Shift Patterns

[Alexianna]

Guys I want to ask something really basic here and I hope you will reply.
How do your shift patterns work? Do you work 12 hour shifts? How do the shifts rotate? When do you work daytime and when night? Do you always work with exactly the same crew? I'm talking full time here, not the volies.
The reason I ask this is because I don't know many basic details about the job! As you can tell, I'm not a firefighter. (But don't say that too loudly!)
I am here to learn stuff, as research. I am a writer (unpublished). I have a story (novel) that I'm working on and the main character is a firefighter. I'm doing well, but want to check on this detail.
Thanks

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

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On a serious note, some firefighters work 24 hour shifts with an average 42 hour week, 24 hour shifts with a 56 hour week, 48 hours on in a row, or 10's and 14's for a average 42 hour week.

[fddd160]

There are many different schedules as Chief Gonzo stated. There are even more schedules such as 12 on 12 off, 24 on 72 off and even 48 on and 24, 48, or 72 off.

[FWDbuff]

GONZ:

2 5 1

3 4 R

Guess.

[DFurtman]

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R

I work a 48/72, 48/72, 48/48 Shift with a 72 hour work week/144 hour pay period

-Damien

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

GONZ:

2 5 1

3 4 R

Guess.

Foxtrot Whiskey Delta?

[FWDbuff]

Foxtrot Whiskey Delta?

LOL yup.

[fire49]

Suggest you visit s few fire stations and set down and talk to them

Ride along where you can

Go through a citizens fire academey

[firefightinirish217]

Usually once in the morning, maybe one at lunch and then.......

Oh, wait, my bad. You said SHIFT patterns, I though you said **** patterns...... you see how they kinda look the same.

Both departments I've been with were 24on/48off. I like that schedule, but of course, I've never worked anything else to compare it to. The department I want to work at when I get out of the Marine COrps works a 24on/24off, 24on/48off, 24on/24off, 24on/96 off schedule. Sounds like a real sweet deal to me.

[snowball]

We work eight ours every fifth day then every third day we work nineteen hours and thirty minutes. Every third Tuesday of the month we work twenty hours if that tuesday falls on a Thursday. Then we work nine hours on the twenty eighth day of the third month if it ends in a y, except if the twenty seventh day is a satirday, then we only have to work eight hours. On payday which is every fifty third hour, we work six and three quarter hours with the other one and one quarter hours being overtime unless there is a relief guy who hasn't worked his full tour, then he gets one half of his third of the overtime.

I hope this helps.

[BSFD140]

The department I work for is 24 on 48 off. Works well and is nice because I have my 48 off to work on the IT company I own.

[Alexianna]

Thank you guys, that is all very helpful. I have been snooping on the career ff's section of the forum. I have never heard of Kelly Days before. What exactly are they?

[johnny46]

How do your shift patterns work?

They follow each other.

Do you work 12 hour shifts?

Concurrently, yes. We also work 24 one housr shifts.

How do the shifts rotate?

Widdershins.

When do you work daytime and when night?

We work daytime so long as the Sun is up. Once the Sun is down, we work nighttime until sunrise.

Do you always work with exactly the same crew?

No.

[BoxAlarm187]

Widdershins.

Sweet, we're still basing our shift change on the Myan calendar. Fortunately, I'm going to be off for several decades after December 21, 2012.

[TVFR9923]

Thank you guys, that is all very helpful. I have been snooping on the career ff's section of the forum. I have never heard of Kelly Days before. What exactly are they?

Here is some info on Kelley Day.

http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/aboutkoin/kointeam/story/Kelley-Day/LpWFmaZfOU-E0Av2kDTZPQ.cspx