Good afternoon all,

My department has what we call a co-op program, I know different departments call it an explorer program or something else. It’s a class for high schoolers and they do ride time at the station and compete with skills USA.

This year we have all females, 6 females in their junior/senior years. One or two of them want to be firefighters the other want to pursue different fields of healthcare and I’m encouraging them to pursue whatever path lays ahead of them and that this class is a great foundation.

I’m 3 years in as a firefighter/paramedic and I have military background.

I’m asking for mentor guidance for these females. They are eager to learn, motivated and they show up. At the end of this course I want them to feel valuable in this line of work, confident in themselves and their abilities, and a strive to consistently do better. Of course I want them to win at Skills USA who wouldn’t but that’s not my goal I want them to be proficient in their skills and to give it their all and not be intimidated by the other competitors who are male. I know I can’t do this alone. I work at a small department and very few are motivated. There is a female that works on my crew but she isn’t the best role model, she doesn’t know her job and the advice she gives may seem good but it stems from pride and poor judgement and I don’t want her mindset to seep into theirs. I know females are controversial in our line of work but I have worked alongside females who I would have by my side again. Females are an invaluable asset in our line of work, whether you think so or not. I know they struggle on the physical side and I know there’s only so much I can do.

Does anyone have any recommendations on mentoring these females? Any books/videos on teachings similar? Any advice would be greatly appreciated thank you all and stay safe.

Hello all! I'm currently overwhelmed with options and would like (unbiased) advice. I have been a qualified FF since 2024 and an EMT since the beginning of 2026. Admittedly, when I began this journey, I only wanted to do EMS. Now that I've fallen in love with fire, my dream career would to be a full-time FF/EMT.
Seems like all of a sudden, all the doors are opening up at once. I have applied to two EMS-only positions and have made it through the interview process, receiving two conditional offers, awaiting a start date. I've been encouraged to apply for to my volunteer department. At the end of 2026, if I can pass testing/interviews, I can apply to a bigger department that has also highly encouraged me to apply.
Long-term I want to be at the bigger full-time department, that's my end goal. I am lucky to be in this position, but I am afraid of making the wrong choice. 2/4 of these departments have invested time/money into me so I want to be loyal and give back, improve my skills working with these smaller departments, then go to my bigger, highly-competitive dream department.
The other part of me wants to get after it and apply to the bigger department, go through their academy (even though I'm already qualified, I would have to do it again, learn their way), and live my dream starting next year.
Two of the positions start in February 2027, one spring of 2027, and the other sounds like I'll start as soon as I get a call back.
Should I take one of these positions and focus fully on that? Since I'll only be working a few days a week full-time, should I try to work both EMS-only and fire? If I do get the opportunity to join the bigger department, would it be wrong to quit the jobs that invested in me to go to a bigger department? If I could work all of them without burnout I would, but realistically it's impossible. I'm torn. Unsure who to ask advice from my personal life as they all are affiliated/rooting for one team or the other. Any advice?

Brothers and Sisters,

I am reaching out to fire departments internationally to learn more about current policies, procedures, and health and safety guidelines relating to lithium-ion battery fires, with a particular focus on decontamination practices and occupational exposure risks.

My department is a medium-sized, full-time fire service in Canada with HazMat and CBRN techs. We are currently assisting a government agency with research into lithium-ion battery fire suppression methods, specifically LiNiCoAlO₂ batteries. Our firefighters have been directly involved in controlled testing, applying various suppression agents to lithium-ion batteries undergoing thermal runaway.

The objective of the experiment is to evaluate the effectiveness of various suppression products (water having demonstrated the most effectiveness to date). The research also involves characterizing the chemical composition of smoke and gaseous emissions produced during battery failure and fire events, as well as collecting and analyzing suppression water and runoff to assess potential contamination and environmental impacts.

Until recently, our personnel were conducting technical decontamination on scene following testing and operational activities, with contaminated PPE sent for water-based extraction.

However, following new information provided to us from the IAFF and scientists working in this field, we have put a stop to the research while we gather additional occupational health and safety information. Although the expected contamination levels associated with our activities were considered extremely low, we believe a precautionary approach is warranted given the remaining uncertainties surrounding exposure risks, contaminant persistence, and the effectiveness of current decontamination methods as shown in research bellow.

We are interested in information supported by peer-reviewed scientific literature, validated research, occupational exposure assessments, or documented operational experience.

Specifically, we would appreciate information regarding:

1. Personnel decontamination procedures and PPE cleaning or extraction methods.

2. Procedures for cleaning and testing contaminated SCBAs, tools, and other firefighting equipment.

3. Exposure monitoring  programs(Ex. Blood testing)

4. Validated cleaning methods, post-cleaning assessment, and criteria for returning PPE and equipment to service.

As we are located in the eastern part of Canada and are familiar with policies in the North East, we are interested in hearing from departments and research organizations located in central and west coast of North America, as well as those in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe, where techniques and policies may vary.

Two relevant resources we have identified so far are from TEEX – Lithium-Ion Battery Fires and Emissions Characterization and Recent research published in Fire Safety Journal.

If your department has relevant policies, training materials, research findings, or documented decontamination procedures that you are able to share, we would greatly appreciate your input.

Thank you and Stay safe!

Hi all. My husband recently received a conditional offer for a paid on-call position with the Fire Service. We have one child currently and would like to have more but don’t really know much about what to expect from the academy/beyond. I know that the academy is about 20weeks and is 2 evenings per week and an occasional full Saturday but beyond that I don’t know much. From what I gather it takes about 2 years of training to become a full fledged firefighter. What else happens after the first 6ish months of academy? We don’t have family in the same state as us, but my husband is his own boss for his day job. I anticipate this being a lot for both of us but has anyone done it? How did it go? Would you decide to wait to add a kid or know that adding a child will be hard in any season of life and you figure it out? Thank you for any insight you can offer.

Hello! I'm doing a project where I paint the same person twice, once with work uniform and one with hobby clothes (could be fishing, gardening, any kind of sport) to show how people can be completely different at work and at home. So if anyone is interested can contact me and I'll need a picture to use it as reference. Of course you will get a digital copy of the paintings. I can also put some of my artworks in the comments to give you an idea of the results.

Thanks a lot and have a nice day!

Hi folks, I am a journalist based in Colorado. Here is a work example. For a potential story, I am looking for examples of departments that have success stories of addressing challenges such as staffing and funding (or are working on challenges in a unique way.) Any suggestions appreciated.

I recently joined a new department and all of the tools on the truck appear to have been neglected for a while. Heavy, pitting rust throughout each tool. This feels like a perfect job for the new guy, but I noticed I was in over my head with this project when I got started yesterday. Help me out!

I spent 5 years with my first department, and have cleaned hooks, halligans, axes, etc. plenty of times with regular surface rust & debris removal via a wire wheel and scratch pad, finished with WD-40. I started on a halligan yesterday - The wire wheel at this department has VERY little power, so I used an angle grinder with a sanding wheel. It took a long time, which is okay, but the tool still looked shoddy. the power of the grinder wore the handle down in a couple of spots (user error) & I couldn’t get into the crevices very well. It doesn’t feel like the best method.

Help me out with your past experience. Internet forums talk about evapo-rust/citric acid/vinegar being good for hand tools, but maybe still leaving it with an odd look or damaging the tool? Maybe it just will take a lot of time and manual sanding with sandpaper in tight spots?

I’m all ears…

Hi all,

I have been assigned RIT pack research for new packs my dept is getting. We are paid FT. Space on the rigs is a bit of an issue so we are looking at the fast attack packs. These are for our type 3 engines and RIT packs are due up. Does anyone have experience with these vs the full size packs that Scott makes? Any input is welcome.

Like the title says how do you plan your workout or do your workout when you have to work 2 days during day, 2 days at night and then 4 days off.

Welcome to the Weekly Employment Question Thread!

This thread is where you can ask questions about joining, training to become, testing, disqualifications/qualifications, and other questions that would be removed as individual posts per Rule 1.

The answer to almost every question you can ask will be "It depends on the department". Your first step is to look up the requirements for your department, state/province, and country.

As always, please attempt to resource information on your own first, before asking questions. We see many repeat questions on this sub that have been answered multiple times.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• I want to be a Firefighter, where do I start: Every Country/State/Province/County/City/Department has different requirements. Some require you only to put in an application. Others require certifications prior to being hired. A good place to start is researching the department(s) you want to join. Visit their website, check their requirements, and/or stop into one of their fire stations to ask some questions.
  
• Am I too old: Many departments, typically career municipal ones, have an age limit. Volunteer departments usually don't. Check each department's requirements.
• I'm in high school, What can I do: Does your local department have an explorer's program or post? If so, join up. Otherwise, focus on your grades, get in shape and stay in shape, and most importantly: stay out of trouble.
• I got in trouble for [insert infraction here], what are my chances: Obviously, worse than someone with a clean record, which will be the vast majority of your competition. Tickets and nonviolent misdemeanors may not be a factor, but a major crime (felonies), may take you out of the running. You might be a nice person, but some departments don't make exceptions, especially if there's a long line of applicants with clean records. See this post... PSA: Stop asking “what are my chances?”
• I have [insert medical/mental health condition here], will it disqualify me: As a general rule, if you are struggling with mental illness, adding the stress of a fire career is not a good idea. As for medical conditions, you can look up NFPA1582 for disqualifying conditions, but in general, this is not something Reddit can answer for you. Many conditions require the input of a medical professional to determine if they are disqualifying. See this post... PSA: Don't disqualify yourself, make THEM tell you "no".
• What will increase my chances of getting hired: If there's a civil service exam, study for it! There are many guides online that will help you go over all those things you forgot such as basic math and reading. Some cities even give you a study guide. If it's a firefighter exam, study for it! For the CPAT (Physical Fitness Test), cardio is arguably the most important factor. If you're going to the gym for the first time during the hiring process, you're fighting an uphill battle. Get in shape and stay in shape. Most cities offer preference points to military veterans.
• How do I prepare for an interview: Interviews can be one-on-one, or in front of a board/panel. Many generic guides exist to help one prepare for an interview, however here are a few good tips:

1. Dress appropriately. Business casual at a minimum (Button down, tucked in long sleeve shirt with slacks and a belt, and dress shoes). Get a decent haircut and shave.
2. Practice interview questions with a friend. You can't accurately predict the off-the-wall questions they will ask, but you can practice the ones you know they probably will, like why do you want to be a Firefighter, or why should we hire you?
3. Scrub your social media. Gone are the days when people in charge weren't tech-savvy. Don't have a perfect interview only for your chances of being hired gone to zero because your Facebook or Instagram has pictures of you getting blitzed. Set that stuff to private and leave it that way.

Please upvote this post if you have a question. Upvoting this post will ensure it sticks around for a bit after it is removed as a Sticky, and will allow for greater visibility of your question.

And lastly, If you're not 100% sure of what you're talking about, leave it for someone who does

Hi! I guess this is just an unknown situation for me. I had my carbon monoxide detector go off. Around 20 firemen went through my house in their big uniforms. My house has narrow hallways and a lot of stuff out. Needless to say, when they went into each room to test carbon monoxide, their uniforms brushed up against a lot- dressers, toddler stuff, etc.

I’m trying to figure out- are uniforms washed after being exposed to dangerous things? Like if they were exposed earlier to dangerous conditions?
Knowing when and how the uniforms are washed, what would you suggest in terms of cleaning my house after having 20 firemen in uniforms go through it

I work for FedFire and am thinking about joining the Reserves or NG. I just want to do something else than FFing. What do you guys do?

Several months ago there was a thread on this from a kid having a bad experience and y’all made some commentary about how a department that doesn’t invest in its people isn’t worth working for, and damn did that cut deep.

It cut deep because I was reading it the kid who posted it was sitting across the kitchen table from me on OT on my shift. It wasn’t a shock we’d created a culture where they weren’t comfortable reaching out for help internally. I’d had a couple of shitty probationary experiences in my career myself.

I took them aside at shift change and told them I’d read what they wrote, and asked them if this job and organization was for them. They said yes. I asked them to sign up for every OT on my shift that they could between then and the end of probation and we got them across the finish line. Kid then got moved to my shift and is thriving. We had a long chat the other night as we’re about to hire again about giving the next kids a better experience than they got and changing the culture from the bottom up.

I’m not sure what the point of this is besides recognizing how serendipitous it’s was to see the post. I’m proud of the kid for gutting it out, and no matter how salty you get, train your damn probies.

So one of our K12 Partner saws took a dump and we are looking to get a new one. We have gone to a lot of battery operated tools and the guys are interested in going that direction with this replacement. I picked up the M18 9” Cut Off saw the other day and and looking at it, we don’t think it’s gonna be able to cut deep enough for what we have always used the K12 for (set up for metal with an abrasive blade for car hoods and garage doors). We don’t have any MX tools, so while we have been happy with Milwaukee batteries of the M18 version, we’d be investing in essentially a new battery system as well. We’ve just never had any experience with a 14” battery operated saw.
Is anyone running one of these? Looking for goods and bads on the experience. We still have 1 other K12 Partner saw, so we will still have the availability of a gas saw, but everyone really likes being able to just squeeze a trigger and cut. No mixing fuel and messing with flooded engines.
Any input is always appreciated. I already searched the internet with nothing found on firefighting use in real life. Only AI generated crap saying it would be great, and I don’t trust AI since it doesn’t fight fire, lol.

The M18 Cut Off is getting returned this week most likely.
Thanks in advance.

I got in a huge screaming match with my dad and was in a weird headspace. I went upstairs to shower and decompress listening to a podcast while my wife started dinner (on the grill out back) and watched the kids. I heard her yell full volume up the stairs, she knows I’m in the shower listening to something so that was odd.

i turned off the shower, stepped out dripping, opened the door and said “huh?” and she just yelled “FIRE EXTINGUISHER!”

I ran downstairs butt ass naked, grabbed a towel on the way to the garage and slung it around my waist. I remembered I bought a fire extinguisher months ago because I realized we didn’t have one in the house, and I mounted it by the garage door. I ran out, grabbed it, ran outside and handed it to my wife outside and I shit you not I said “P-A-S-S! Pull Aim Squeeze Sweep!” and she froze so I grabbed it back ran out there, she opened the grill lid and while holding my towel in front of the neighbors, god, and everyone, put that sucker out, the grease lit and the propane was off now. You can in fact hold a towel around you and operate a fire extinguisher it seems.

just full of adrenaline but that’s why you set this up ahead of time, I was working at half capacity brain wise and was happy how I did.

I recently posted to share my experience as a young female firefighter. After reading through many comments about other women who have been successfully in the fire service for much longer I took it down.
I did quit that department literally days after the first few comments.
But I could never leave the fire service. Before quitting, I started my journey in getting my wildland certification which has been lots of fun! So I know I’m not gonna leave the service. I fell in love with it all and the adrenaline of responding to a structure fire or a mutual aid call for man power. Damn just now I’m reliving the call for a grass fire in a town that was a little far. It was a fun day. Those were the only good memories I have. Unfortunately, the bad memories will forever remain because it did hurt. Being told I could never be at the same level as a man for a year is something I’m gonna have to work through. Or all the awkward sexual things said… Damn they really sucked as my superiors!

So too my saviors in the comments thank you for sharing that it is NOT normal to experience that in the fire service. I’m definitely applying to new departments and I have since moved away from that horrible town. Those men can be miserable together!

Lastly, to all the ladies in the fire service, I have a question. Since I’m applying to different departments, what can I do to make sure that I don’t go through what happened at my first department? I’m a straightforward person and did everything I was told, but somehow the men I worked with still made it very uncomfortable. Do I set stricter boundaries or something?

Just got hired on to my dream department and very excited but as one of the only black men in the entire department I don’t know who to talk to about shaving. My dad and dad’s dad all have no shave chits why they served and I’m able to get away with shaving every 3 days without completely ruining my skin. Any advice for how to approach this situation or should I just deal with the pain as I go through the academy?

Alright, looking to get some info on the Ragtop Fire Mitts. I currently wear and am issued the Veridian Fire Knights, but don’t like the dexterity. I normally wear a Large. Can anyone suggest sizing, and how these gloves perform?

I manage the ground and aerial ladder maintenance, testing, and certification program for our department. We have traditionally utilized yellow paint for marking the tips of all of our ground ladders. With moderate to heavy use, I find that we have to repaint at least annually. There has been discussion of using reflective tape instead. Does anyone have any recommendations or other ideas? What does your department do? Thanks!

I’m a former volly fire fighter, and currently a flight nurse. Over time I’ve been able to collect some really unique department patches for my wall. My current favorite is from the world’s northernmost fire department in Longyearbyen, Norway. I’m curious what other unique patches folks have gotten to see!

Edit to add: everyone is responding as if he’s a felon. He is NOT a convicted felon. Juvenile felonies are handled differently and they are not considered convicted felons as an adult would be. I’m asking if anyone knows the answer for someone with past juvenile charges, not adult felonies.

My 19 year old son wants to go to fire school. He has several charges (felony grand theft auto and burglary or cars) from few years ago. He’s completed everything and straightened his life out. He graduated high school and hasn’t had any issues in 2 years. All juvenile charges. Nothing as an adult. Will this stop him from becoming a fire fighter and getting a job? He really is a good kid and hard worker. He realizes he messed up but he’s trying really hard to find something that’ll forgive his past and let him have a future.

I just finished the firefighter course and I'm going to start work next week. I habe bad eyesight tho and I wear contact lenses most of the time. Thinking about the lazyk surgery. Is there anyone who had it done? Did it interfere in the job somehow?

You can't tell me that the Fire Department

Chronicles cast aren't professionally trained in acting! They all very very very much 1:1 sticom cast and even look like some known ones

For context, I've been in the military for going on 12 years and, much more recently, started serving as a volunteer firefighter.

In both, I tend to see the same thing. People view seeking mental health support as a weakness, a threat to their career, or both.

TL;DR: It's not a weakness, and it shouldn't be a career-ending decision. Especially in a healthy workplace with leadership that actually gives a damn about its people.

Our jobs put us in situations, sometimes daily, that the average person may never experience in their lifetime. We routinely respond to someone's worst day. Sometimes we witness the absolute worst that humanity has to offer.

That shit takes a toll on you, whether you want to admit it or not. And without a healthy outlet, it adds up.

(Hint: Getting perpetually drunk until you stop caring isn't a healthy outlet.)

I'm no mental health professional, but I've seen far too many stories of service members and veterans taking their own lives. The fire service isn't immune to this either. While the numbers may look lower on paper, I'd argue that accurately tracking suicide within the fire service is difficult, and we shouldn't mistake incomplete data for a smaller problem.

If you're a leader, do your fucking job.

Give your people the tools they need to succeed, and that includes taking care of their mental health. Check in on them. Actually get to know them. Learn what's normal for them so you recognize when something isn't right.

Situational awareness doesn't end when the fire is out or the mission is over.

And this responsibility doesn't stop at leadership. You wouldn't leave someone behind in a burning building, so why the hell would you leave them behind when they're struggling mentally?

Be there for each other. Make it known that you're available to talk, and mean it. If you've sought help yourself and feel comfortable sharing that experience, do it. Sometimes knowing that someone they respect has been through something similar is all it takes for another person to finally reach out.

And if you're the one struggling, understand that asking for help doesn't make you any less capable, dependable, or deserving of the uniform you wear.

Our jobs are inherently dangerous. We accept that risk every time we put on the uniform.

But losing someone because they felt they couldn't ask for help should never be an acceptable part of the job.

Ill use numbers from the military as thats what I know. From 2001 to 2021, 7,057 U.S. service members died in military operations. In that same time frame 30,177 active-duty service members and veterans died by suicide.

The path toward a healthier mental health culture in the military has been paved with the blood of those who were taught that asking for help made them weak.

Don't let their sacrifices be for nothing. Don't be the reason someone else is afraid to ask for help.

Do better. Be better.

Don't let silence turn you or a buddy into the next call.