How does recruitment work over the pond?

[Drathe]

I have a question for you brothers/sisters who have a little spare time. As a UK firefighter I was wondering how the FD career recruitment works in the States. I fully appreciate there must be a range of differences between states, so I am just after how it works in a nut shell in the state from who ever answers. I hear there is a waiting list in some of the big cites? Is that a waiting list of raw recruits or basic trained and ready to go?

From reading through the forums it looks like most main FD train their FF in medical skills to. Is this to a first response level or more in-depth? I thank you for your time as this is not the most exhilarating of requests.

[protomkv]

I can only speak from my depts standpoint. Here in Los Alamos we wait until we need several Firefighters then once we get permission to hire, we will place advirtisements in the local press etc, we are an equal opportunity employer and hire without regards to racem sex, creed etc. We usually advertise for Cadets, FF1 and FF II. to get hired you have to take a written test, followed by physical agility and finally interview. If successful in this phase, the prospective employees will undergo background checks, then they are offered a position. The LAFD requires that all Fire Fighters be at least Emergency Medical Technician at the basic level. The recruits then undergo Fire training and will graduate from the academy at FF II. If the recruit is not already an EMT then we train them to EMT-B.
The hiring process here will vary according to which State you are in.
Our recruits have to pass both the State requirements, (which give them IFSAC certification) and the Los Alamos requirements which are more stringent than the State requirements.

Also, we do not have any age limitations on recruitment.
I hope this will be of some help to you.

[Drathe]

Thank you very much for your time and hasty reply, most appreciated.
Can anyone tell me the difference in training or qualification from FF I and FF II

[protomkv]

Do you have access to NFPA Standard 1001? this lays out the requirements for FF I and FF II Professional qaulifications. If you do not have access, then let me know and I will forward it to you.

You can contact me at Protomkv@aol.com

[HM604OH]

Most cities have a civil service commission that oversees the selection of candidates for fire and police. The civil service commission announces that a test will be offered for candidates. The candidates are ranked according to their performance on the test (which does not necessarily test fire service knowledge) and a list is posted. In some cases, you can receive bonus points for military service, paramedic certification, residency, etc. As openings occur, candidates are selected from the list and subjected to additional scrutiny. If not done before, a physical agility test is conducted, background checks are done and oral interview conducted. Most of the lists that I am familiar with last 2-4 years. After a certain amount of time, they repeat the process all over again.

Whenever someone asks me about getting on a fire department, my first recommendation is to take all of the tests that they can. Even if you are not seriously interested in a department, it is still the best practice you can get. It also helps to have some college level experience. Most departments don't care if you have a degree, but the experience you get taking tests at the college level is one of the best ways to prepare for a fire department test. It helps reduce test anxiety.

Keep in mind the process does vary from city to city and state to state. Each city sets its own hiring process and each state sets the minimum fire training requirements.