firefighting-what does it take to get in

[nclifter6feet6]

im thinking about becoming a firefighter. ive never done any volunteer firefighting though i have no experience. im choosing this career because i hear you work like 2 or 3 days a week and get like 4 days off or something like that. i heard most of the time they just chillout and sit around and workout!! that sounds like fun to me and getting paid for it. i heard the physical course is tough but im in excellent cardio shape and great muscular shape. can anyone help me out with this

 

[nclifter6feet6]

oh and what does it pay

 

[epimetheus]

My father is a firefighter. I considered following him in his career.
He works 24 hours and has 48 off, making about 45k a year. (been doing it for 15 years though, starts off around 30-35k depending on area)
For the most part, all it takes to get in is luck and a fire science course. Might check with your local schools to see if they have one. Usually if you have the school down, you stand a pretty good chance of getting a job, it increases up to almost a guarantee though if you are willing to relocate anywhere in the country. Before 9/11, firefighters were in demand, as nobody seemed to really want to do such a dangerous job for so little pay, however, now I hear more people are joining the ranks of americas fire departments.

 

[Thaibox]

right now, you have to be a female minority if you're in CA

 

[CAGED whiteman]

firefighting is a very respectable job...

you have to work something like 2 24 hr shifts a wk. they run from usually 7am to 7 am the next day. if your in a city you wont sleep much but if your in a small town you can catch some shut eye. i would go to a local community college, they usually have classes for this. you also have to do an intern type job where you are pretty much a fire fighter excpet that you dont get paid, this is where you will learn alot. it does not pay that much, which sucks if you ask me, they deserve more.

 

[catharsis]

im choosing this career because i hear you work like 2 or 3 days a week and get like 4 days off or something like that. i heard most of the time they just chillout and sit around and workout!!

Dude, with an attitude like that you'll hopefully never get in a reputable "big city" fire dept. Bigger city depts. have a very high standard for applicants. Thousands of applicants a year apply and now since the Tech Industry Crash and Sept. 11th it seems like EVERYONE wants to be a firefighter. The applicant pool of people who are applying are more educated and more qualified than ever.
Most bigger city depts. have an extensive hiring process. For instance where I live you must have at least 30 hrs. of college credit, a clean credit and financial record, and no arrest record to even be considered. There is an aptitude test(SAT like), an extensive background investigation(they actually do call people from your past), a psycholoogical evaluation, medical evaluation, a hammering oral board interview, a video senario test, and physical agility test.
Firefighting is a noble carreer, not a freakin' vacation. Most guys in the fire service have wanted to be firemen all their life. They don't do it for the money, the fame, and surely not for the "time off to sit around". Firefighting is not your run of the mill "blue collar flunky" job. We have a diverse job description, Medical knowledge, rescue techniques hazardous material/Chemical knowledge, math for figuring hydraulics, and now with terrorism on our minds we now have extensive training on weapons of mass desctruction and mass casualty incidents.
I'd start to re-think your reasons of interest in the fire service from what I've heard so far they sure as hell don't sound sincere.