In elementary school, I was absolutely certain of what I wanted to be when I grew up. With no doubt in my mind, I proudly walked around declaring my intentions to become a firefighter. My career interests have varied since then, but my admiration for firefighters has not.
Despite my childhood interest in firefighting, there’s a lot I didn’t understand about the process of actually becoming a firefighter and what the job entails.
To answer my questions, there was no better place to go than the scene itself: my local fire station. I met with firefighters Rafael Vasquez (2 years of service), Raiden Williams (21 years of service), and David Sosine (19 years of service) to help answer my questions.
The Road To Firefighting
There are multiple paths to firefighting, and no specific one is guaranteed a better chance of becoming a full-time firefighter. Different fire stations want different things and have different methods of training and hiring. However, if you’re really set on firefighting, Sosine explained that eventually you will get hired.
Two year community colleges often offer programs in fire science and all three of the firefighters I interviewed went this route. If considering firefighting locally, Mission College offers a fire science program through their two year community college.
From there, my interviewees’ paths differed. Sosine became a volunteer firefighter in high school and continued through college, then transitioned to paid on-call firefighting, and finally to a full-time firefighter. While volunteer firefighting during high school isn’t available in our part of the Bay Area, sccdf.org offers information and contact information to pursue volunteer firefighting after high school. Vasquez was an ER tech before a friend recommended firefighting. Williams was an EMT both in and out of the ambulance before finding a passion in firefighting.
Once backed by an education and a volunteer background, the interview process begins. As mentioned earlier, processes vary from station to station, and as such, the interview process can tend to be tricky. Sosine described how “it is a job in itself to get a job”, but he also explained that each time gets easier and easier, and eventually, with proper determination and patience, you will get a job.
Life as a Firefighter
A firefighting shift is 48 hours on, 48 hours off. While on duty, the firefighters not only prepare for emergencies, but also complete a variety of assignments. Like with many jobs, you continue learning as you work. For firefighting, this comes in multiple forms, one of which is “sign-offs.” In summary, this is reading about a certain required skill, presenting upon it, and ultimately training for it. Consider it firefighting homework. Vasquez, the newest of the firefighters I interviewed, explained that it can be difficult and stressful to learn so many things, but ultimately it’s necessary and worth it if you love the job.
Additionally, living at the firestation for two days means two days’ worth of chores. Cooking, cleaning, and general management are all part of being a full-time firefighter. For two full days, the fire station is home.
As a last note on life at the firehouse, Williams and Sosine both brought up how hard it is to be away from family. It’s likely one of the most difficult parts of firefighting and one of the most particular to this line of work. They described that it’s manageable for them because they both love their job and wouldn’t want to do anything else; for someone considering a career in firefighting though, it’s an important price to weigh.
The Reason for Firefighting
Everyone needs firefighters. As far as emergency responders go, firefighting is one of the most select skill sets, and in my opinion, one of the most difficult jobs to face mentally. It combines some of the most grueling physical abilities with some of the most mountainous mental ones. It is treacherous and devastating, and sometimes there just isn’t a way to save everyone. No job saves everyone though, and the best way to counteract that is being in the job that tries.
Firefighters are full of passion. They love their job. Maybe because it’s gifted with endless gratitude and sincere respect. Maybe because it’s built on easing tragedy and refusing cowardice. Maybe because it’s honorable. But they love it, and they keep showing up.
It is that kind of community that some people thrive in, and it is for that reason that I wrote this article. If you want to become a firefighter, don’t quit; the world will thank you.
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