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[QUOTE=Scootap13;1204368711]I'd say pride. Most people dont know what it even takes to become a fireman. Not even talking about the physical and mental aspect of the job but actually getting hired. Going through the process with hundreds if not thousands of other applicants and having to have one of the best scores. Then have one of the best interviews, then pass the physical, the background, the drug test, the psychiatric test, the chiefs interview,then pass a year of probation. There is a lot more to the job then people know or realize. No we do not "put our lives on the line every day" not even close lol. I wouldnt say Fireman "love themselves" most have been through a lot to get to where they are and we are proud to wear that badge over our hearts or that sticker on our rig that we busted our a$$ for to earn the title.[/QUOTE]
FF/Paramedic bro here. Can confirm. 1600 applicants for 58 positions(the hiring process I was in for my city). Took just under a year from application ---> hire paperwork. There's a certain amount of pride but it certainly dwindles at times depending on the current morale issues currently plaguing most departments.
Plus some guys do act like they're on Chicago Fire or Ladder 49. But once again, that's not how it is. It has it's moments for sure.
Off duty I wear nothing associated with being in the fire department. Sometimes it comes off as kind of nerdy.
Some people try to hard to act like something they're not.
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[QUOTE=midwestdude99;1204401261]From what I have learned, they spend a huge amount of each month living at the station. Personally I think it would be sick to be that in love with your job.[/QUOTE]
Depending on where you work or your schedule we spend about nine to eleven days a month at work. My dept works a 48/96 so I work two days straight and then have four off. With the shorter month in February (28 days) I will work 10 days this month. Pretty sweet schedule.
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Between all the perso time taken to better oneself for the job, and to signal the brotherhood to others.
It's no different than frat brothers wearing letters.
That and the insane adrenaline rush of actually doing anything on the fire ground.
Brb breaking windows
Brb forcing doors
Brb searching in 0 viz with heat conditions.
Brb getting a grab.
Brb brb
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I flirted with the idea of a Misc. get together...FDIC, Firehouse World, or Vegas
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[QUOTE=GetHimABodyBag;1204406721]I flirted with the idea of a Misc. get together...FDIC, Firehouse World, or Vegas[/QUOTE]
Going to FDIC this year.
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[QUOTE=Tower512;1204407051]Going to FDIC this year.[/QUOTE]
No conference or symposium, ever, crew.
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[QUOTE=Kodiak87;1204408471]No conference or symposium, ever, crew.[/QUOTE]
Turning a shoulder on classes taught by the best of the best?
Not sure if serious
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Firefighters have to go through some rough **** when the time comes. It's a job to definitely be proud of.
Risking their lives to save others and running into a burning building that everyone else is trying to get out of.
Seeing best friends die over the years also is hard to deal with.
Negged for being an ignorant stupid kunt
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[QUOTE=Tower512;1204407051]Going to FDIC this year.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Kodiak87;1204408471]No conference or symposium, ever, crew.[/QUOTE]
For me:
Andy Fredericks Training Days
Nozzle Forward/Aaron Fields
Ray McCormack
are the 3 I want to go to
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[QUOTE=ahox;1204375821]There must be a special sense of camaraderie with firefighters considering they basically live together, eat together, train together, and risk their lives together. People wear a band's tshirt because they feel connected to them and want to advertise it to others, so it is basically similar to that just exaggerated a bit since being a firefighter is such a large part of their lives.[/QUOTE]
See this is the hangup I have.
As much as I like my job, I don't want it to literally become my life. No matter how much I like something I still want to be able to unplug from it and not have to even think about it when i'm not working.
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[QUOTE=GetHimABodyBag;1204409761]For me:
Andy Fredericks Training Days
Nozzle Forward/Aaron Fields
Ray McCormack
are the 3 I want to go to[/QUOTE]
I've taken Aaron's class a few times, Guy is unbelievable.
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In nozzle froward day 2 of FDIC
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For those of you that have "slow days" do you live in small towns? virtually every time I see an EMT or ambulance zipping around town there's always a couple of firefighter trucks right behind them in tow. I would assume that if you have to head out during every ambulatory call your shifts would stay pretty busy. right?
Also when I lived in California my city had red and green firetrucks. I guess the green trucks were for emergencies and fires that occured outside the city limits. Are they also paid by the government?
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[QUOTE=Scootap13;1204410391]I've taken Aaron's class a few times, Guy is unbelievable.[/QUOTE]
we had this convo before! You guys ever have epic salmon/seafood feasts at the firehouse. I imagine you have some fishermen in your house and dat Puget Sound
[QUOTE=Tower512;1204412551]In nozzle froward day 2 of FDIC[/QUOTE]
Good choice! Who else are you going to see?
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[QUOTE=Maestro;1204413071]For those of you that have "slow days" do you live in small towns? virtually every time I see an EMT or ambulance zipping around town there's always a couple of firefighter trucks right behind them in tow. I would assume that if you have to head out during every ambulatory call your shifts would stay pretty busy. right?
Also when I lived in California my city had red and green firetrucks. I guess the green trucks were for emergencies and fires that occured outside the city limits. Are they also paid by the government?[/QUOTE]
My dept personally depends on what station your at. Closer to the city you will be busy and farther out and in more rural area/ farm land its a lot slower. We have several "vacation stations" where we rarely run calls. As far as the engine rolling with the ambulance that all depends on the call. If its just medical the engine will stay. If its a MVC (motor vehicle collision) the engine will roll with so we have more man power on scene depending on the severity of the call. Sometimes its a medical call and the Ambulance will call and say they need our help with this or that. All depends.
And Idk anything about Cali and there dept's. Im assuming thegreen rigs were possibly brush trucks for wildland fires but dont quote me.
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[QUOTE=2Rude4MyOwnGood;1203952991]Good firefighters spend an unbelievable amount of time preparing and training for the calls that we will eventually run. [/QUOTE]
So do doctors, surgeons, etc. I rarely see any of them driving around with MD plastered all over their vehicle.
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[QUOTE=Astoria;1204416841]So do doctors, surgeons, etc. I rarely see any of them driving around with MD plastered all over their vehicle.[/QUOTE]
Define "plastered"
is my 1 sticker on the back of my CAR, not Truck ruining your day???? lol
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[QUOTE=Scootap13;1204417641]Define "plastered"
is my 1 sticker on the back of my CAR, not Truck ruining your day???? lol[/QUOTE]
Yes….it is and if I ever see your car again, it will ruin my day…all over again
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[QUOTE=Astoria;1204418711]Yes….it is and if I ever see your car again, it will ruin my day…all over again[/QUOTE]
Mirin
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[QUOTE=Astoria;1204416841]So do doctors, surgeons, etc. I rarely see any of them driving around with MD plastered all over their vehicle.[/QUOTE]
Dude, they're stickers and sht, relax.
It's definitely not the majority of firefighters who cover their cars with decals and wear their job shirts around when off duty. Every 'cool' profession has outliers when it comes to stuff like this, even doctors. Do some guys overdo it? Sure, but who really gives a sht? Stickers bro.
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[QUOTE=Maestro;1204364521]I've noticed this on several occasions. I'd be in the grocery store shopping, and an entire posse of firefighters would show up. The way you can tell is because they're always wearing some shirt that says they are firefighters, and they'd just stack an entire basket full of steaks hamburger meat hotdogs buns condiments etc etc.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=HMFIC_BROWSIN;1204367261]lol I've seen this so many times.
by my house they take the big fukin fire truck to the grocery store with 4-5 firefighters and shop together in their boots and suspenders. lulz.[/QUOTE]
If you see a truck pull up, and the are shopping in their turnouts, it is because they are on duty. If they get a call, they have to drop everything and run. Each shift shops and pays out of their own pocket for their meals.
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[QUOTE=xcav8r;1204422561]If you see a truck pull up, and the are shopping in their turnouts, it is because they are on duty. If they get a call, they have to drop everything and run. Each shift shops and pays out of their own pocket for their meals.[/QUOTE]
This.
They could also be on their way back from a call so they just keep their bunker pants on while they shop. It's not an effort to look cool, it's just practical.
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A good buddy of mine is one. He started out making $70k plus benefits. I believe he just drives the truck around. He probably does a lot more than just drive. But that's just my rudimentary understanding of it. He seems to love his job. From what I hear, its pretty difficult to get on a fire department. Its a job in high demand. So if youre lucky enough to get on, it can be a great career. Plus dat dere pension and early retirement must be nice. I hear that firefighters only live 5-10 years on average after they retire though.
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[QUOTE=meatjesus;1204384971]We had a cart full of steaks and some lady came up to us and took the meat out of our cart and said something like "I am not paying you guys to eat this". She didn't know that FF's pay for their own food.[/QUOTE]
Wow, did you set her straight?
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Because they take pride in their work?
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[QUOTE=Rockchalk0420;1204426231]A good buddy of mine is one. He started out making $70k plus benefits.[/QUOTE]
not sure if srs. my buddy also just started last year and hes at like $40k
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Firefighter checking in here. To shed some light on OP's question I for one am in love with being a firefighter. Nothing gets me off more than strapping on my equipment and mentally preparing myself to go bare knuckle with an inferno. The comradery among us firefighters is second to none. We're not only co-workers but best friends. It's very rare ill bee seen without my firefighter tshirt and hat on. I have 6 bumper stickers on my dodge ram all expressing my love for the flames. Ill go home some days and even sleep with my firefighting equipment on just because sometimes that equipment can provide more love than any female can
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[QUOTE=RevolutionTheory;1204401771]This past year when I moved to the middle of nowhere Virginia I thought it was interesting to see the guys all over town. I thought I could make friends and learn something new in life, so I went to the station and asked to be a volunteer. At first, everyone mean mugged me and gave me ****. Then they realized I was there to actually learn and became nice and talked to me. Basically it's just a big giant family. Fire fighers have kids and their kids grow up to do it and it's just a continuous process. They really look out for each other and they like what they do. Everyone has faults. Every stereotype has posers. At the end of the day though, it's what they're motive is that matters.[/QUOTE]
where you from in VA ****?
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[QUOTE=Ted Nugent;1204428831]not sure if srs. my buddy also just started last year and hes at like $40k[/QUOTE]
Depends on where you're at. I've heard places like Detroit make 30K a year. My dept starts at 62K. Places vary. We have a few neighboring depts that start at 75K
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I think one thing that put me off wanting to be a firefighter was the very, very real possibility that one day you will have to cut an entire dead family out of a car.
No thanks jeffery, not in a million years.
OP's post made me lol though