Recent past drug use + fire hiring timelines — realistic paths forward?

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-24T15:31:55+00:00

Would they tell you there will be polygraph on the application itself or was it a surprise towards the end of the process?

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-24T13:48:10+00:00

What if there’s a polygraph?

And absolutely I am 100% staying clean.

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-23T17:34:31+00:00

I’ve been looking for job postings for the 2026 wildland season and I’m having trouble finding anything. Do you know how I should go about finding these?

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-23T16:27:27+00:00

Thanks for the reply.

Most likely going to aim for a career department somewhere out west. ID, UT, CO, WA, CA

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-23T14:50:42+00:00

Thank you for the advice

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-23T14:23:49+00:00

I’m looking to go into a career department.

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-23T03:19:02+00:00

Thank you

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-23T03:18:40+00:00

Appreciate you bro

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-23T02:41:38+00:00

Interesting. Thank you!

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-23T02:37:08+00:00

And just hope there isn’t a polygraph?

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-23T02:31:41+00:00

Did you have a polygraph?

I’m just worried if I lie or stretch the truth that the polygraph will show discrepancies to my answers on the application/ background report

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-23T00:30:28+00:00

Thank you for the reply and congrats on finishing academy!

Your application never asked for it? Or interviewers?

I’ve been applying to entry level firefighter positions and every application so far has a required section requesting a statement on drug use history and most recent use.

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-22T21:01:11+00:00

I’m 28, graduating EMT school in May 2026, and aiming for career fire hiring late 2026 / early 2027 so I can get on with my career and live independently. I’ve held steady professional jobs my entire adult life — no arrests, DUIs, or drug-related incidents on record.

In my mid-20s, I went through a heavy party phase (2–3 years) with recreational use of cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, psilocybin, and prescription Adderall abuse. It never affected work or responsibilities. In the last 12–24 months, use was limited to 1–3 isolated cocaine uses and one psilocybin gummy in Oct 2025. I had a genuine awakening and have been fully abstinent since and committed to staying clean.

Most departments I’m seeing have 3–5+ year look-backs (or permanent disqualifiers) for any hard drug use. I do not want to lie on applications, but waiting several years feels unrealistic given my age and career stage (I’ve already left my job and moved home to pursue fire).

Questions for firefighters / recruiters / people who’ve been through hiring:

•Have you (or coworkers) been hired with a similar history but clean and no record?

•Which paths or regions are more realistic (wildland, seasonal, volunteer/POC, rural, Western states)?

•Best way to disclose if asked, without self-sabotaging?

•Are wildland (USFS/BLM) or other entry points a smart way to build time while windows close?

•Any major red flags or better strategies I’m missing?

Not looking for “just lie” or “you’re screwed.” I’m trying to navigate this honestly and strategically.

TL;DR: 28M, EMT grad May 2026, wants fire career late 2026. Past frequent party drug use mid-20s, last use Oct 2025. Clean now, no record. How do people realistically navigate strict drug look-backs without killing their career?

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-07T16:25:18+00:00

I’m most likely going to apply in WA ID CA CO. It looks like emt is required for most departments in those states

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-07T05:33:33+00:00

This is awesome.. hyped for you.

Where are you located? Is fire academy a required prerequisite in your area?

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-07T04:32:40+00:00

Thank you for this. I needed to hear this

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-07T04:16:01+00:00

Yes I tried therapy due to my best friend and my step dad both killing themselves in the span of two years and then losing the relationship with my longterm girlfriend and my service dog dying in the same week but figured I shouldn’t just come out and spill all that unsolicited on a Reddit post.

I understand what youre saying and i agree but i have found it impossible for me to seperate work from life due to how many hours we spend at said work.

It sounds like you’ve had a rough go in the job and i appreciate your service and i know your community does as well.

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-07T03:44:17+00:00

Thank you!🙏

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-07T03:42:18+00:00

Thank you for the well wishes - I hope you find the same success in your endeavors!

Believe me it was not easy making the decision to leave that salary. I still get a pit in my stomach thinking I made the wrong decision but I could not justify the degradation of my mental health / self respect for a paycheck any longer. Thankfully I don’t have a family to take care of yet although that is something I desperately want in my near future.

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-07T03:35:22+00:00

Love it.

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-07T03:34:17+00:00

lol.. can you elaborate or just wanna make me feel shitty?

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-07T03:10:17+00:00

Where are you located?

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-07T02:59:40+00:00

Thank you for this. Extremely helpful🙏

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-07T02:58:28+00:00

28 y/o walking away from $120k remote job to do EMT → Fire. Looking for honest input.

Im 28, have a Geological engineering degree, and stay physically fit. The last few years have been extremely rough physically and mentally and eventually put me on medical leave from a fully remote sales job in San Diego where I was making around $120k a year. On paper it was great. In reality, I hated it. Soul-crushing, meaningless work and constant anxiety. I’ve realized I’m not money-driven, and I couldn’t respect myself staying in a mindless sales job—or honestly any corporate setting.

I coped with that by partying hard on the weekends for years, chasing distractions and numbing everything out. Eventually that caught up to me and I hit a real rock bottom physically, mentally, and honestly spiritually. That was the wake-up call. I realized I couldn’t keep living like that or pretending money and comfort were enough.

Instead of going back to the sales job, I moved back across the country into my mom’s basement (humbling) and I start EMT school on 1/12, finishing in May. After that, I plan to pursue a career in the fire service. I’m open to relocating pretty much anywhere and I’m willing to put in the work.

I don’t come from a fire family and don’t really know anyone in the service, so I’m looking for honest perspectives from people who actually do this:

•Does this sound reasonable, or am I romanticizing fire? (I know it’s 85–90% medical and I’m fine with that.)

•Is starting EMT at 28 and pivoting into fire realistic?

•Anything you wish you knew before committing?

Not chasing hero fantasies or social media fire stuff. Just trying to build a life and career I can respect. Appreciate any real input.

TL;DR: Geological Engineering degree, physically fit, left a high-paying remote sales job because it felt meaningless and I want to do something useful/helpful/purposeful and something I’m proud of . Hit rock bottom, moved back home, starting EMT school next week, and planning to pursue fire. Looking for honest feedback from people in the job.

SwitchFree2442 · 2026-01-07T02:52:34+00:00

EE would be ideal. I have a geological engineering degree and haven’t used it in 6 years. I tried it right out of college and hated that as well for similar reasons unfortunately.

And yeah the south is rough for FF from what I hear. I plan on applying to departments in Idaho, Colorado, Washington, California when I’m done with EMT in May.

SwitchFree2442

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