Welcome to Firefighter Rookie Help

As we all know today money in our local fire departments is getting tight right? During the time of the AFG being open many fire departments have to make the decision of whether or not to apply for a grant for new apparatus or to keep their old apparatus. Coming from a small department in Rural Indiana we face the time of applying for a grant or refurbishing our 1996 E-one Engine or looking at getting a new engine. With the stipulations of the grant saying the apparatus can't be used any…

Every morning since I have been working at my Internship I have become a creature of habit. In the fire service habits can be a bad thing, right? However, not in this case as my life depends on it. When I get down to the bay floor I always check my SCBA first thing. Yeah, so what everyone says, but do you check it like it's your lifeline. I thoroughly check my SCBA every morning such as the mask for cracks , does my regulator flow, and the RIT bag for  every morning…

Seeing a lot of students where I go to school I see a lot of my peers who have either been in the fire service for a few years or new fresh firefighters. When we all started in the fire service why did we want to be a firefighter? Was it because they have great hours? Was it because they drive the cool trucks and can spray water? Or was it because they truly care about their community and want to make a difference.  At my home department…

When starting off in the fire service today it can be intimidating for the new guy. Being at a university like myself I see a lot of new people in the fire service that have no experience at all or have grown up within your family like myself. As a new guy in the fire service, I advise as being new to it to watch and observe someone who has been in…