Just Got Certified and Hired as a Wildland Firefighter

[Plato234]

I went through an online training course, basically equivalent to a 3 credit college course. I took my time an finished it in a few months because I had extra time before the field training was scheduled. I got a few other certifications as well as First Aid/CPR/AED and I flew out to Oregon and spent the weekend doing the field training. I would say most miscers could pass, as long as they have tough feet, and can deal with cold, rain, and heat, while hiking a few miles. Digging line is very tough, but once your technique is set, you're good. I had a complete blast, and I had no problems, except a headache, which one of my squadmates had some IBprofen. I will start at 17/hour, and pulling around 3,400 every two weeks- doing something that is really fun, useful, and challenging. The company I work for, is one of the best there is, and there's more training offered in June, which I will do, and it comes with an increase in salary, and an EMT cert is an additional 3/hour raise, which I will get sometime.
Cliffs
OP became A Wildland Firefigher, had a blast, and is pretty proud about it (went from being far down on the rotting scale)

[Ravishing_Rick]

i read that as catfished

[Khumatmibro]

Sounds good OP , is it a seasonal job or would you have work year around?

Goodluck out there.

[Getter_done]

Congrats man keep us updated

[DrugsToGetBig]

a job and a sense of purpose

das it boyo

[digital022]

Are you guys fighting fires or working on prescribed burns?

[Plato234]

Sounds good OP , is it a seasonal job or would you have work year around?

Goodluck out there.

I'm hired as a season employee, about from August to November. But there are full time positions available, especially if you are at an elite level of being a hotshot, crew boss, instructor, or administration. There are less than 20,000 wildland firefighters in the USA, and there are not anywhere near enough.

[DimTriad]

Mirin’ hard af brah

Congrats, hope to see an update of you getting a full time position. Stay safe

[Nonsense916]

Risking your life for 17/hr

Sad

[Plato234]

Are you guys fighting fires or working on prescribed burns?

Both. We do a lot of stuff, I'm hired as a hand crew, which is mop up and cold trailing, basically making sure areas that have burned will not burn again. I am also going to dig fire line, preventing the fire from spreading to different areas, working with pumps making sure the "green" doesn't burn. There is also a chance that I'll work on an engine crew, and even a small chance I'll work on a helicopter crew-obviously not flying, but providing support. The company prides its self on working longer than any others contractors or agencies, and will do everything they can to maximize the amount of time they spend working, so I can end up working clearing roads and helping locals near the incident with anything they need.

[TheAdlerian]

I went through an online training course, basically equivalent to a 3 credit college course. I took my time an finished it in a few months because I had extra time before the field training was scheduled. I got a few other certifications as well as First Aid/CPR/AED and I flew out to Oregon and spent the weekend doing the field training. I would say most miscers could pass, as long as they have tough feet, and can deal with cold, rain, and heat, while hiking a few miles. Digging line is very tough, but once your technique is set, you're good. I had a complete blast, and I had no problems, except a headache, which one of my squadmates had some IBprofen. I will start at 17/hour, and pulling around 3,400 every two weeks- doing something that is really fun, useful, and challenging. The company I work for, is one of the best there is, and there's more training offered in June, which I will do, and it comes with an increase in salary, and an EMT cert is an additional 3/hour raise, which I will get sometime.
Cliffs
OP became A Wildland Firefigher, had a blast, and is pretty proud about it (went from being far down on the rotting scale)

That's awesome and sounds adventurous.

[MrQuint]

Awesome, should be proud boyo.

[Plato234]

This. You can make the same working as a cashier in san francisco without any certifications

https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=dd...rom=serp&vjs=3

I've worked as a cashier multiple times. It absolutely sucks. I can't imagine pulling a 100 hour week working at trader joes in that cesspool.

[LethalGunz34]

I guess















You are



































Born to be wild.

[blindsideflank]

Cool brah. Another option in the off season is to go get your NFPA 1001/1002 from somewhere like training division and eventually pursue municipal fire (not sure what the market is like is US cuz I know there are lots of volly Departments).

Either way, you have a great attitude and this can be a stepping stone to something great, the most important thing is to not **** up and quit from a bad day/week and to use the off-season to continue to improve yourself (like you said: emt or more fire courses etc). Eat **** when a crew chief chews you out and move on, it’s part of the culture (think military).

For the *******s saying it’s better to have some mundane job at same wage, good luck with your existential crisis at age 40.

[RJLXA]

op how old are you?

[Nonsense916]

McDonald workers make $15 with no labor or risk involved.

[ziggurat]

McDonald workers make $15 with no labor or risk involved.

you risk not living



absolutely mirin OP

[Plato234]

McDonald workers make $15 with no labor or risk involved.

I've also worked in a kitchen before. I would rather smell like smoke, sweat, and the elements than the grease that they used for 18 hours in a kitchen

op how old are you?

Turned 25 in March

[homersexual]

Congrats, Opie. Don't let these guys get you down. You'll be reminiscing about the fun jobs you had for the rest of your life. No grandpa ever held toddlers in his lap and told them stories about his days as a CPA or midlevel manager. Gotta enjoy life while you can.

[Plato234]

you risk not living



absolutely mirin OP

Cool brah. Another option in the off season is to go get your NFPA 1001/1002 from somewhere like training division and eventually pursue municipal fire (not sure what the market is like is US cuz I know there are lots of volly Departments).

Either way, you have a great attitude and this can be a stepping stone to something great, the most important thing is to not **** up and quit from a bad day/week and to use the off-season to continue to improve yourself (like you said: emt or more fire courses etc). Eat **** when a crew chief chews you out and move on, it’s part of the culture (think military).

For the *******s saying it’s better to have some mundane job at same wage, good luck with your existential crisis at age 40.

Awesome, should be proud boyo.

That's awesome and sounds adventurous.

Mirin’ hard af brah

Congrats, hope to see an update of you getting a full time position. Stay safe

a job and a sense of purpose

das it boyo

Congrats man keep us updated

Thank you guys so much for the support

[TheAdlerian]

Thank you guys so much for the support

Dude, I have had a massively adventurous life and it's better than money.

You are going to have stories to tell and other things to get into, that's the awesome part.

What job pays what is moronic talk. You want to do things YOU want to do and have a life worth living that you can talk about.

So, good choice doing what you want to do.

[Winston56432]

Risking your life for 17/hr

Sad

not everyone has trust funds from daddy like u

[Nonsense916]

You are getting paid 17 to risk your life, they are playing you as a fool dead srs

[BalognaNbeans]

Mirin srs gjopm

[Train57]

was thinking about it but its a seasonal job for most ppl

[TonyTriangles]

congrats bro! good job and please, be safe

[slat11]

I went through an online training course, basically equivalent to a 3 credit college course. I took my time an finished it in a few months because I had extra time before the field training was scheduled. I got a few other certifications as well as First Aid/CPR/AED and I flew out to Oregon and spent the weekend doing the field training. I would say most miscers could pass, as long as they have tough feet, and can deal with cold, rain, and heat, while hiking a few miles. Digging line is very tough, but once your technique is set, you're good. I had a complete blast, and I had no problems, except a headache, which one of my squadmates had some IBprofen. I will start at 17/hour, and pulling around 3,400 every two weeks- doing something that is really fun, useful, and challenging. The company I work for, is one of the best there is, and there's more training offered in June, which I will do, and it comes with an increase in salary, and an EMT cert is an additional 3/hour raise, which I will get sometime.
Cliffs
OP became A Wildland Firefigher, had a blast, and is pretty proud about it (went from being far down on the rotting scale)

Congrats on the job. Its pretty fun. I worked for the USFS on a type II crew for 4 years. DO NOT skimp on boots! Your feet will make or break you. Make sure your cardio is good to go, run 3 days a week. Swinging a pulaski for an hour is nothing, but going 8-10 hours on the line will tax you.

[Nonsense916]

You would need to work 2 brutal days to buy some nice boots, then borrow $10 for the Tecnu ointment you will need to use after you get poison oak

Fuark

[littlemissy]

Congrats OP! Sounds bad ass. Take care of yourself and be careful.