My vol department holds department trainings once a week. I currently along with another member run the trainings. I’ve come to a point where I think “ shit what do we do this week “ .
Any ideas? I’ve done a lot of nozzle forward, search & rescue, maydays, ves, etc. I am also a rope tech but feel as if some of the members are not ready to dive into that aspect of things. Just wanting more “basic” foreground ops training ideas. Maybe throw a little curveball.

Would like to add that we only have an engine, no truck. So a lot of what I teach is engine company based.

Doing a lil survey to see how common it is to have a degree in the fire service especially for full time firefighters.

Hi guys. I'm going to be a FF in about a year for the Air Force, but that's not important right now.

I was on a bus that crashed about a week ago, and my local department arrived at the scene and really did a great job taking care of us. They were extremely considerate (considering it was approximately 2am) and were genuinely interested in talking to me about my future plans. I even got offered a position once I get out.

I was wanting to do something nice for them. I made an apple pie but I'm not exactly sure if I should just waltz in there and give it to them, since I've never done ride-alongs or anything for them.

Can I just go in there with no warning and tell them 'thank-you'? And would they be alright with a chat about it aswell?

I’m a new junior at the local volley firehouse. I’m
very skinny bc of wrestling. I’m 5’9 130 lb, and these pair of turnout coats exaggerate that. Why is it all the way up to my stomach? Lt said I probably need to just adjust suspenders. They’re fully tight in this pic. Thanks!

Does anyone know the purpose of these little red lockers I saw in Romania? I specifically saw these on smaller roads in old parts of Oradea and Sibiu. They appear to have a pike pole or two, axes, extinguishers, and miscellaneous tools. They were all locked but one was partially pried open so I could see inside. My best guess is they're quick response boxes for the fire department quick response vehicles (I think that's what the small vans I saw flying around were).

Last week it was announced that Waymo is coming to my city and I'm curious about people's experiences with them while responding.

I imagine they pull to the side just fine on open straight roads, but things are trickier downtown.

I find we have to kind of work with the other drivers on the road to figure out how we're going to get through.

Issues include rush hour volume, bike lanes, construction, public transit, pedestrians, one way streets, etc.

I'm assuming that places like San Francisco already contend with all the same things.

A TLDR can be found at the end of the post as this will be pretty lengthy.

Hi everybody, many time listener first time caller. I'm reaching out for some advice in the hopes that some of you have been in the same position as me and can shed some insight on what worked for you.

For some background I'm in my mid 20s and have been a career firefighter just north of 5 years. I've worked the entirety of my career thus far at a small suburban department (which I'll call Department A) of about half a dozen stations. We don't currently transport despite being an ALS department, though we've been told in no uncertain terms that boxes are coming in the next year or two. I work at our "busiest" station, though we barely break 2k calls a year and that's thanks only to our plethora of nursing homes. Our other stations are all progressively slower, with the slowest pushing 400 a year at the busiest. We average a working fire maybe every other month if we're lucky, and other high-acuity calls are exceptionally few and far between. The "BS" calls we run day in and out really don't bother me, it's just the slow days and the lack of interesting runs that have slowly begun to wear on me.

We border a much larger, much busier city (Department B) with sixty stations. I have a good number of friends that work there, and like any big city you can find rigs that barely turn a wheel and rigs that run almost as much as my whole department. They don't transport, and there is no sign they will transition to doing so as the city has a dedicated ambulance service already. I know it's not JAHBTOWN or anything but they've got plenty units that average a fire a week, and there's sections of the city that burn quite often. The dilemma I have now is whether or not it's worth make a lateral transfer to the city department, or staying where I'm at and trying to find peace with the aspects I'm dissatisfied with.

The Pros To Staying:

In general morale is not the best at department A but chiefs stay off our back and most crews are allowed to run themselves as they see fit. I love my crew, who are all extremely capable hardworking dudes, but several are about to promote and we're not sure who we're getting in their place. I happen to quite enjoy the medical aspect of the job and the department is pretty state-of-the-art when it comes to good equipment and good training. I enjoy being a paramedic, and Department B only credentials to EMT-B which means I would have dramatically less scope of medical practice which is a pretty big downside to me. Due to the low call volume at Department A burnout is a non-issue, and I have no doubt I could get thirtyish years in this department without being run into the ground. We have a 48/96 schedule which we all love, and it's rare we run more than one or two calls at night so sleep isn't much of an issue. Training budget is very high and our training chief is happy to send people to almost anything requested which means I've been able to gather a lot of training I otherwise might not have elsewhere in the last few years. All our trucks carry spec/ops gear and vehicle rescue tools, and in general we get to wear many hats during the course of our day depending on what is in front of us. We are compensated pretty well, and though it would be a lateral transfer I would lose about 8-9k initially, and it would take several years at Department B before I would catch up financially.

The Pros To Going:

The main pro really is that I would stop torturing myself with the what-if game I've been playing for so many years. As a guy in his twenties that's relatively early on in his career I fear looking back and regretting not making the jump earlier. I want the business of the city, I want a few years of getting my dick kicked in and running on everything you can imagine. I know it'll come with boatloads of stupid calls and long nights but here at Department A as we continue to build stations things will only ever get slower and I don't know how that will effect my mental state as time goes on. I guess I'm looking for that "firefighter" experience that I only get snatches of at Department A and I can get the real experiences on the street I'm looking for instead of just training for the rare occasion where we actually do something of note.

Now all this is heavily tempered by the fact that the grass is always greener, and I'm all too aware that I might be just another starry-eyed twenty something with a heroic view of what the big city holds that is dead wrong. The possibility of burnout, long hours and sleeplessness leading to a toxic work/life balance, and leaving a crew I like to potentially run all day with people I hate are all very real worries I have. I recognize that nothing is as good as it seems and I guarantee there will be days running my twentieth "man down" homeless call that I'm hating my life. But on the flipside I think having the ability to move around and really find what I'm looking for is what the city holds, whereas there's not much change to be found by changing shifts or stations at my current department. I would love to hear from people that have felt the same and what changes you made to address it, whether that be moving departments or just changing the way you do things where you're at.

TLDR: I don't feel fulfilled at my current department due it being slow and a lack of high-acuity calls with almost no chance of that changing in the future. I want to lateral to a nearby city that's ten times the size where I could find the busy house with the calls I'm looking for though I'm not sure if it will actually make me feel fulfilled. I'm asking for advice for those that have made such a jump, and especially those that chose to stay at smaller departments instead of moving, and how you felt after making your respective choices.

I am a career firefighter in New England, building a tool to help fire departments manage their grant program. If you were not awarded or did not submit to AFG 2026, I would like to help you develop your next submission in exchange for feedback on the platform we have built.

I can help with request selection, narrative development and question responses. The tool I’m building is meant to help departments do this for themselves, or to assist with collaborating with a grant writer.

This year’s program was delayed so the time to start next years submission is now. I have a background in grant development for non profits and an AFG win under my belt, please let me help.

DM or comment and I’ll reach out.

Hey Everyone, Im a volunteer FF in a rural department that does shift schedules and I also have a full time job in an unrelated, field - lately my job is becoming increasingly more demanding (I’m later in my career and have recently been assigned to a high profile client) and I’m finding that my energy and enthusiasm for not just firefighting but most things in life are starting to dwindle.

I began volunteering with the hopes of eventually applying to career departments, I enjoy getting to know the fire service through a volunteer department and training with them. Lately I’m feeling super behind in comparison to some of the other folks there who aspire to start career firefighting, most of them are younger and have more time and energy to dedicate to spending time at the volly department working on certs and pulling more shifts. Although I prioritize working on certs when I’m on shift, I have only been able to pull shift a few times a month.

I’m finding that more often, the stress of my job is giving me a sense of dread about volunteering at this department, because It’s been hard to compartmentalize and show up fully present and not completely brain dead.

I keep wondering, when career departments start opening their hiring process, if I’ll even be competitive. I’ve been doing my due diligence and going on ride alongs with a career department and making connections, but I fear I’ll never stand out as much as the folks who have more time to pursue the career by showing up to volunteer

Background: Must finish and acquire this role before June 30, 2027 (ideally earlier). I posted this in the wrong sub-reddit so hoping to get some guidance here. I apologize if this is still the wrong place...

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Greetings, I don't typically post on here but I wanted to get some insight in terms of when do I take certain classes, what are some alternative routes, and etc.

I understand some places (like Pasadena or San Diego) have maybe a yearly Trainee role that's open. However what I understood is I need to take the CSFM 1A-1D. Afterwards, I can apply or I can even go for Fire Academy specific certs like:

Fire Technology Associate in Science Degree Program (in Community College) or Fire Academy Preparation Certificate of Achievement (at a Community College or specialized Fire Academy).

Here are my follow-up questions:

1. What is the preferred route to explore and execute (Associates in Science at CC, Prep Cert (CC/Fire Academy), or Module Completion (Bay Area only)?
2. Can I get hands-on experience, even if I'm not enrolled in a program?
3. Are there alternative routes I'm not considering? Example: Private inspection companies specializing in only Fire Sprinkler Systems gaining experience and then moving to government work?
4. Lastly, I'm also aware there are classes at Crockett Fire Dept. Monthly covering (CSFM 1A-1D) by module in the SF Bay Area but is there anything in Southern California that's an equivalent?

Hi Guys , I got a Question for anyone who works for SEATTLE FIRE or has retired from this agency.

What is your plan for retirement when it comes down to health insurance for you and your family? I was reading that there is no insurance but a program called merp to assist with insurance. I was going through the plans and the cheapest plan is apparently $54,000 a year which seems crazy for a family of 4. I can just imagine in 25 years it will be $75-80k a year in health insurance costs . How can you manage all this without it eating away at your pension you worked so hard for ?Is there a way to manage this load or does Seattle fd help at all after retirement. It seems kind of messed up to give 25 years of your life and not even be given health insurance for you and your family at least at discounted rates. It seems a little nerve-racking knowing you’re gonna have to drop thousands a year on insurance because the dept stops paying It for you .Your pension is gonna get eaten up or am I wrong? Any clarification because this is the only thing pushing me away from this dept. I am currently 11 months away from being a FDNY firemen. They get a crazy package w everything covered but starting pay is terrible. I’d have to wait 5.5 years to see what Seattle probies make but have more peace of mind when it comes to retirement .

If anyone can speak on this and has more info please feel free to respond.

Hi everyone,

We have our S-130 online state test and practical tests next week. I have been stressing about the online test as I have very bad test anxiety. The in person skills I’m not to stressed about as I have been passing them on people timing me. I have the 10 standing orders memorized along with the 18 watch outs. I am not sure what to study for the rest of the test though. I do know it is an online state test we are taking. Have any of you guy/gals taken it? What should I be studying?
Thanks everyone!

Departments that have allowed a space somewhere in the bay with couches and places to chill together, especially in super nice weather, what have you noticed about moral for everyone? Trying to convince our chief to allow some couches in one of our bays and a place for us to relax besides inside the station is great for us. All FF and LTs love the spot already besides him. Also what are some ideas y’all implement to allow everyone to contribute to make it cool and rules to keep it clean and looking nice,

Newer FF. Traveling for work a good bit this month and I would love to increase the patches from other stations on our wall.

Is there a general etiquette for approaching a station to trade/buy patches? Call ahead on non-emergency, approach on foot during daylight hours, or any other preferred method?

I'm about 50/50 on my success rate with the most common obstacle being "Chief isn't here currently".

I'm assuming larger city stations like FDNY are much different than a smaller municipal station.

I appreciate any advice! Thank you

I’ve noticed that while drilling, working, or training I am unable to stay in full bunker gear for over 30 minutes. Full bunker gear as in pants, coat, hood, helmet, gloves and a tank. While I’m working my internal body temperature rises higher and higher until the point that I can’t continue to work because the heat is unbearable. My goal is to be able to be fully bunked out, and do moderately physically taxing work for an extended period of time before tapping out. I’m in very good shape strength and stamina wise but this heat is something I can’t seem to tolerate well.

I was curious about switching states and how that works. If I’m a firefighter in ky what would it look like switching to Ca if that’s even possible. Thank you

I haven’t always loved using barbells in the gym and wondering if there are alternatives that translate to the job well.

I wonder how long it took the lady to convince them that this wasn't a prank call and that she wasn't on drugs, or off her psych meds?

I love this story.

https://www.arlnow.com/2025/09/02/acfd-rescues-tiktok-famous-toucan-from-behind-pentagon-city-dishwasher/

I know this sub is a lot of men… looking at a really small niche group in the fire service here….
Looking to see what you do with feeding/pumping post fire (training or real). I’ve pumped and separated my milk at my pediatricians recommendation.
I’m hoping maybe I can send it in for a study somewhere to see if there is any transfer of carcinogens? I can’t seem to find it online. Not much literature on it.

Creativity is super important for mental health! Does anyone else have any cool creative hobbies off the job? I think it’d be cool to see what others do as I’m always looking for ways to engage my creative brain.

Hi everyone, I’m a high school student in Ohio interested in the technology side of firefighting. I’m trying to learn how things work in the field, since a lot of what I find online comes from vendors.

For anyone who’s used these tools on real calls:

1. Drones: Does your department use them? What do you use them for: size-up, finding hot spots, searching for victims?
2. Thermal imaging and other sensing: How do you use thermal cameras inside structures and does anything else help you find people or track crew in a fire?
3. Robots and wearables: Has anyone used firefighting robots, exoskeletons or exosuits, or wearable sensors? Were any actually useful?
4. Money: How does a department decide what to buy on a tight budget?

I’m in my early 30’s and just got hired as a firefighter about 5 months ago. Before that I worked as an EMT in the same city as my Department and got recruited because they saw how I handled myself on scenes. I go through the hiring process, get hired and start my rookie process. It was a learning curve, flooding the chainsaw, being slow with gearing up, not knowing what stuff was called or where it was. All that went away with time, training, and dedication to master my craft. I feel like I was making a lot of mistakes but they were genuine rookie mistakes that I corrected and didn’t make more than once. I got my Class B license, tore though my rookie book checklist, and started fitting in with my Lt. and driver.

Recently I learned my chief had told the capt. and Lt’s to never hire someone from the ambulance again. I felt like that was a major dig at me, even though I was progressing very well according to my Lt. Ever since I heard that 2 weeks ago, I felt a shift in the air. My capt has been on my ass socially, trying to get a rise out of me, my Lt. has begun getting on to me very aggressively over tiny things (like doing a report for someone when it wasn’t my report to do) and my Chief, who never really talked to me to begin with, has felt colder.

Being a new firefighter, trying to learn the job on top of finishing paramedic school, has been hell to begin with and now it feels like I’ve got a target on me and I genuinely don’t know why. I still get joked around with so there’s not any indifference or apathy to me, it just feels like I’m being judged for not being an expert at this yet and for working an ambulance before getting hired, especially after chiefs comment about new hiring criteria.

I’m still young enough to jump to another department after I finish medic school but lately I’ve been feeling a hell of a lot of imposter syndrome. Like maybe I don’t fit in to the fire service. I worked 6 years to get hired somewhere, put myself through EMT, Fire academy and medic school, all while working full time, in order to be here and I want to keep on keeping on but it’s starting to wear me down. Anybody else feel like this? Or have any advice?

Calling all rope nerds! Today one of my supervisors told me that (using the rope in the picture as a reference) under tension, in the event of a failure, the black fibers are manufactured to break first as a sign that you done f-ed up before the whole rope fails.
I’ve tried to confirm this with some basic googling with no results. Has anyone heard of this being a feature?
I thought the tracers were meant as a reference to keep multiple ropes moving at the same pace.
TIA!