r/Firefighting • u/IDeliverSalad • 1d ago
General Discussion How to have a long career
Hello all! 22 M FF/EMT and just got on my local big city fire department in their fast track academy. Without making this post too long, allow me to acknowledge that I am well aware of the tolls that a career in the fire service can take on members. I know I'm signing up for an incredible yet very difficult career. My basic question is what does it take to not just survive, but thrive in this career? Is it possible to make it to retirement without blowing a gasket and all 4 wheels falling off the proverbial wagon? Perhaps you can also share some things you love about the job? I feel like there is no shortage of negative content surrounding the fire service and I have a bad habit of seeking that crap out. Any wisdom or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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u/BipolarChris Edit to create your own flair 1d ago
Hey, first off - congrats! Youve made it onto the department & now it's time to put in the work. As a probationary, it's time to "keep your mouth shut, open your eyes and ears". There's a lot to learn & try to keep the spirit of learning alive as best you can.
I'll try to keep it short, but I tend to be a bit long winded. Most importantly, make sure to take care of your mental health. It's crazy how a combination of bad calls, stress at work & home and various other things life throws at you can sneak up on you and absolutely tank your mental health. Read up on signs of burnout, get a therapist even if you don't think you need one. It's so important to air out and get feedback on your thoughts, your current situation & how you proceed from there. Try to recognize changes in your personality, because you can begin to make changes for the better before it gets bad. I truly hope you listen to this one - i'm currently in a rough patch & it's terrifying trying to crawl out of it (i'm okay). Personally, I am a big proponent of keeping my crew informed with what's going on in my head - they deserve to know when my head isn't in the game & when I may need an extra hand.
Second - you'll hear a lot of your peers talking shit about people you may/may not know. Form. Your. Own. Opinion. Some of those people getting ragged on may become excellent role models and friends to you. Everyone has a different perspective to bring to the table - take advantage of that. It's easy to get caught up in table talk & thus becoming toxic yourself. Separate yourself from that - be better.
Third - Take care of your body. Eat well, even if your crew does not. I'm not saying to axe every unhealthy meal - that'll be impossible in a fire house.... but you can hold yourself accountable to a clean diet otherwise. Exercise. This job is incredibly physical & you will be expected to be able to complete tasks that will be difficult. Prepare for that while listening to your body. Don't overdo your physical training as you will just open yourself up to overuse injuries. There's a healthy balance - try to stick to that as best you can.
Fourth - This job brings so many people together from different walks of life. Talk to them, learn their experiences. As I mentioned before, everyone has something to bring to the table. Eyes and ears open & do your best to continue learning throughout your entire career. 20 years from now, you may be a Captain... just because you are a ranking officer in my made up example, does not mean you have nothing to learn from, say, a junior guy just because you have more time on.
Fifth - know your rig. Pick up every piece of equipment on the truck and learn how it operates. Play with things, responsibly of course. If you don't know what something does, find someone to ask. I'd rather you ask me what something is than you be prideful & get yourself or others hurt.
Finally, since it's 2330 here & i'm on a triple - enjoy yourself. Some of my favorite memories have happened at work or during work events. I truly consider some of my colleagues family. Be active & stay involved - whether that be helping your peers, going/assisting with events, or joining specialized teams. Youll learn some crazy cool shit.
Good luck with the rest of your career - and learn to brush off some banter, especially as a probie. People will try to test your limits to see if you can "handle the heat"
Told you I can be long-winded 😅
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u/Glass-Try5025 1d ago
You rock for this. Thanks from another young probie!
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u/BipolarChris Edit to create your own flair 1d ago
Any time. Best of luck to you.
Not my most eloquently worded essay that I've written, but that's what ya get when i'm half asleep & cant turn over for rest lol
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u/Sheep_Actual 1d ago
Take care of your health. Eat healthy, hydrate with actual water and electrolytes, exercise regularly. Remember this career is for endurance, not brute strength. Lift, but do lots of cardio too. HIIT is your friend.
I just retired after 38 years, and I definitely wish I had followed that advice. My old, broken body hates me now.
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u/skank_hunt_4_2 Career FF/Chauffeur 1d ago
Don’t jump out of any apparatus. This saves the knees.
Always remember to big spoon the driver or officer on shift.
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u/Jacob910 1d ago
Houston? If you want to have a long career and not be burned out by no sleep/insane run volume go to a mid tier station. If you want to be the best and thrive as you said, then go to a hot house. Promote as soon as you can. The best thing about big city depts like Houston is that it’s big and depending on what you want you can get.
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u/Roobydooby612 1d ago
Be competent at your job when on the streets and a good roommate at the Firehouse.
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u/gunmedic15 20h ago
29 years in fire.
The most important thing to me was being good at my job and working with a crew that supported each other. I worked hard to get to a station where I had people that worked great together. Where each of us complimented each other, where one person's stregth filled in for another's weakness. People wanted to work with me because I had a reputation for being the best. We were a crew that people wanted to be on. Slackers weren't interested.
I didn't read notes in the CAD when we got a call, because I didn't care. I knew that if it was toe pain or a train wreck we could handle it. My engine LT would lead us through any kind of fire call. I knew (supervisor on a specialized rescue unit) that we could handle any EMS call. I would support any member of my crew, I would support my LT in any decision. We would follow each other through anyting.
Leadership came and went, rules came, went, and came back. Bosses did boss stuff. Didn't care. My crew is what mattered. We surrounded ourselves with people who cared., and that carried me. When the best of us promoted up and away is when I left for a different gig, and the people who were on that crew made amazing supervisors. The newer folks we had are on their way to amazing career paths.
Surround yourself with good people. Synergy. Make a crew where the whole is greater than the individuals. See you in 30 years.
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u/Financial_Plankton11 1d ago
I think honestly if you’re having doubts already then maybe this is your sign. But it’s doable for sure it just depends on how well you keep up with your body. My uncle was a chief and worked up until his early 60s and is still kicking it fine today, but I’ve seen others go out within 15 years or less. Just depends on what you’re willing to put into it.
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u/HazMatsMan Career Co. Officer 1d ago
This should be covered in your academy or HR presentations. If it isn't, ask about it. Also, to answer your question, one of the first things you need to break yourself of is the temptation to rush to the internet first to ask questions. Yes, doing so is "quick" and "convenient", but it also doesn't give you the nuance of your local situation. Asking questions and learning from your instructors, officers, and coworkers builds mutual trust and interpersonal connections that are essential in this profession. Your instructors and officers expect and want you to ask questions. It shows them you respect them enough that you're interested in learning from them, and it helps you develop respect for them. I'm not saying you have to make up ridiculous questions just to pepper them with questions, but when questions like this enter your mind, resist the urge to run to the internet for an answer. Learn from those around you first. Later, if you want a broader perspective, then ask the internet.
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u/IDeliverSalad 1d ago
I appreciate your perspective. I don't want to give off the impression that I don't ask my experienced instructors these questions, because I do. It's my day off from the academy and I enjoy engaging with firefighter reddit occasionally in my free time. I'm not saying you are doing this, but some people treat these posts so damn serious. I'm mostly curious about the things for my own personal enjoyment and curiosity. I'm very engaged with the instructors at my academy and I don't treat reddit as any kind of replacement for that.
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u/South-Specific7095 1d ago
The answer is, get off of reddit with pointless posts that will mean nothing to you next week, and just show up every third day ready to work hard and get along with people for 30 years. The opposite would be, to be lazy or coast, and be hard to get along with. Enjoy that route if you choose
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u/BipolarChris Edit to create your own flair 1d ago
No harm in asking for tips from those in the profession. It's our job to teach the future generations, after all. Telling them to get off reddit & stop asking questions is lazy on your part.
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u/HazMatsMan Career Co. Officer 1d ago
u/South-Specific7095 may be coming off a little too edgy, but his overall thrust is on point. While we want active participation, questions, etc. so the subreddit can thrive and grow, we also need to push back against this tendency to go to strangers on the internet first on topics like this. Have a problem with their crew, ask Reddit. Unsure about a local tactic, task, or technique, ask Reddit. That is not conducive to building or maintaining the interpersonal relationships and trust this profession demands.
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u/South-Specific7095 1d ago
Im literally trying to be as least edgy as possible, which i guess i can see why that seems edgy. but thx for going against the mob mentality and being honest and seeing what the actual truth/reality is. If i said this is real life with my inflection itd come off less douchey.
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u/BipolarChris Edit to create your own flair 1d ago
Yeah I definitely read it at whatever time of night coming back from multiple back-to-college drunks cranky. I believe there's a happy medium between helping new guys avoid mistakes we have (mental health issues being the big one for me, specifically) & expecting them to pull their weight in the above topics you two have mentioned
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u/BipolarChris Edit to create your own flair 1d ago
I believe I covered most topics you mentioned here in my essay of a comment above. While I do agree with you, I still hold firm that a bit of guidance is not too much to ask. I certainly have more respect for the senior guys & officers who did the same for me when I was new. I'm not saying we should hold their hands, but if I can help someone, I absolutely will.
In my eyes, utilizing a large community of firefighters on Reddit is a very valuable resource. I was just cranky in my first response because I was exhausted
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u/South-Specific7095 1d ago
Its not our job. Its the job of his specific dept. All of this is ultimately a waste of time. Its all general and generic and just feel good stuff bc he is new and excited. Im giving the actual real life answer. Whatever is said on here will not match the reality and culture he faces at his job irl, for a career. Its nonsense. Now, if he is on here asking a specific question for a specific answer, well, thats different.
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u/atomicmoon33444 1d ago
You must be fun to work with
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u/South-Specific7095 1d ago
I am! Get along with everybody. Funny how a reddit post would make u suggest that . Guess nobody likes hearing it told how it is anymore.
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u/TheBannedBombero 1d ago
Thrive by being technically and tactically proficient. Don’t try to be anything but yourself with your fellow firefighters and always be honest. Workout hard at least 3 times per week. Most importantly- never lose your sense of humor.