Join the explorer program with the department take an emt courseMy son wants to be a fireman in Lake Havasu. We could use some guidance how to get started. My son is 19 and has a full time job.
In addition to the fire science course work he’ll probably want to go through an academy as well. I met the Havasu city planner on the lake a few months ago as my son was just finishing the fire academy through Santa Ana College. We asked what the requirements were for Havasu Fire Department and he said that he would also need Paramedic training as they only hire fireman with that background. As been said before, it can take some time and patience. But it can be done with hard work and devotion - my son just hired into Cal Fire at the age of 21, thanks to Cameron (Throttle) here on RDP[emoji106]
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My son wants to be a fireman in Lake Havasu. We could use some guidance how to get started. My son is 19 and has a full time job.
When I was about 20, my BIL said come to Rio hondo fire academy with me, FD is a great job. I had a family business at the time, no thanks.
30 years later he is a bigshot battalion chief I believe with L.A. county, made about $306k last year according to transparent Ca. His Mom, Dad, Sister and myself don't really have anything to do with him because his head is so big he can't fit through the door anymore...
But I wish I had listened, it is a fantastic career! Some of those guys get a little carried away with themselves, vast majority are great...
Firefighters have to have a commercial driver's license that is regulated by the federal government so yes all departments do drug testing.Don't most departments do drug testing? So tell him no weed.
Not in Havasu, or any other department I know of in AZ (as far as CDL). We are CDL exempt on emergency apparatus. Only our FEMA team (Phoenix members only) need CDLs because we are required to drive out of state. Drug testing in AZ is department mandated, and every city department lives by the rules that their attorneys, city management, chief, and union have agreed on and put in place. Can’t say specifically what Havasu Fire does. CA may be different, don’t know. Don’t work there.Firefighters have to have a commercial driver's license that is regulated by the federal government so yes all departments do drug testing.
That pretty much holds true for most private industry...10-80-10.
10% douche bags. 80% good hardworking guys. 10% over achievers, who can also come off as douche bags. No matter what size the department is this holds true for all of them. [emoji106]
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I would say no. Like most blue collar jobs right now, there’s a huge demand for normal, decent, hard working people, that aren’t criminals. A lot of departments still have a shortage from the recession. The big departments are stealing guys from the smaller/lower paid departments. The fireman I worked with yesterday is leaving for LA County, starts 12/2, as a lateral paramedic. It’s a great time to be testing or changing careers.Isn't that like saying "I want to win the lottery".
I would say no. Like most blue collar jobs right now, there’s a huge demand for normal, decent, hard working people, that aren’t criminals. A lot of departments still have a shortage from the recession. The big departments are stealing guys from the smaller/lower paid departments. The fireman I worked with yesterday is leaving for LA County, starts 12/2, as a lateral paramedic. It’s a great time to be testing or changing careers.
The unfortunate thing is that if you're a medic in the military you come into the civilian world as an EMT, and yes just get an unrestricted class A that way you are ready to promote to anything.If i was looking to be a ff, i would 1st put 5 years in the miltary( it helps) get a college degree in something useful for fire fighting/ back up( chem comes to mind) get my paramedic lic( combat medic with miltary would also be awesome, so would fire fighting) then get my class a cdl. I know you only need a b, but a is better. With all that you would be miles a head of most. All that is 10 years of your life. Granted you have signifcant fall back.
That is sad. I think its also sad what ff has become.The unfortunate thing is that if you're a medic in the military you come into the civilian world as an EMT, and yes just get an unrestricted class A that way you are ready to promote to anything.
That is sad. I think its also sad what ff has become.
That it is now a politcal machine that has lost site of its purposecare to elaborate?
That it is now a politcal machine that has lost site of its purpose
My son wants to be a fireman in Lake Havasu. We could use some guidance how to get started. My son is 19 and has a full time job.