2 answers
Eli
Student
Yuma, Arizona
1
Question
Asked
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What are the best and worst things about being a firefighter ?
I want to be a firefighter because I like fire and I want to help people. What are the best and worst things about being a firefighter ? Is it worth going to college
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2 answers
Ryan Pfeiffer, MA
Firefighter Lieutenant / EMT
104
Answers
Fort Collins, Colorado
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hello Eli. Thanks for your interest in firefighting!
The best part of being a firefighter is that you get to help people during some of the most painful and terrifying moments of their lives, that you get to be out and about in the community instead of stuck behind a desk all day, and that the job is exciting.
The worst part of being a firefighter is that you get to help people during some of the most painful and terrifying moments of their lives, that you get to be out and about in the community instead of stuck behind a desk all day, and that the job is exciting.
Which is to say, the best parts are also the worst parts. We do get to help people and that's a wonderful feeling, but it also means we have to be there when people lose all of their possessions in a fire, lose a limb in an accident, or lose a loved one. We do get out from the cubicle and into the community, but sometimes that community is under 4 feet of snow, or 4 feet of water, or its 4 degrees below zero. And the job is exciting - you never know where or when a emergency will happen, which can be fun...unless you're in the shower, celebrating Christmas, or there's two minutes left in the SuperBowl and its a tied game!
Educating yourself and improving yourself is always worthwhile, and being a firefighter with a degree is becoming more and more common. That said, it's probably not worth taking on a bunch of debt to accomplish. It's not usually essential to getting started as a firefighter, moreso for getting promoted later in your career, so it may be to your advantage to start firefighting as soon as possible to gain experience, and then take advantage of employers' tuition assistance (if they offer it). You'll also likely earn college credits in the course of completing a firefighter academy and EMT/Paramedic school, so that will allow you to pursue both goals simultaneously.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any further questions. Good luck!
The best part of being a firefighter is that you get to help people during some of the most painful and terrifying moments of their lives, that you get to be out and about in the community instead of stuck behind a desk all day, and that the job is exciting.
The worst part of being a firefighter is that you get to help people during some of the most painful and terrifying moments of their lives, that you get to be out and about in the community instead of stuck behind a desk all day, and that the job is exciting.
Which is to say, the best parts are also the worst parts. We do get to help people and that's a wonderful feeling, but it also means we have to be there when people lose all of their possessions in a fire, lose a limb in an accident, or lose a loved one. We do get out from the cubicle and into the community, but sometimes that community is under 4 feet of snow, or 4 feet of water, or its 4 degrees below zero. And the job is exciting - you never know where or when a emergency will happen, which can be fun...unless you're in the shower, celebrating Christmas, or there's two minutes left in the SuperBowl and its a tied game!
Educating yourself and improving yourself is always worthwhile, and being a firefighter with a degree is becoming more and more common. That said, it's probably not worth taking on a bunch of debt to accomplish. It's not usually essential to getting started as a firefighter, moreso for getting promoted later in your career, so it may be to your advantage to start firefighting as soon as possible to gain experience, and then take advantage of employers' tuition assistance (if they offer it). You'll also likely earn college credits in the course of completing a firefighter academy and EMT/Paramedic school, so that will allow you to pursue both goals simultaneously.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any further questions. Good luck!
Maureen Hunter
Analysis; product design and development; testing of hardware and software; design of electronic displays; research psychology; engineering psychology
6
Answers
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Maureen’s Answer
As a firefighter, you might have to work long shifts and work overnight during fire emergencies. As a newly arrived employee, you may not be assigned the best shift to work on either. The good is that working as a firefighter is a meaningful occupation and there is a lot of cameraderie among the people as they work together. Good luck.