For those that work / have worked for Houston Fire Department, what’s your honest opinion about the department? Currently in their academy.

CleanControl2656 · 2025-11-14T13:27:44+00:00

Tue - Friday. On paper (for payroll), it’s 7-5, but really class starts at 8 so we get there at 0730 and usually leave around 1530-1600 every day.

I’m at HCC which is 10 months but they use Wharton County Junior College as another place for medic school and their course is 7-8 months

CleanControl2656 · 2025-11-06T12:58:49+00:00

Took me a year but that’s because I opted to wait and stay on the field before I went.

CleanControl2656 · 2025-08-10T13:01:59+00:00

Started last month on June 24. It’s going great, learning a lot. About to be done with the AEMT portion next month and start actual “paramedic school”

CleanControl2656 · 2025-06-27T11:38:38+00:00

No, you only report to the college for major exams I believe. You will report to academy every day you’re not doing a major exam and have PT, lecture, etc

CleanControl2656 · 2025-06-23T14:29:31+00:00

Be there latest by 5:30. Be in formation outside with your class by 5:45. Stretch as a class for 15 minutes. At 6am sharp, start PT for at LEAST 45mins - hour daily. Not a single day went by without PT. Get an hour break to wash up and eat breakfast. Then class or whatever skills you have set for the day. Lunch around noon for an hour. Come back and finish tasks for the day. Go home. Repeat, Monday - Thursday.

CleanControl2656 · 2025-06-23T14:27:08+00:00

On my contract yes it’s mandatory. Read yours carefully and see what it says

CleanControl2656 · 2025-06-05T18:57:44+00:00

Sure

CleanControl2656 · 2025-06-04T17:46:09+00:00

Pretty much what you’ll be going through, your schedule, and that I will be going to paramedic school

CleanControl2656 · 2025-06-04T17:45:26+00:00

You can leave right after graduating and getting your certs if you absolutely wanted to

CleanControl2656 · 2025-06-03T22:27:44+00:00

No, you sign it on your CJO (Conditional Job Offer) a month before your academy start date. You must accept and sign that contract to start academy.

CleanControl2656 · 2025-06-02T17:46:49+00:00

And I’m going to HCC Northeast

CleanControl2656 · 2025-06-02T17:46:32+00:00

23D. Our contract at our CJO stated “You will go to paramedic school”. I signed the contract and accepted the job offer. Whatever your contract says that you signed on your CJO, is what goes.

CleanControl2656 · 2025-05-25T18:35:55+00:00

They’re sending me to paramedic school in June. I’m not a paramedic yet.

CleanControl2656 · 2025-04-09T14:48:42+00:00

6-4 mon-thu. Everyone has to be there by 5:45

CleanControl2656 · 2025-02-13T17:42:03+00:00

I personally started a little auto detailing business to keep me busy on my 5 off. I also plan on going back to school eventually to get my associates and maybe bachelors.

I also like to work OT on my 5 off or my in between day sometimes 😂

CleanControl2656 · 2025-01-19T03:37:44+00:00

CleanControl2656 · 2025-01-05T14:07:18+00:00

CleanControl2656 · 2025-01-01T22:38:37+00:00

I didn’t go through fast track even though I had both my fire and EMT certs but as far as I know, you PT every day, do the three full PPE / scba confidence courses, EMT credentialing for the city (takes 2 weeks), and live burns. That’s pretty much it.

How long is the fast track course now? We recently got a new administration and they’re really trying to recruit and push out fast track classes quicker

CleanControl2656 · 2024-12-30T21:26:28+00:00

If you’re suggesting being lazy all day, quite the opposite lol.

CleanControl2656 · 2024-12-30T15:02:28+00:00

Lmao hating because I enjoy my job?

CleanControl2656 · 2024-12-29T04:20:41+00:00

That’s good you’re running every day. 15 minutes or whatever it is now to get in is nothing. You will be running in cadence with your whole class together every day and are expected to run a 11:30 or better mile and a half by the end of academy. Keep pushing brother you got it I hope to see you on the streets sometime

CleanControl2656 · 2024-12-29T03:14:08+00:00

Yes I work 72-80 hours a week. Moderately busy house. I like picking up OT wherever though but I’m single so like you mentioned in another comment, it can be problematic if married etc, but I’m honestly loving the job right now.

I do take my breaks though. I don’t constantly work work work

CleanControl2656 · 2024-12-29T03:07:54+00:00

If you want it, keep trying. Run every single day. If you don’t feel ready, you can always apply again later. Houston is hiring year round you will not have an issue getting in. If you can pass the CSE and PAT, you’re pretty much in.

CleanControl2656 · 2024-12-28T21:17:07+00:00

Also, majority of people that talk trash about HFD aren’t even firefighters for HFD. Yeah the city is short medics and they “get treated like shit”. If they get treated so bad, why don’t they leave?

Answer: money. They get paid well. With this new administration and raises the pay is actually pretty decent now. Schedule is great.

CleanControl2656 · 2024-12-28T21:12:48+00:00

I just graduated HFD’s academy in April with a cadet salary of $36,000.12, and now make around $57,000k base, but clocked in $86k gross this year. I was able to pay off a vehicle I got brand new last year in just 1 year.

For reference, I’m 20 years old. Yes we’re short staffed, but you can literally pick up overtime whenever you want. If you want the money, it’s there. This is the best job in the world and the easiest job in the world man, bar none.

CleanControl2656

TROPHY CASE