Becoming A Firefighter

Becoming a firefighter is back in action...

2009-07-12T13:55:00.001-07:00

I have been pretty busy lately (as you can tell by my last post date) but I am going to start posting again. Hopefully there is still someone out there that wants to hear from me, but I guess we will have to see.

Look forward to more posts to come.

Another great site... Dang...

2008-07-28T21:10:00.000-07:00

Yup. Found another one. This one doesnt have as much unless you subscribe but it does break things down for you as a new firefighter trying to break into the service. Here is an example of what I mean:

* Don't wear earrings, die your hair strange colors or wear pants hanging off . It's Not MTV
* Look like a professional. Take pride in your uniform
* Make friends
* Maintain professional competence
* Don't spout off in public. Let your performance speak for itself
* Go with your natural instinct
* Drive safely & conscientiously
* Don't judge other's actions until you know all the facts
* Go to the bathroom while you have the chance
* Be extremely careful when backing up a vehicle. Use a back up person when possible
* Learn to type & use a computer
* Be empathetic, it could be you
* Leave stress at work
* Longevity doesn't guarantee perfection, even veterans make mistakes.
* Learn new ways to communicate, languages, sign language, etc.
* Don't bring your problems to work
* Become educated
* Respect & learn from seniors
* Be your worst own critic
* Even though most calls are uneventful, don't get to relaxed because the next one might be worse.
* Avoid gossip

Its all simple stuff but they really break it down in layman's terms for people who don't get it. I love it! This is great stuff to know before you jump in. There is so much more here as well. Enjoy.

Fire Career Assistance

Free firefighter exams and more...

2008-07-28T20:29:00.000-07:00

Have you eve wanted to get ahead of the game. In the fire service, to get a job you have to be, and if your not you better get started! I have been in the fire service for 3 years now (WOW... not really) and am constantly learning. From peers, superiors, written tests, drills, mock interviews, actual interviews... the learning in endless. But I always keep searching for more ways to get ahead.

Just the other day, I was searching the vast rims of the web, when I found one of the best websites I have seen as of yet. Rescue Exams. Sounds pretty non interesting huh?! Well, to get ahead of the game this is one place to do it.

This website is a firefighters dream! Not to mention a training coordinator or EMT. This website has tons of practice tests, training videos, drill diagrams and training tools, and SO much more. I can't even begin to talk about all the stuff on this website... and best of all... ITS TOTALL, 100%, FREE! Yup is said the F word! You gotta check it out.

RescueExams.com

FlashoverTV...

2008-07-25T08:31:00.000-07:00

This is an awesome website I just found the other day. It has a ton of awesome fire department videos posted by firefighter all over the country... I think of it as a Firefighter's You Tube or something along those lines.

The have awesome training videos, action videos, rescue stuff, and so much more. Its free to sign up and I will tell you one thing, it cures that rainy day boredom for sure! Check it out!

FlashoverTV

My departments pictures go online...

2008-07-25T08:23:00.000-07:00

I just recently finished my departments website. Its nothing too special, but it serves its purpose well and we seem to be getting a lot of people stopping by.

Please check it out and give me some feedback, but you should definitely check out the video and picture sections, we have some cool new additions to cure some office/computer boredom!

Website link: www.bennettvalleyfire.org

Where have I been... again?

2008-07-25T08:18:00.000-07:00

Wow. It's been a long time. But where exactly have I been? Let me give you a few reasons for my absence"

Got married on June 7th
Move into our new apartment after that
Got a new corporate job last December
Been working full time at that job as well as part time at my current department

Needless to say it has been a crazy year for me, but I hope to start posting a lot more again.

Hopefully I still have some readers.

Helpful fire job listing websites...

2007-08-24T16:20:00.001-07:00

I have been looking around a lot for job listings. The best resource is the Internet.

There are so many place to look, so where do you start? Here are the websites I am currently using to find jobs both locally and nationally. I hope these help you out some... they have helped me a TON!

911 Hot Jobs - Very cool website that has many job listings... they also sell resources for interviews, tests and all sorts of other great resources. They also have, from time to time, free products when you sign up, like test question books, how to guides and much more.
Fire Recruit - This is an awesome website. There are so many job listings in here... they also have some awesome resources on oral interviews including common questions, and more.
CPAT Test - CA firefighters only
Fire Hire - Website dedicated to the Fire Hire test and the jobs associated with it.
Firehouse.com - Many many job listings, as well as forums, news, pictures... basically anything you could want is there.

Yes, you may have noticed that some of these sites require a monthly charge, its minimal but its so worth is... just do it!

Where have I been?!...

2007-08-24T16:11:00.000-07:00

That's a great question. Well I have been very busy indeed. Where do I start...?

Well I had an interview with a department about an hour and a half of where I live. I received a 96% on my oral interview (which was awesome by the way), but I only score an 79% on the written exam... which when added together didn't give me high enough standing to get one of the initial positions available but it did put me number 22 on the hiring list for the next 2 years.

What did I get out of this? Well I got the experience of yet another interview process, which showed me that I am getting better at them (98%!!). Plus I got on a hiring list. In my opinion it was a success.

But that was a few months ago, where have you been lately? Well, I also got on as an intern for a department near me as well. I haven't started yet but I will be working my first shift on the 9th or next month. I already have all my gear and am waiting for the patches to get sown on my dress shirt and I will be ready to get started. I am so excited.

Its been 6 months since the academy, that I have done any fire related training, so it will be good to get back into it again finally.

I will hopefully keep posting again, and will keep you all updated on the new happenings.

Interview Questions...

2007-04-20T14:08:00.000-07:00

Well the first interview is over and I think it went really well. They asked me simple questions and I gave them some pretty good answers... Here are a few of the questions they asked me (at least all the ones I can remember):

- Tell us a little about yourself
- What have you done to prepare yourself for this position?
- How do you deal with customer service with you current job and what does that have to do with the FD?
- Define loyalty, and pride, and relate the to the fire service.
- Do you have anything to add or any questions for us?

And that was about it... it wasn't too difficult nor was it that long. I stayed calm throughout the interview. I don't feel that I stuttered at all, so overall IMO its been the best interview I've done to date.

I hope this helps some of you... please let me know if it does or if you have any questions or want to hear my point of view on things.

Until next time...

New Department Interview...

2007-04-19T17:39:00.000-07:00

As some of you have read from my last post, I am going to be interviewing with two different departments in the coming weeks.

My old department, and a new department that I have never really worked with... well, tomorrow is the day for the new departments interview.

Wish me luck! I will let you know how things go, and I will write down some of the questions I was asked for those of you who want to start compiling a list.

Possibilities...

2007-03-20T18:28:00.000-07:00

Well I have some choices right now. I have the choice to wait until approx. August to get back on with the department I used to be affiliated with or start an internship with another one I have found. Lets take a look at the pros and cons shall we...

Pros of old department:
- Had a ton of fun, loved the people and the community.
- It's where it all started.
- Feel very comfortable and confident there.

Cons:
- Wait till august.
- No real progression, but more experience (only).

Pros of new department:
- Work on getting my firefighter II cert.
- New department, new people, new connections.
- Keep my skills up, and learn some new things along the way.

Cons of new department:
- 1 year commitment in an internship.
- Time commitment.
- VERY SLOW department.

This is the dilemma. Hmmmm I will ponder this a while... please leave comments if you feel compelled... any help helps! ha ha

Back to the future...

2007-03-05T09:52:00.000-08:00

Today I am going back to my old volunteer department where this blog began. I am going to apply for an out of district volunteer position. Basically what that means is that I am not in district so I wont be responding to every emergency. I will respond to major emergencies and when I am at the department working a shift I will respond as well.

This works out really well because with being done with the academy, and wanting to look or a real job I need a flexible schedule to accommodate that so this will work out great.

I will let you know when I hear back from them about the position.

Now that it's over...

2007-02-20T08:20:00.000-08:00

I haven't been posting as much lately. I know, I'm sorry. But the academy is over and now I have been thrown back into the real world with "real" college classes (bad news). I had a great time in the academy, met a ton of people who I will be working closely with in the up coming months and years to find a job. I have memories I will never forget... but I have to move forward to bigger things.

Here is a few of the best pics from my academy, and please keep checking back for updates about the job hunt!

Civilian vs. FD Friends

2007-02-20T08:16:00.000-08:00

A buddy of mine sent me this... I thought it was pretty funny. Enjoy.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Get upset if you're too busy to talk to them for a
week.
FIRE DEPARTMENT FRIENDS: Are glad to see you after years, and will
happily carry on the same conversation you were having last time you
met.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
FIRE DEPARTMENT FRIENDS: Are the reason you have no food.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. And Mrs.
FIRE DEPARTMENT FRIENDS: Call your parents mom and dad.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Bail you out of jail and tell you what you did was wrong.
FIRE DEPARTMENT FRIENDS: Would be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...we screwed up...but man that was fun!"

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
FIRE DEPARTMENT FRIENDS: Cry with you

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
FIRE DEPARTMENT FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
FIRE DEPARTMENT FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
FIRE DEPARTMENT FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds' ass that left you behind.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.
FIRE DEPARTMENT FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, "I'm home!"

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Are for a while.
FIRE DEPARTMENT FRIENDS: Are for life.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have shared a few experiences...
FIRE DEPARTMENT FRIENDS: Have shared a lifetime of experiences no Civilian could ever dream of...

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you've had enough.
FIRE DEPARTMENT FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say, "You better drink the rest of that, you know we don't waste...that's alcohol abuse!!" Then carry you home safely and put you to bed.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will talk crap to the person who talks crap about you.
FIRE DEPARTMENT FRIENDS: Will knock them the hell out of them for using your name in vain.

2007-01-15T22:21:00.000-08:00

Here is the latest update on the recent happenings. Some good news other bad news. I was dropped late last year from my new department. Mainly because the time I have been spending at in the academy has taken to much time away from my training with them. This is both good and bad.

Bad, because I don't am now not with a department and not getting any experience at the moment, but good in a sense that I can concentrate on my finals of the academy (which are this week by the way!), and I will hopefully be going back to the department I was with before, which is VERY good.

I will be finishing up the academy this week after a few tests which I plan to do well on.

So keep your finger crossed that I everything goes smoothly this week, and look forward to another update soon... this time not as long in between!

WOW! 3 months since update...

2006-11-05T14:44:00.000-08:00

Yes... I am alive. Its hard to believe that 3 months have gone by and I have had not even a minute to give an update. There has been so much going on in my fire life. I don't even know where to start. This is going to be a multi-part update mainly because I don't have time to write about everything all at once. Now, where to start... hmmmm.

My new department seems like a good place to start. As you know, or might remember I am at a new department and have gone on some fires. Now I am coming to the end of my probationary period and we are currently in testing to leave probationary status and enter the real of 'volunteer.' This will open many doors, as far as what I can and cant do on a fire. I will be able to go interior on an initial attack among other things. I will be able to sign up for the 'strike team list' which would give me the opportunity to leave the county for state fires. So as you can see this is a pretty good deal!

We had our first night of testing on Wednesday the 1st and I will be doing my second night of testing on Wednesday the 8th. Hopefully if all goes well I wont have to re mediate anything and be done on the 8th. I have been training a little for this mainly because the academy is taking so much of my time.

Lately I haven't been on any fires or even really gone on any calls for that matter. We have had a lot of calls, but most of them turn into nothing or we don't even get out of the house before we get cancelled. BUT, I am getting calls! ha ha

Other then that, the new department is working our great. I am having fun and learning a lot. I will keep you posted on anything else that happens. Keep an eye here for my next update on the academy!

PPE Night 1...

2006-08-22T22:44:00.001-07:00

Tonight we started in our series of PPE(personal protective equipment) classes. These classes are mainly informative classes about the different part of our PPE including, turnouts (pants and jacket), helmet, SCBA, goggles, gloves, boots, etc. The picture to the right is the proper way to suit up to go into a fire or many other dangerous situations. (Yes that picture is me... ha ha)

We went over many of the NFPA standards they are used for in terms of PPE.

We will be learning about SCBA's and actually using all of our PPE on Thursday. I will update you all then.

Until next time.

Day at the airshow...

2006-08-19T17:49:00.000-07:00

I was at the airshow that I was telling you about today. We were there for the sole purpose to rescue and put out the fire in the event that a plane went down. That's it! No medical, nothing else... except one other thing.

I was one of the few people that got to stand near the old war planes when they started, since there age makes them prone to fires on start up. So there I was in my full turnout gear with my extinguisher at the ready. But nothing happened. Nothing all day happened. I just got to sit back and watch the show, and of course I took some pictures for all my loyal readers!

One of the coolest things I got to see what the new airport fire engine, or Jaguar as its named. This thing can go up to 80 mph VERY QUICKLY! It uses a master stream nozzle on the end of a elephant like trunk that it controlled by the F18 control stick in the cockpit! It was awesome... there are pics of that in there as well!

But other then that, there were a few cool planes and a cool Reach helicopter, but that's about it.

Well... until next time!

World Trade Center Movie...

2006-08-18T23:15:00.000-07:00

I just got home from seeing World Trade Center the movie. I thought I would give my 'review' no matter how lame it may be, since this movie has a lot to do with the job I seek today (not necessarily the movie but the things that happened that day in reality).

From the start of the movie I had some major expectations on what I should feel and see. I wanted to feel sad, and angry. And I did... it brought back my feelings that I had on the day it actually happened. This is important in my opinion, mainly because over the years since 911, I have been so dulled to the feelings and memories, and I felt it was good to feel it again. Not only for the purpose of memory, but the fact that one day I might be called to something like this and will remember what happened, and have it more clearly in my mind.

I don't care what other reviews say. I don't care what your friends or family think or say about this movie, all I know is, if you are a firefighter, cop, paramedic, or have anything to do with emergency services you owe it to yourself to see this movie.

In my opinion this was a great movie and all of the actors in it were awesome. The cinematography and everything was awesome. GO SEE IT!

Design guy...

2006-08-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

I have been unofficially designated to create the logo for this years fire academy T-Shirts. I am in charge of making the graphic mainly because of my background in graphics design.

I'm not yet quite sure what I am going to do, but for sure I will be using the typical Maltese cross design, but other then that we will see where art leads me. Hopefully I can come up with something pretty cool. I think it would be pretty fun to be remembered for creating something that memorable.

I will let you know how its going... kinda makes me nervous! ha ha

Until next time.

Academy Day 2...

2006-08-17T22:49:00.000-07:00

Tonight at the academy was not too exciting. We really fined tuned our inspection line up and I think we have it down pretty well. We also had some new commands added in and learned a little more about what to expect in terms of being as perfect as possible.

We had our first quiz of the course, on the rules and regulations manual. Nothing to hard. We talked more about rules and regulations and watched a few video clips about becoming a team and the want and need to do the job.

Like I said nothing major but it was another night. This Saturday we don't have class (amazing!) but we do have class Sunday, which is a PT (physical training) day, basically work out and talk about health all day.

But since we don't have class on Saturday, I will be working a local air show on one of my departments rigs. It should be pretty cool working out there. We are primarily there for medical presence and fire suppression in the event that a plane go down or anything else.

I will let you know how things go on Saturday.

Extrication training 8/16...

2006-08-16T22:36:00.000-07:00

I just got home from the second part in the series of extrication classes my department just started. Tonight we did a lot of cutting and breaking of things! Always good! ha ha We were also introduced to a new item to our department.

As most of you have already seen, there is the normal Holmatro tools (cutters, spreaders, ram, and combi, etc...) Tonight we received our new gear to all of our stations. Its called the BCT 3120. This is one of the most interesting things I have seen yet. (Notice I said interesting... let me explain)

Its a great tool for first response to an extrication. Its small, very mobile, light, and semi powerful. After using it a bit I noticed that not only does the size of the blade/bite keep it from doing a great job, but it just doesn't have the power needed for most of today's cars. Don't get me wrong, its gets things done, but at a slower rate of speed.

I will have to work with it more to get a better idea of how it works, but this is something that will take me some time to like. I will keep you posted!

Until next time.

Academy Day 1...

2006-08-15T22:21:00.000-07:00

Well the first day of the academy has come and gone. To say the least I am intimidated. The Instructors are going to be no BS a-holes for sure, but it's a good thing in the end. At least we will learn to respect and listen well.

We started off the night going over rules and regulations, then we moved on to learn how to line up for roll call and inspections. We learned the basic commands of a military run operation. "Parade rest" " Right/Left face!" and all the rest of them. We were also broken into squads, which we will work with for the rest of the course.

I was lucky enough to get put in my friends squad, and it seems to me so far that most of the people in my squad have had previous fire experience. So, I think its gonna be a long 6 months but a rewarding 6 months non the less.

I will keep you updated.

Let the games begin...

2006-08-14T21:43:00.000-07:00

I am a little late on reporting this but I got my letter from Oakland fire and I didn't get the position. I guess I didn't do so well on the oral boards. But the good thing about it is, that I got some experience on the other side of the table. I got a suit for the next one, and I'm not losing any sleep over it.

On another note, the academy starts tomorrow. Yes, TOMORROW! So for the next 6 months its going to be a lot of work and a lot of learning and growing on my part. I am excited, but at the same time, I'm kinda worried and a bit nervous, but its all for the best.

Wish me luck and keep an eye here for updates on things as they progress.

Until next time.

Ready for the academy....

2006-08-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

This is going to be a 2 part update. First of all, I have officially paid for the academy, both for the clothes I needed and the boots, as well as the fees to the college.

The boots I got a pretty cool, they are the Thorogood HellFire structure boots. These things are pretty nice and they are not that expensive as far as firefighter boots go, but they are perfect for the academy where they will most likely get pretty banged up anyway!

The other update is that today I had my academy orientation. From what I can tell already, this academy is going to be a long hard class. It is military style with the whole "Yes Sir! No Sir!" deal.

There will be drilling with flags in the morning as well. We don't start the academy just yet there is still about 1 week of summer left, but then we jump straight into it for the next 6 months. *sigh* At least when its over its over! haha

I will let you know as things progress.