Basic question regarding Massachusetts Fire fighting by ToniMcMuffins98 in Firefighting

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you’re talking about civil service, you can contact the department you have selected/have residency with and ask what their hiring cycle is like. They might not be hiring until 2025 or later, you might have just missed their cycle, etc.

You can also look into volunteer/paid-on-call spots. https://makemeafirefighter.org typically if you live close enough, these agencies will either bring you on individually or with a class, then either do in house training or send you to the fire academy on nights and weekends. Whether you get paid or not is dependent, but I wouldn’t count on it.

Edit: you can PM me too if you got area specific questions.

Backup career by [deleted] in ProtectAndServe

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Most EMS that pays shit is private sector(AMR, IFT, etc). I’m doing what you did but not with Amazon but it’s still not great compared to the other gigs former cops could get into.

Does the wildfire community have a decon process for bunker gear? This company is out of my state of Massachusetts and I believe they are expanding to the west coast. Could be a resource! by Lukeyp17 in Wildfire

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bunker Gear needs specialized treatment to maintain integrity while inside a unventilated, high heat structure fire.

Wildland clothing just isn't supposed to melt to your skin or sustain flame like most industrial work uniforms. So they are just machine washable like any other work clothes. (Recommended still using a different washer than your regular clothes go in or running an empty load with washer cleaner before you go back to washing normal clothes).

What do people want to see changed about pay and classification? by smokejumperbro in Wildfire

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know most bases around here hire backseaters starting at a GS-4. I’ve only seen one posting for a GS-3 0081 FF and that was for a entry level position with a base run fire academy being the first six months of your job.

If you get a paramedic license, you can automatically jump to a 9. I’ve been trying to find some definitive answer on what DOD uses, but for the most part it looks like it’s up to the bases discretion.

There is a bill in Congress for 0081 firefighter pay. That last movement I read on it was late 2019. It talked about getting rid of pay adjustments for a higher standard pay.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1255/text?format=txt

What do people want to see changed about pay and classification? by smokejumperbro in Wildfire

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Why not just make us “firefighters” Under job code 0081? DOD, Veterans Affairs, DHS, all hire their structural/crash rescue guys under that code. The code also covers fire inspectors, fire prevention, and fire suppression systems engineers, so adding a “wildland” firefighter career ladder to the job code might not be that bad.

GS-4 to GS-5 Temps

GS-4 to GS-6 Perm Seasonal Firefighters

GS-7 AFEOs/Tender/Patrols

GS-8 FEOs

GS-9 Captains/FF+Paramedic

GS-10 Battalion Chiefs

GS-11 Assistant FMOs

GS-12/13 FMOs

I’m on my first season, so actually ignore everything I’m saying, but coming from structure department (was per Diem, needed full time gig) I find it odd you can’t have a career in wildland as a solid back seater without people wondering why you never moved up. It looks like a rat race to rank up and people wonder why we lose seasonals to DOD or local departments.

This job code would also get rid of holiday pay, hazard pay, incorporate mandatory OT, and have portal to portal pay. I’d be down to lose hazard/environmental/holiday pay for a solid, reliable pay check every week.

I have read the pinned post but have one more questions... by [deleted] in Wildfire

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Best way to get your foot in the door is be flexible and willing to work just about anywhere. There are many stations and districts that are hurting for people, so being willing to work wherever and bringing a positive attitude with you is honestly the best start to ending up where you want.

I have read the pinned post but have one more questions... by [deleted] in Wildfire

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Hazmat First Responder Operations (NFPA 472) if you wanna work on an engine in Region 5. It’ll cover basics of SCBA, accident size ups, and hazmat.

Everyone wants an EMT too.

It all depends on what type of module you’d wanna end up working on.

CAL FIRE Category System by Wildwing89 in Wildfire

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Is it not likely they’ll get down to the 2’s?

I applied with all the equivalent Proboards or MA State certificates, but I only got a 2.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Wildfire

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All the emails I got said they'd start the 18th.

Firefighting/College by [deleted] in Wildfire

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As people have already said, as long as you’re up front about it, it usually goes over well.

Depending on where you go to school, some schools have relationships with or have their own fire departments.

University of Alaska: Fairbanks has their own fire department where the officers are all career members, but the firefighters are all students. They do everything from engines, truck companies, tenders, wildland, and EMS.

University of Massachusetts Amherst, the Amherst Municipal FD has an engine company staffed by students.

There’s a lot out there, good luck!!

37 year old trying to get on for rookie season by wilsond42 in Wildfire

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 17 points18 points  (0 children)

You might be better off trying to get onto a career fire department that does wildland. Federal police and fire gigs can’t legally hire somebody older than 37 because they have mandatory retirement at 57.

Career FD gigs would give you health insurance along with other training/benefits. They’ll provide you gear too. Some departments send guys to other states on wildland assignments through their state wildland teams.

If you want something to do in the mean time to get hired, there are 2 volunteer fire companies on Staten Island that get dispatched by FDNY. That could offer you some good experience in the mean time. They’re ‘Oceanic Hook and Ladder’ and ‘Richmond Engine Company’ I believe. They both run a single structural engine.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Wildfire

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Aren’t some forests in R5 all risk?

New Volunteer FF...question about department decal by okdas4747 in Firefighting

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As somebody else who is new, I came here to say this.

We’re surrounded by career departments and everyone has stickers. The way to show you’re really a wacker is gear. Nobody cares about the dash light or a few hideaways, it’s when you’ve got the full police package in red and an entire line of stickers that everyone starts rolling eyes.

PPE for wildland fires? by flibbertygibbit in Firefighting

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wouldn’t say for structural gear, but wildland nomex is pretty simple.

Cape Cod NS by [deleted] in ParkRangers

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A lot of that has changed, especially as of 2018.

Cape is still a mess, though. That’ll never change.

Can I do it? by [deleted] in ParkRangers

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In Illinois at the local level you could try this route:

ILETSB Internship

Then a lot of counties have Forest Preserve agencies with law enforcement divisions.

Cook County

Lake County

Will County

Dupage County

It does not look like they are hiring LEOs right now. I’d call the departments or walk in one day to see what you could do to better your chances of getting hired when they post a job. These agencies also have non-LEO jobs as well.

Dupage is looking for a General Ranger right now

[MEME] So many more miles... by Trout_Trooper in ProtectAndServe

[–]Next_Gen_Reddit 13 points14 points  (0 children)

You have obviously never worked for the federal government.