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Volunteer fire fighter...

downdog2

downdog2

Full Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2006
Messages
563
Location
Marianna, FL
does anybody know what it takes to become a volunteer fire fighter in florida? what are the state regulations? i am really wanting to do it but i can't seem to find much on it... maybe im looking in the wrong place? any help would be great!
 
Call the state Fire Marshall's office or stop by any of the FD's in your area.  They can give you the info your looking for.  Good luck!!!  My hubby and I are both FF's and it is the most awesome experience any human can ever have!!!


I think Mo's hubby is a FF, give her a PM and maybe she can get some answers for ya.


Heidi
 
Mike says all departments are different..some will just let you show up and volunteer and others require you to go through Fire FIghter I training. Call your local department and see what they require! (y) on a side note... Mike completed FireFighter I & II and got his certificate but on the state exam he missed one of the required physical tests... he goes Sept 13 to Ocala (State Fire College) to re-take that part (ladder raise).. right now he is in Paramedic school and says its really tough... has his first exam coming up and it covers 6 or 7 chapters :eek:

Good Luck James!
 
Ask your chief:

Jack Barwick
(850)526-4612
fire@cityofmarianna.com

P.S.
firefighting is addicting.  I was a volunteer in Wakulla Co., FL for 5 years before I moved to Georgia...and I miss  every minute of it.
 
well see i know the fire chief here in marianna, but i wouldn't be able to volunteer in marianna, it would be dellwood (i live to far out of city limits to be a VFF for marianna... don't ask...) that i would be able to do it for. when i talked to the malone VFD, they told me that they would train me, but then i heard some other things... so i just don't know.  i dont' have the time to go through the training, but this is something i have been thinking hard and long about...

i guess one of my biggest problems is getting a hold of the person in charge of the dellwood crew...
 
DaytonaZ71 said:
I've worked for the BLM fighting forest fires, if you're feeling adventurous, you should look into it.

http://www.fire.blm.gov/faqs.html#become a firefighter
Click to expand...

Forestry Firefighting was my favorite.  I worked part time for Attack-One Fire Management Services, and had a great time in the woods.  We mostly did prescribed burns,  but also got to get in on the larger forest fires by contract through the state.
 
Depends on the department, but most will give you the training you need.  Right now the classes to be a volunteer in Florida  is Firefighter 1, First Responder and the Division of Forestry S130/S190 class.  The department you join should get you the training.    It truly is the best Job in the world.  Good Luck
 
I am taking my Fire Standards now in FL.

In order to be a Voluteer you still have to take Firefighter I classes. If you are going to do that you might as well do Firefighter I & II at the same time. That is what I am doing. Took my EMT last semester so I have that out of the way already.

Let me know if you need anymore info.

Where in FL are you?
 
You forestry goofs can keep that for yourself.  Had a couple of close calls myself with that stuff.  Give me a nice industrial fire and then I feel better.
 
pcbguy said:
I am taking my Fire Standards now in FL.

In order to be a Voluteer you still have to take Firefighter I classes. If you are going to do that you might as well do Firefighter I & II at the same time. That is what I am doing. Took my EMT last semester so I have that out of the way already.

Let me know if you need anymore info.

Where in FL are you?
Click to expand...

im in marianna florida...
 
just remember, you have to be an EMT before you can go to most fire academy's.  Most Vollie Fd's  offer first responder and FFI in house
 
pcbguy said:
I am taking my Fire Standards now in FL.

In order to be a Voluteer you still have to take Firefighter I classes. If you are going to do that you might as well do Firefighter I & II at the same time. That is what I am doing. Took my EMT last semester so I have that out of the way already.

Let me know if you need anymore info.

Where in FL are you?
Click to expand...

Hey pcbguy :welcome:

My husband, Mike (jaxfire67) just finished FF I&II and is currently in Paramedic School... looks like most departments are also going towards ALL FF's being Paramedics now, not just EMTs...
where are you located? Panama City Beach by chance?
 
Beng a paramedic is the golden ticket to getting a firefighter job in Florida.  Most departments will hire EMT's with the condition they have 2 or 3 years to get their paramedic. 
 
Yes I'm in Panama City Beach.

You don't have to be an EMT but it helps. Alot of depts. are going that way. None here in Bay County are yet, but it has been rumored that the County Dept. will soon require it.
 
sssMOkinAV said:
Hey pcbguy :welcome:

My husband, Mike (jaxfire67) just finished FF I&II and is currently in Paramedic School... looks like most departments are also going towards ALL FF's being Paramedics now, not just EMTs...
where are you located? Panama City Beach by chance?
Click to expand...

Is a Dept. paying for the Paramedic school, or is it out of pocket?  Can you PM me a price if its the later!
 
Tango Chaser said:
Is a Dept. paying for the Paramedic school, or is it out of pocket? Can you PM me a price if its the later!
Click to expand...

nope, we're paying. $5400 out of pocket but the school (Florida Medical Training Institute) will finance for you if you dont have the cash...and it's a 1 year program (they also have a two day per week class that is 7mos total)...he goes every Monday from 8am-6pm. FMTI has campuses in Jax, Orlando, Coconut Creek, Doral, Tampa & Melbourne.
 
sssMOkinAV said:
nope, we're paying. $5400 out of pocket but the school (Florida Medical Training Institute) will finance for you if you dont have the cash...and it's a 1 year program (they also have a two day per week class that is 7mos total)...he goes every Monday from 8am-6pm. FMTI has campuses in Jax, Orlando, Coconut Creek, Doral, Tampa & Melbourne.
Click to expand...

My EMT Cert is expired by a year (NJ) and I've been thinking about taking the paramedic course.  The VA covers a lot of course/schooling, I might have to check this out.
Thanks!  :love:
 
TC,  you have to be a florida EMT before you can take Florida paramedic.  Be careful with FMTI.  I would find another program to take the class.
 
Firegoalie23 said:
TC,? you have to be a florida EMT before you can take Florida paramedic.? ?Be careful with FMTI.? I would find another program to take the class.
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Yeah, I did some quick searching early this morning, seems I can Challange the 150 question test for EMT.

Dont know what I'm doing, this was just a thought.
 
Went to Tallahasse this morning to take my National registry. Test stopped at 70 questions. Hope that is a good sign. Probably won't know til Mon. Keeping my fingers crossed. Not an easy test. I studied like hell for the last 2 weeks. :E:
 
pcbguy said:
Went to Tallahasse this morning to take my National registry. Test stopped at 70 questions. Hope that is a good sign. Probably won't know til Mon. Keeping my fingers crossed. Not an easy test. I studied like hell for the last 2 weeks. :E:
Click to expand...
Hope it went well. We always said if you think you passed, you failed. And if you think you failed, you probably passed. Try not to go nuts waiting for the results.

Downdog2, don't let all this EMT and Paragod stuff scare you off. This went a little off topic. Most of that as a "requirement" is for paid positions, not volly work. Like a couple of the original posts said, get with the chief or an officer at the department you want to be on and they'll give you the exact details.
 
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