As a matter of fact, you may have a future on the Union board as a treasurer or as a part of the Firefighter’s Association negotiation team. Additionally, you may have a future as a Chief officer managing the budget. BUT FIRST, you need to worry about getting hired and earning the respect of the men and women on your fire department.
My "Firefighter Workout" Routine 09-06-2009, 04:38 PM Here is my "Firefighter Workout" routine that I do at least once a week, which complements with my weekly strength training/cardio workouts/stair training
Now, the fact you are throwing ground ladders signifies a need for two things: VES or firefighter/victim egress. Either way, ladder = removal of window. The two go hand in hand (unless you are throwing the ladder to the roof or to to inspection in the awning, siding, etc). Your Chief may have had good reason for delaying the removal of windows.
With one firefighter on a 1-3/4 it's about 161gpm@50n/p and60lb r/f (7/8tip), 1 firefighter can maneuver that at a crouch position. If you compared that reaction force to a fog, you would find that your gpm would be cut to 224gpm and 112gpm respectively. This why smooth bores are becoming more popular, more gpm, less reaction force.
It is extremley hard. I once heard that for every Firefighter EMT opening your competing against approximatley 200 applicants and for every Firefighter Paramedic opening your going up against approximatley 15 applicants. Becoming a Paramedic will help out a lot but I suggest only going that route if you really have a passion for it.
"The education of a firefighter and the continued education of a firefighter is what makes "real" firefighters. Continuous skill development is the core of progressive firefighting. We learn by doing and doing it again and again, both on the training ground and the fireground." Lt. Ray McCormack, FDNY Knighthawk Forum Member Join Date:Dec 2001 ...
In Georgia, the state firefighter's pension fund is the same no matter if you are paid or volunteer. Most departments pay the dues for members, and full retirement is 20 years at age 55. Retirees draw almost $1,000 a month as of right now.
Also deploying REHAB and FAST/RIT in the same area will limit confusion as to where a firefighter/civilian should/can be brought if quick treatment or just simple REHAB is needed. I'd also have some FAST/RIT capable units in staging in the event that conditions deteriorate and mulitple firefighters have problems or they are needed to put to work.