several weeks\/months long training program must be completed at a fire department or academy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Recruits learn about hazardous materials control<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Recruits learn emergency medical procedures, including CPR.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Local building codes are taught<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva;\">Firefighting techniques are practiced, including handling axes, ladders, chainsaws, fire hoses and fire extinguishers.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Additional information at <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.fireprep.com\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">www.fireprep.com<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Think you\u2019d like to know more? Call for an appointment at your local firehouse to drop in and introduce yourself. Chances are, if the guys have the time, they\u2019ll chew your ear off with stories of calls they\u2019ve gone out on. The job is not like what you see on \u201cChicago Fire.\u201d Fun show, but not realistic. Ask a pro.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/WFirefightersDSC_3462-2-copy.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2916\" title=\"WFirefightersDSC_3462-2 copy\" src=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/WFirefightersDSC_3462-2-copy-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/WFirefightersDSC_3462-2-copy-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/WFirefightersDSC_3462-2-copy-1024x680.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">*Photos by Patti Phillips<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Firefighter qualifications<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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