Public Safety Firefighting VS. Private Sector Fire Fighting

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Thomas A. Barrett on February 26, 2009 at 3:32pm

There is a large Private Contract System in place for Wildland Firefighting, from Wildland Engines and 20 Person Hand Crews, Helicopters, AirTankers, Shower and Kitchen Units ,Toilets, Mapping Units Complete Fire Camps. The list goes on..

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robert Owens on February 26, 2009 at 4:50pm

I would say it has to do with a majority of things.....

The public sector to me offers more challange, more opportunity for advancement, and an oppourtunity to help more people. I work in a lower class area and we are everything to those people they don't go to the doctor they call the FD, they don't call the plumber they call the FD etc.

Plus this is also a personal belief I don't think you should make any decisions becuase of money.....is money nice and neccessary to live absolutley.....but it should not be the reason you choose to do or not do something....once you are controlled by money then you can never go back. I prefer to be satsified with the challange of my job and anything other than that is a bounus all I need is enough money to cover the bills.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robert Stewart on February 26, 2009 at 10:31pm

Is there by chance any companies in Victoria who would be after someone who hasnt got all the fancy qualifications but has been a volunteer fire fighter for nearly 9 years Lutan ? as im thinking about a private sector fire fighting job but those jobs here in South Australia require all the qualifications before hand

It doesnt matter what industrial company it is just as long as the employer is willing to train me in dealing with emergencies on the worksite

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by lutan1 on February 26, 2009 at 10:43pm

There's very few with fulltime ERT's down here. Those that have them, generally require the quals up front as they're more interested in skills maintenance as oppossed to getting you the quals in the first place.

The major one I mentioned in a previous post are all tradies and operators that get pulled off the production lines to respond. Even though they're not a full time ERT, they're far better trained and equipped than many fulltime ERT's I know of and in many cases better trained and equipped than the CFA!!!! The company take it very seriously.... (But that's definitely the exception!)

▶ Reply to This

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last