Just a few questions

[PaintballMutt]

Whats the age to be a volunteer fire fighter?(in Louisiana)
And what kind of stuff can u do if your to young?

[dmleblanc]

And what kind of stuff can u do if your to young?

First off, "u" can work on "you're" spelling and grammar. :D

Seriously, the most important thing you need to do at this point is focus on your schoolwork (I'm assuming you're still in school). IF you feel you can balance your school commitments with fire department activities, then the next step I'd take would be to approach your local fire department and see what kind of program they have for junior firefighters (if any). Is your local department paid, volunteer, or combination? If volunteer, find out when they meet and go introduce yourself. They can give you the details on joining up and answer your specific questions.

In general, you have to be 18 to be an active firefighter in most states (Louisiana included). However, most departments that have a junior firefighter program still have plenty of activities that you can participate in. Generally, underage members are not allowed to participate in interior (structural) firefighting. Your department may have specific guidelines regarding exactly what fireground activities you are allowed to take part in. There are plenty of auxiliary functions on the fireground that you may be asked to perform in support of firefighting operations. Understand that for legal and liability reasons you may not be allowed to perform some jobs until you are of age.

In the meantime, you will probably be allowed to attend most training sessions put on by your department. Attend all that you reasonably can. Ask questions. One of the big advantages of a junior firefighter program is that when you turn 18, you will already have a fair bit of training under your belt and you will be ready to step up to an active position.

So go ahead and make that first step....go to your local station and introduce yourself. Most departments I know of are always looking for new members and will be glad to welcome you aboard. Good luck and let us know what happens!

[Cato36]

Hey, first and foremost welcome to the firehouse. I am in Mississippi and 17 so maybe I can help you some.

I know you if its volunteer, down in mississippi you can join at age 14 but you can`t go on calls untils you are 16 and go to a firefighter safety training course. And no you can`t drive the big red trucks until your 18, but you have to go to a class on how to drive that too so.

But I know starting out when my FD would get a call I would drive up there, and just clean the firehouse out and wait on them to comeback. Now I can go on all calls. I can be on a hose team, but since I`m young I cannot be a nozzleman and cannot enter a burning building unless someone is in there and I voluntarily go in there after them (signed a release form, and talking about going in after one of our own.) I guess I`m kinda lucky because my name isn`t junior FF anymore. I am 17 and I wear the only red jacket and red helmet (chief is black, assit chief is black) and on the side it says Cato Control. That means I am in charge of making sure everyone is safe, helping the public relations of the FD and reports. On a medical call I do do just about everything, CPR, Suction, vitals, patient assesment. Although rarely if ever I will do anything of the stuff anytime soon because I`m still in the phase that I want to learn, I just gopher around. Although I`ve had to use it before, and satisfied with the way I`ve done it. Sorry for the short biography, but I`m pretty sure, if its a rural area like MS and I know LA is, you won`t have a problem joining and things such as that. But just be willing to let the officers let you make a mistake before you know, or do things the hard way before they tell you the short way, they aren`t trying to be mean, or get you to do more work, they are wanting to teach you easier and better ways, and this way you will know it.

[nepatsfan12]

Quote from dmleblanc:

"First off, "u" can work on "you're" spelling and grammar".

Actually "u can work on 'your' spelling and grammer. :p

Yes, his should have been a you're, but yours should have been a your. Hey if you are going to correct grammer, I thought I would join you. :D
Moving on, I would agree that staying in school is the best course right now. It is hard when you know what you want to do with your life but have to wait until you are older, but really you can do a lot while you are waiting. Like has been written, go to your local FD and see what they offer. If you live near a large fire department that is not volunteer, you can still do and learn a lot just interacting with the guys (and gals) on duty.
Firefighters are the jack of all trades and have to be the master of them all. Learn electrical work, plumbing, water flow, vehicle and building construction. I have found that construction workers make some of the best firefighters. Maybe try to find a summer job doing that. I know it is not what you want long term but the education will be amazingly valuable later.
Keep out of trouble, no DUI's, underage drinking, public nuisence. I know it sounds easy, but being young is sometimes doing things that later will come back to haunt you.

[dmleblanc]

nepatsfan....

Yes, I know it was supposed to be "your" and not "you're". That's why I put it in quotes. I have a tendency to be sarcastic that way.

By the way, it's "grammar", not "grammer". :D

[dmleblanc]

nepatsfan....

Yes, I know it was supposed to be "your" and not "you're". That's why I put it in quotes. I have a tendency to be sarcastic that way.

By the way, it's "grammar", not "grammer". :D

[dmleblanc]

nepatsfan....

Yes, I know it was supposed to be "your" and not "you're". That's why I put it in quotes. I have a tendency to be sarcastic that way.

By the way, it's "grammar", not "grammer". :D