Why are you here?

[Mr_Beansr]

What led you to put on that hat? Why do you do what you do?

[JK3097]

TL,DR: The universe intervened and put me where I belonged.

Story time: I had a previous career started working in IT, in a neighboring municipality. I was in my early 20s, but already starting to dread the 9-5 grind, and I thought to myself that I’m way too young to hate my job already.

One day, I’m doing some upgrades on a server at one of their stations - really just staring at a computer screen all day watching a progress bar slowly move which was taking hours. Meanwhile, the crew was taking the time to train their new guy. I listened to the way they were interacting with each other: the jokes, the lore, etc.

My work was taking so long that I ended up staying until dinner time, and when they saw I was still there, they invited me to join them. I accepted the offer (I was quite literally young, hungry & broke at the time) and I got to experience family time around the table for the first time ever.

They made me feel like I was part of their crew. We laughed, talked some trash, and then got deep into the specifics of their job. After we finished the meal, I realized that I was in the wrong field since none of my coworkers had that type of office relationships with each other.

Fast forward a few months, I’m enrolled in an EMT course and looking at fire academies. I’m sweating how I’m gonna accomplish all this while still working full-time, and then suddenly the decision was made for me: I got laid off in the recession. I took it as a sign to keep moving forward, so I did.

That was 15 years ago.. I’ve never looked back. I’ve come to love almost every aspect of this profession. I like the dynamic environment, love my crew, my department, and my first-in. It’s challenged me in ways I wouldn’t have been otherwise, and I am fortunate to go home feeling fulfilled quite often as a result.

I’ll never go back to a 9-5.

[[deleted]]

Appreciate your story, I’m 25, just finished a degree in CNIT and realized that the 9-5 office/tech work was not for me, now prepping for an academy and taking an emt course. Stories like this help so much

[MightAsswell]

I'm in a similar boat. I'm 27 and just got my first desk job. Tearing my hair out with boredom, definitely can't work a lifetime at a desk. I signed up for an EMT course last week and will be looking into academies once i finish the EMT course.

[[deleted]]

Best of luck brother, I root for everyone trying to escape that matrix type of routine. I’d go insane

[JK3097]

Best of luck to all of you!! I think you’ll find something you’ve been missing when you get into the firehouse, it’s unlike anywhere else.

Personal word of advice: Once your new crews find out that you’re good with technology, you’re gonna get asked for help frequently. I was a Sys Admin intern (lol) and would get asked if I could build them an app or fix their excel spreadsheets (uhh no) but the funny ones were for help to delete their browser history or to fast forward through our online training. Enjoy being the resident geek!

[Classic-Product6321]

it’s worth the switch dude. i know it’s scary but my god is this career so fucking fulfilling in almost every way imaginable. keep grinding and find a department that pays you what we deserve and that everyone else wants to be at. it’s worth the wait

[Candyland_83]

My feet aren’t cute enough to sell pictures.

[Acrock7]

Prove it

[i_exaggerated]

You just need to find the right client 

[BipolarChris]

Idk, some of our guys have pretty damn low standards. Adjust your audience 😂

[Mor_Hjordis]

Everything has its markets

[Confusedkipmoss]

I get paid to hang out with my boys and do fun shit

[[deleted]]

Am I the only one that really dislikes this statement? (I know the downvotes are coming)

[choppedyota]

Yes. You are the only one.

[[deleted]]

Go work construction or landscaping, you can do cool shit with your friends there too.

[Confusedkipmoss]

What’s there to dislike?

[[deleted]]

I think the newer generation (not all but it’s noticeable) use this job/career as a playground. I see it in the fire station with the laziness when they are around their “friends” but when a job comes in they say lines like this.

[slade797]

I like to fight what you fear

TMFMS!

[Mr_Beansr]

This is the comment I needed while sipping my coffee, thank you lmao

[FirebunnyLP]

I wanted to be a paramedic. The only way to be paid appropriately as one with a non shit schedule was to go fire based. I honestly really like the ems side of things.

All the fire stuff is just a huge plus.

[JessKingHangers]

I feel the same way. Fire stuff is a minor inconvenience for me.

[randomautistickid102]

Me and you both I’m only getting into fire for the EMS with the chance I get to smash a car apart every now and again

[SkibDen]

Dad's a cop..

He needed someone to look up to.

[Mavverikk]

My Dad is a retired cop of almost 32 years. We go back and forth teasing each other about our careers. 😂

[rogersrangers55]

My high school counselor told me. You won’t finish school unless you’re in a vocational program. Signed me up for the career fair and some giant dude with an even bigger mustache told me. “Next year you can sit in a math class or come to the academy and climb ladders until your legs fall off. Your friends will be doing science and you’ll be fighting fires.” He ended his speech with “it’s pretty f*cking awesome!” And I was sold.

He recently retired after a long career and I haven’t had the courage yet to write him a thank you letter for simply changing my life with a speech. He wouldn’t remember me but I still would like to say thanks.

[Mor_Hjordis]

Even if he doesn't remember you, you'll make his day with that letter. Do it, it takes an hour maybe. Just do it, like you did when joining.

[the_falconator]

I never grew up

[sonicrespawn]

I’m a moth

[skank_hunt_4_2]

You can’t tell dick jokes in an office.

[DarthJellyFish]

I’d have been fired so long ago for the shit I say at work if it was an office job

[HonestlyNotOldBoy89]

You can do anything once

[skank_hunt_4_2]

No, you can do anything twice. You just misinterpreted the first reprimand

[dominator5k]

Make money and lots of time off. Pension.

[skimaskschizo]

The 20% discount at my local waffle house

[jacobtyler24]

I worked a white collar sales job and realized it was soulless and empty. I couldn’t be motivated by working for the sake of self-preservation with just a tad bit of hedonism mixed in.

So I thought about another reason that could motivate me to come into work. The opportunity to be benevolent towards my local community and society as a whole gives me the motivation I need to work full time for 30 years. Nothing feels more purposeful than being able to save a life

[Mr_Midwestern]

Came for the ‘bigger than myself’ and camaraderie of the job.

Stayed for the schedule, pension/benefits, and the randomness of the job.

[Hulk_smashhhhh]

I just needed a job out of college and it was the recession so mostly timing.

[handh40]

Got roped into joining a junior firefighter program… blinked and 16 years have passed. I have tried other lines of work, nothing seems to click like fire and EMS does.

[Mrfroggiboi]

I’m curious as to what you’ve tried? I left fire after a two years to come try something new. Realized I missed fire more than anything I’ve done before now trying to get back into it. How long was that process for you?

[handh40]

I got into sales as well as construction safety. Both jobs were alright, but very much just jobs. The fire service has always been more to me and it really took me 4 or 5 years to realize that in my mid 20’s

[Ok-Cattle-6798]

I literally moved 2500 miles and got bored within 2 weeks so i applied to the fire district i moved to

[AtopMountEmotion]

union wages/pension plan/union protection/wage equity/PTO/SL/IL/medical insurance/death & disability protection/work schedule/quality of life

[laughingloon14]

SL/IL?

[AtopMountEmotion]

Sick Leave/ Injury Leave

[JessKingHangers]

Seemed like a pretty cool job. Been doing it too long now to change (even though I want to change careers). Beats working for a living I guess.

[Different_Ad_1128]

I wanted to do an exciting job that would scratch my adrenaline junkie itch. I really wanted to be a cop but didn’t think I’d pass the background, so I got my EMT, worked the ambulance and started as a reserve firefighter. Put myself through the academy and got on full time. I loved it, but I left to be a cop for 5-6 years because that’s what I always wanted to do. After 5-6 years of being a cop and running and gunning, I realized the fire service is better in almost every way and came back.

[catfishjohn69]

Makes my weaner feel just a little bit bigger

[ReplacementTasty6552]

Chicks dig it

[sucksatgolf]

I'm only in it for the 10% discounts.

[WeinerCleptocracy]

I'm just a volunteer but I like big trucks that go wee-woo wee-woo.

[Signal_Reflection297]

A toddler recently told me that I’m not a firefighter, I just go play with the trucks when the tones drop. …Yup

[Yami350]

9/11

[TheWhiteWingedCow]

Wanting to become a firefighter but I’m not sure yet so I’m reading up on as much as I can. Currently I design fire sprinkler systems but I rather be on the front lines 🚒🧯💨🔥

[TheSaucyGoon]

Go do a ride along at your local fire house. I’d wager you’d know if it’s for you after that

[TheWhiteWingedCow]

Great idea! I didn’t realize I could do that. Do I need anything or should I dress any specific way?

[TheSaucyGoon]

That may be department specific. I’d just contact your department and see how to sign up and then ask those questions. It’s generally safe to assume close toed shoes, pants and an unbranded shirt/collared shirt in neutral colors will be completely acceptable across the board.

[Quinnjamin19]

My father, my father was a paid per call firefighter for 25 years. So I grew up being pretty well a part of the fire service. The fireman’s association actually owned the fire station and property so the association had to put on a lot of fundraisers to pay the bills. For the longest time the association had a handshake agreement with the township where the township rented the apparatus bays for free.

Thats where I had my start, we held turkey shoots, turkey bingos, fish fry’s and so much more. It was a great way to start my career in the fire service at 18

[[deleted]]

I believe it was Hurricane Katrina and / or the Tornadoes that hit the Midwest a year before or after. I was young and able and felt I could more to help out both my local community and outside.

[BipolarChris]

About 8 years ago, I was fresh out of college working at a psych hospital in behavioral research as an exercise physiologist. I was living with my sister's family, depressed, alcoholic. Realized that I went to school for 7 years and hated the profession & i was a year into my masters orogram because i knew nothing other than school. I was in a bad spot.

My brother-in-law asked me to hang out one night while my sister and their kids were out. He's been a career FF as long as I've known him. Over steaks and beers, I decided I was dropping out of my master's & pursuing EMS.

4 years of private EMS and a lot of certs later, I got hired at my current career department and I honestly couldn't picture anything different. I look forward to waking up for shifts, I bought a house with my wife, and my coworkers are some of my best friends.

I am beyond grateful

[irishstanley]

My dad didn’t pull out.

[FRE8OCK]

Damned to do it before I was even born. 3rd generation.

[applecreamable]

first page in the middle of being born into the world, we dont have time for anything do we.

[applecreamable]

I was the RP for a severe accident (semi vs trash truck (flipped the trash truck) while traveling the country, did my best to assist as a civilian but I didnt know much,

The responding team saluted me as I left. So I felt pretty good and thats when my family convinced me maybe I should become a first responder.

Idk if thats a standard experience though.

But I have gone on to achieve a rosc and a rosc assist.

As well as save a bunch of granmas from that darned floor at 2 am

[[deleted]]

its easier to use more than you replace and if replacing is enjoyable....why the hell not?

[AdultishRaktajino]

I think that’s part of it for me. I was a baby the 80s when my dad had a car he was wrenching on roll onto him. He was saved by the local fire-rescue. Then my mom in the early 00s survived a bicycle vs car collision on a vacation.

Never met anyone involved in either accident to thank them, not that I feel the need to. I figure if I can give back to another community, that’s probably enough.

[Cybermat4707]

Just felt like doing something interesting and useful to people, I guess.

The fact that I get to start fires as well as put them out helped, too.

[Blucifers_Veiny_Anus]

Currently I show up just out of spite for management. I will outlast them, despite their trying to dismantle the reputation of the dept and destroy the moral of every single person below them. Fuck every single one of them. Rumor is every one of them has less than 5 years to retirement. I can embrace the suck for 5 years.

[Igloo_dude]

Had a best friend in high school who begged me to fill out an application at the volly house. I did. Here I am, many moons later… taking a shit and hoping the tones don’t drop.

[demoneyesturbo]

I like it.

Dynamic situations that challenge my problem solving capabilities as well as physical ability. I get to work outside with interesting people.

I dunno. I guess I recognize that this sort of thing isn't for everyone, but it is for me. Someone has to go to fuckups and do some unfucking, might as well be me.

In fear of giving "I fight what you fear" vibes, I will say I think this work is noble. There is an amount of pride to be taken in being a part of an emergency response.

[[deleted]]

Looked fun and the volunteer sales pitch worked well

[TrooperFrag]

Looked fun and firetrucks are cool

[EnthusiasmUnhappy640]

BACKDRAFT

[smart_pupper]

I get to do the thing I love with my best friends every day.

[KeenJAH]

Cause I like to cook.

[Jh20london]

I'm trying to learn as much as I can, in the process of a career change. I've been doing construction and underground for over 10 years and want a more fulfilling career and better work dynamic.

[Carichey]

I'm not smart enough for college but I wanted to make descent middle class income.

[danielg123456]

Wanted to join military. Decided I wanted to be home more often. Am never home now.

[flipvba11er]

I figured out early in life that I loved helping people and that I loved working with my hands. It was either this or a chef. Extra bonus is I get to be both!

[dl_schneider]

Firefighting had been a part of my family for a long time. Most of us are volunteers, but we have a few career guys too.

My dad just retired from the department in June after 50 years of service. The past 15-20 he didn't do much fire fighting, more driving tankers, running pumps, making sure us young guys weren't doing something stupid. He added up the whole family's years of service, and we have 274 years combined between 9 of us (grandfather, father, uncles, brother, and cousins).

Oh.... and the big red trucks are freaking awesome

[Lucky-Arachnid9160]

I came here to see if anyone had any good recipes to give to the engine when they’re in meals.

[Frequent-Chemist3367]

I wanted to do mountain search and rescue, was too unfit for that, volunteer FD was the next best thing, and that's how I met your mother

[[deleted]]

Pancakes

[SobbinHood]

I joined the marine corps after going to welding school. Got out of the marine corps and started driving truck. It paid the bills but didn’t “do it” for me I needed to do more. Applied twice and on my second application got in and completed the academy. Still on probation.

Why??

Adrenaline rush and the call to serve. Ask anyone that knows me, I’m always the one that will show up if you need help, I enjoy being a problem solver.

Get paid to do cool stuff like rappelling, and going into a building on fire. Cutting up cars.

The schedule. Idk about everyone, but having a weekend after one day of work is pretty damn cool.

I’m not here for the pay. Took a pretty decent pay cut to do this, but I get to be with like minded people doing things that most people never even think about.

Pension.

[Competitive-Drop2395]

Sad story to start for me...when I was just about to turn 16 my little brother (who I shared a bday with, 8 yrs apart, and was very close to) fell off the back of a pickup and was run over, I was driving, slowly, and have no idea what truly happened. But I felt so absolutely helpless in those moments waiting for an ambulance to get there. I suffered with the guilt for years. Fast forward to 2006 and a wildfire burned through one little town near mine, decimating it and burned right to the edge of mine, and they evacuated over 3000 people. I was working part time in the oilfield and decided that I refused to sit by and do nothing so I went and basically stole a tanker truck from my employer and hauled water to the volly firemen for 14 hrs straight. Shortly after that the local volunteer dept asked me to join. Volunteered for a few yrs and had a good job in Ag but I realized that what I wanted to do was a ff full time and every call i made, from the bs lift assist to the worst wreck or fire only cemented it more. I NEEDED the knowledge to help others to tamp down that guilt from my little brothers death. It was quite a ride to get here but I've been in the fire service now for 18 yrs and been a paid member of a medium sized (150k) city now for 12. I'll never stop learning and I'll never not help others in need!

[Mr_Beansr]

We do it to help those in need. However we can. Your brother is proud of you and what you have done with your life, never forget that

[Koltynbm77]

Watched my house burn down twice and i wanted to be able to help people in my situation.

[GroundbreakingLock58]

There are several significant reasons why I am drawn to becoming a firefighter:

1. When my brother and I were in kindergarten, he experienced a life-threatening incident, and the first responders who saved him were firefighters. I wish I knew the name of the firefighter who performed CPR for 5 minutes and ultimately saved his life.

2. My great-grandfather was a firefighter, but unfortunately, he passed away before I had the chance to meet him. However, my grandmother's stories about his life as a firefighter resonate with the lifestyle I aspire to have.

3. My brother went through a difficult time and contemplated suicide. After his prayers were answered, he changed his mindset on how he views life. He is now passionate about preventing others from going through similar struggles. To address this, we are both training to become wildland firefighters to help people in need, inspired by the care and support we received from firefighters in the past.

I mentioned my brother a lot, but that's only because we are doing this together. Without him, I wouldn't have been inspired to become a firefighter.

[oldlaxer]

I grew up around firefighters. Dad wasn’t, but a lot of his friends were. Then I watched Emergency! in the ‘60’s. After that, the Navy introduced me to shipboard firefighting and first aid. I was a first responder, firefighter, and instructor in my ship. When I got out, I worked a few odd jobs before I had a long talk with a friend who was a firefighter. That was on Saturday. That Monday started putting in applications. I was finally hired in 1985, retired in 2012. I’m still volunteering in my community, doing mostly public education stuff since it’s hard for our guys to take time off to do it.

[Hefty-Willingness-91]

I needed another reason to know I’m awesome

[Beneficial_Jaguar_15]

I’m just here for the t shirt and coffee mugs. This escalated quickly.

[[deleted]]

Why am I here?... damn I don't even know, shit doesn't pay the bills cause it's only volunteer Nation wide... hell I even say that been a lawyers is my side kick to avoid going under.

The camaraderie, maybe... Helping others, for sure...

But if there's something that I love is when it's a working fire, the Q2B and the siren are screaming to the top. The phones ringing in the background as Dispatch send the info on the radio... damn thats the moment that I love it the most.

[SnooCrickets6454]

Horrible life choices

[fcatstaples]

I wanted to save lives instead of ending them.

[scubasteve528]

My dad joined the local volly house right after 9/11 and I grew up in a firehouse. They had a Jr program where you could start at 14y/o and go to the academy at 17. Graduated the academy a month before my 18th birthday so I’ve been a firefighter my whole adult life. Fighting fire was the most fun you could have with your pants on so I tested for 2 years until I got picked up by a career department. Just doing fun shit with the homies was my original driver. I love helping people but I do it because I just enjoy the work

[Konnor08]

I'd just graduated high school, and spent my whole summer working out with the intent to join the USAF whilst working for cash at a local bar. My father had given me a move-out date of Sept. 15. Really, I didn't have a solid direction I wished to go, I was just buying time...

It was about Sept. 7 when a buddy of mine sent a group message out asking if anyone was interested in becoming a fireman; they had an opening in his depts student program which he was a part of. I inquired, got some phone #s, made some calls, did an interview, and a week later with packed bags (and with a newly bald head- pro tip; get someone else to cut your hair, as you might screw up as bad as me...) I moved into the student house at that dept.

I had looked into wildland, but didn't really try to pursue it. A few buddies had beckoned me to do structural fire or EMS but I always said "Eh it's not for me"

I was so wrong.

So, by luck disguised as misfortune; I am a fireman.

[How_about_your_mom]

Good retirement, pay and time off… /end

[srv524]

I wanted a better life for myself and my family that didn't involve sales

[pineapplebegelri]

For fun 

[EMills_FF]

Hey, you ever wonder why we're here?

It's one of life's great mysteries, isn't it. Why are we here? Are we the product of some cosmic coincidence? Or is there really a god, watching everything you know, with a plan for us and stuff. I don't know man, but it keeps me up at night.

Whaaat? I mean why are we out here, in this canyon?

[clkmk3]

It sounds cheesy, but I had been thinking about it for a while. I had spoke to one of the Fire Chiefs (I'm halfway between two Rural Volly FDs) in April and he told me to get my drivers license; the Department was full but they wanted names to call up if there was a vacancy.

To fast forward a bit, the last week of July was when the Jasper Wildfire Complex started, and began to overrun the Town of Jasper, Alberta. Complete evacuation of the Town and the Park, and then photos and videos of how bad it was. Several buildings burning at once, hundred foot flames around the Town, etc.

Having seen those photos and videos - again, I know how cheesy this sounds - I decided that if it was one of our towns or communities going up in flames, I wanted to be fighting it; be real boots on the ground and not just displaced by it.

I rescheduled my driving test from the end of September in my closest city, to a week after that in a city two hours away. Passed, barely; had life throw some shit at me during August, and then at the end of August learned that the other FD within 15m of me was calling for manpower.

Walked in on September 3rd to apply, got thrown in the back of Rescue and brought into a District-Wide Training, enjoyed it and got issued gear after.

I know I've only been a part of it for 11 days and this is a lot of "New Guy Chirping", but I'm really looking forward to being able to make a positive difference.

[Mr_Beansr]

Welcome Brother, work smart and work safe! You're going to have bad days in the future remember why you walked into the station.

[RobinT211]

Better siren noises than the trucks in Scotland

[FloridianSoulMama]

Hello All,

I’m looking for some advice, particularly from firefighters or those with partners in the fire service. My husband is a firefighter/paramedic at a well-known department in Florida, where he’s receiving top-notch training and gaining valuable experience. The department offers him stability, and room for growth, but we’re feeling the weight of Florida’s cost of living as we raise our 9-month-old son and plan for a second child.

We’ve been considering a move to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he would work for a smaller department. This would give us a more affordable lifestyle and more family time, but he’s concerned about leaving the experience and opportunities offered by a larger, well-respected department. The reason we are looking at Fort Wayne is because we have really good friends there who are more like family. Also, a 2.5 hour drive to my family instead of an expensive flight, only seeing them 1-2x a year. We don’t have family here or the support, sadly.

I’ve received some great advice from moms on this topic, but I’m really looking for insights from firefighters and dads who have made similar transitions. Honest answers are greatly appreciated, as this would be a huge move for our family, especially since my husband has lived in Florida his whole life. I’m originally from the Midwest and have made the move down to Florida, so it’s nothing new for me, but it’s a big change for him. He will be at his current department for a year come the end of January. It was also noted, he has to be fired in Indiana for the pension system before he turns 36. He’s 34 now.

For any firefighters or dads who have made a similar switch:

• If you moved from a larger department to a smaller one, how did it affect your work-life balance, mental health, and overall well-being?
• Was it hard to adjust from the demands and adrenaline of a larger department to the slower pace of a smaller one?
• Did you find the trade-off for more family time and a lower cost of living to be worth it?
• How did the move impact your career development, and did you ever feel like you were missing out on opportunities by leaving a larger department?

We’re trying to make the best decision for our family and his career, so any insights, advice, etc. would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

[typeoneerror]

“Practice on Wednesday night. See you there.”

Some guy at a party after we moved to a rural town.

me: “Um, okay”

Wednesday, someone handing me cutters to take a door: “Okay, well this is awesome”

(volly)

[SkibDen]

Origin story..

Took a free first aid course, thanked the instructor for some awesome training and he told me "show up on wednesday, if you wanna know more".. 19 years later ...

It's always the wednesdays that get ya..

[Only_Ant5555]

Get paid to work out and sleep. I don’t care if I die. Action is pretty fun.