There is so much more to being a firefighter
than you might think...
On-going Training for Safety and Service
There are few other public service professions that spend as much time in training as the fire service
Training is the foundation upon which every fire service is built. Fire departments that care about their members strongly support training throughout all phases of a firefighter’s career. Firefighters are expected to be well-trained in order to provide a high level of service to the public, and in order to insure their own safety as well. The survivability of a firefighter during an emergency depends on his or her level of training.
From the recruit’s first day on the job, firefighters are consistently involved in training to help them develop the skills to meet whatever challenge lies ahead. Firefighters never know what the next incident may demand – it may be a house fire, a car accident with multiple injuries, a choking baby, downed power line, or something as simple as a false fire alarm. As a firefighter, one has to be ready for anything at any time. This means that firefighter training must cover a wide variety of subjects and circumstances.
And there is no question that specialization and the technology available to today’s firefighter or EMT requires a higher level of knowledge and ability than in the past.
It should also be noted that fire service training is not absolutely consistent across the United States – quality and type of training may vary somewhat from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. But it remains remarkable, nonetheless, how well trained most firefighters become. The decision to pursue firefighting as a career or as a volunteer means that the you are embarking on a journey of lifelong learning.
When other professions may talk about continuing education, the fire service promotes and depends on it. There is no other choice.
