Welcome …..
The goal of Become a Firefighter HQ is to become the premier authority in providing information and resources to become a firefighter. If your a jr. explorer, straight out of high school, or looking to make a career change Become a Firefighter HQ is intended for you. The site will include general requirements, interviews, education, physical fitness, training, basic fire science, hiring process, paramedic/ems requirements, fire protection systems, salary, and anything related to the fire service to help you land a job as a firefighter.
Let me be upfront with the harsh realities
The road to becoming a firefighter is very competitive and not easy to accomplish. For every one job opening there are hundreds of applicants. The key is perseverance, consistency, hard work, professionalism, and a little bit of luck. Along with passing the basic requirements there are many other different factors that can lead you to get a position. There is no single path to lead you to landing a career as a firefighter. Research indicates it can take 3 to 7 years to become a paid firefighter. Some can do it in less time and for some will take longer. Most prospects believe the most important aspect is to be the most qualified. The reality is the fire department wants someone qualified that can fit into the firefighter family and brotherhood. In short if the fire chief and hiring board doesn’t like you, they won’t hire you. The prospect pool is large enough for them to be picky. If you have a bad attitude, lack common courtesy, responsibility, and don’t like to follow directions; a firefighter career is not for you.
The most efficient way to be a stand-out firefighter prospect is to understand the job duties and responsibilities
It’s not just putting water on fire. Learning job duties and responsibilities can be attained by taking fire science courses at the community college or online. Valuable experience can also be obtained by becoming a volunteer or reserve firefighter. Most paid fire departments have minimum passing scores for written and physical testing with the remaining part dependent on the interview. The firefighter career path is unique. There are no guarantees that can ensure a prospect will obtain a position. A prospect can be 100% qualified and still not be offered a position, while a less than 100% qualified prospect could be offered a position. Most people outside of the fire service don’t understand this concept, while it makes perfect sense for those inside the fire service. You need to be the person that everyone wants to have in their family.
How Become a Firefighter HQ evolved
This site evolved from experiences learned working in the fire protection/loss prevention industry and interviewing firefighters, fire marshals, fire chiefs, fire captains, battalion officers, and emt/paramedics working in the fire service. For the past 10 years, I’ve worked as a consultant in the loss prevention and fire protection industry, with with numerous clients to help them reduce their risk from fire and other property loss including a multitude of industries and occupancies ranging from hotels, apartments, data centers, manufacturing, distribution warehouses, food and grain processing, metal working, paper processing, plastics, flammable liquids, gas and oil, and automotive paint shops. I am proficient in NFPA Fire Codes, Insurance Data Sheets, and certified as an NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS).