Who are the Aggressive/Heavy Fire/Traditional Departments?

[TommyTillers]

I am going to start applying soon to departments and I dont mind moving from my small town. I understand that EMS is a big part of the fire service these days but I know there are still departments that get a lot of fire and have a lot of tradition (like FDNY).
What other departments are like this?

[owenscott]

Chicago is, Baltimore is, and .....

[vegas0012]

Houston

Just like anyone, Houston has its busy houses and its retirement ones. But if you want to fight fire, and even more so than the sheer quantity - you want to do so aggressively, Houston is a good place to consider.

DCFD too.

[SPFDRum]

Well, if you follow these forums long enough, you will begin to wonder if just making an interior fire attack is considered "Aggressive/Heavy Fire/Traditional Departments"....

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

Well, if you follow these forums long enough, you will begin to wonder if just making an interior fire attack is considered "Aggressive/Heavy Fire/Traditional Departments"....

To some of the "safety susan doorway dancing yellow bellied yardbreathers in SCBA" here... it is...

[CaptOldTimer]

I am going to start applying soon to departments and I dont mind moving from my small town. I understand that EMS is a big part of the fire service these days but I know there are still departments that get a lot of fire and have a lot of tradition (like FDNY).
What other departments are like this?

Try doing a search on this, I think it's been covered in here before...

[len1582]

, Detroit ,

[ChiefKN]

Any of the bigger cities in NJ still see fire and they go in and put em out.

[len1582]

Any of the bigger cities in NJ still see fire and they go in and put em out.

Irvington and East Orange aren't "big cities", but they both get a s#it load of work. Newark spends a good amount of time there.

[captainchaos]

No one has mentioned KENTLAND.......come on guys.



In my immediate area, Charlotte, NC seems to see alot.

[fieldseng2]

Just remember some of the FDs where you will still see "alot of action" are taking hits with the current economy..ie. layoffs, station closings, paycuts, hiring freezes, etc...I would be cautious to pick up and move away from home if there was a possibility a year later you may be in the unemployment line. Some of the guys from our last recruit class are on pins and needles because for the first time in our 150+ year history they are seriously talking about layoffs. Everything is being done to prevent this, but we are not out of the woods from losing around 20 FFs. Not to be a part pooper, but take extra care doing your homework when looking at depts to apply.

Here is St. Louis, I would say we are pretty "aggressive" as far as interior attack. We go thru cold spells as far as fires, but not out of the ordinary to "burn like Da Bronx" at times. We have our slow houses as well as our busy ones.

We still have pride and tradition (despite some of the stick in the muds working here). The firehouse Im detailed at today, for example, was built during the horse drawn steamer days. To this day, the metal track built into the floor of the apparatus floor used to line up the steamer so the horses knew where to go when the bell hit is still there today. There is a phrase used here in the StLFD..."On the Track". Back in the day it meant the company was in quarters and in service. Today we say "He/she is on the Track"...it means the he/she is assigned to a fire company as opposed to HQ.

My advice (as it always has been) is go to college (and finish w/at least an associates), get your PARAMEDIC license, and test EVERYWHERE and ANYWHERE you are able. No one says you have to take a job if offered, or even stay at one if you do.

[L-Webb]

, Detroit ,

I second that.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

No one has mentioned KENTLAND.......come on guys.

Who?????????

[ffbam24]

Gotta give Philly a shout out.

Oh yeah! DC too.

[FWDbuff]

Forget FDNY. Forget Chicago. Forget Philly, Baltimore, Detroit, Boston, Los Angeles, St Louis.....Forget em all, including Kentland.

Check out Bossier Parish (Louisiana) Fire District 1. That's the place to be.