Any firemen/firewomen on here? Career questions

Is there a question there?

Great career. True enough, it’s not all peaches and cream, but the good far outweighs the bad. There is some in-house politicking, but that’s everywhere you go when you’re working for someone else. The pay for entry level is incredible now compared to my time. Plus the fringes are worth a ton. Depending on the rotation, 24/48 is common, some have moved to 48/48, but you’ll have time to work a sideline job if you desire. In the fire service, you’ll get to learn and do things that most folks don’t comprehend. My take for your son, go for it. I don’t think he’d regret the decision.

He’ll be knee deep in pussy after his first divorce.

My son is a Firefighter/Paramedic. When he graduated from high school, he tried college but decided it wasn't for him. He joined a volunteer department and enjoyed it enough to decide it was what he wanted to do.

He got his EMT license and graduated from the Arkansas Fire Academy. It didn't take him long to realize that he would need to become a paramedic if he wanted to join a full-time department. I don't know how it is elsewhere, but in NWA, most firefighters are paramedics. He ended up going to NWACC and becoming a paramedic. He's now on a full-time department and is their lead paramedic.

My point is if your son wants to do this professionally, he may need to reconsider the college thing so he can get his Paramedic license.

It's a damn honorable career. Kudos to your son.

Pros: fighting big house fires is an adrenaline rush and really fun for the first 20 minutes. Saving someone’s life is a good feeling. Being there for somebody when they really need you in an emergency is a good feeling. Women will dig the profession but not the pay.

Cons: Very low pay, especially for the first half of a career (unless married to a chick that has a nice income, he’ll have to spend most of his life working multiple jobs and thus not having much if any time to enjoy other things he might like doing) Be ready to work. Lots n lots of feces, vomit, blood n guts, and piss. He’ll have to go into the homes of people that have full blown aids or other potentially deadly pathogens. Really gnarly wounds and health issues that he can’t be scared to go hands-on with.
Suicide rate is higher than normal.
Heart issues/heart attack rate is really high.
Cancer rate is a lot higher than average.
Divorce rate is higher than non-firemen.

I have a son-in-law that is a fireman in St. Tamany. He is close to his 20 years, and can retire if he chooses. He is a Captain, he is also a paramedic and EMT, and is as high as he can go, unless he gets a 2 year Associates degree, which he could do online these days. Then he could become an Assitant Chief. He makes surprisingly good money for working 24 hrs. on and 48 hrs. off. I was shocked when my daughter (no pics) told me what he was making. Plus there is a secondary income from a side job during the 48 hrs. off. I can't speak for the requirements in Texas, but I'd bet they are similar. Also, Aggy has one of the best fire training programs in the country. I believe theirs offers a 2 and a 4 yr. degree, but I can't confirm that.

Does he like to break shite?

I believe it’s in their DNA and all true firemen absolutely love that axe, pike, sledge hammer, the jaws of life, really any type of forced entry tool in their hands.

I grew up with 2 KCFD retirees…commonality. They both always loved breaking shite.

Industrial... work for one of the chem plants. Better pay and less dealing with sick people.

Tell him to volunteer and see how he likes it.

I live in a fairly rural area and the parish firefighters are like rock stars to a lot of folks. They're all very respected people. They do a great job and from talking to them they all enjoy it. They're usually getting full nights of sleep while at the station. I had a tree fall on my house a few years ago and somebody tipped them off about it. They showed up with saws and helped me cut the tree off the house and tarp the roof. Really good group of guys. I drop ground deer meat off all the time since they love making chili while waiting on calls.

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remind him that those TV shows aren’t what it’s going to be like

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I have a relative that is a fire'person who can not give birth' and they said most of the calls the station gets is medical stuff.

One story was a rather large woman claiming that she was having a heart attack. When they got to the hotel she was living in they noticed a big plate of BBQ sauce. They told her that she was just having heart burn. She said no. After about 15 seconds she had explosive vomit. Nothing but half chewed pork and chicken.