What do you consider to be a jr. firefighter?

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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on November 7, 2009 at 10:35pm

In my Department you would be called someones kid....you donot belong on a Fire scene or EMS call unless the Departments insurance would cover you....and ours for one will not...You are not legally of age to give consent...that makes someone else responsible for you and no-one in their right mind would take that on at an emergency scene....18 and you are good to go....but NOT before that.....Paul

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Permalink Reply by Caroline on November 9, 2009 at 11:45am

my mom signed the form of consent regarding my health etc. and my department does take the responsibility of me on at an emergency scene. im regarded as a probie in my dept. not explorer, jr, or cadet. i was sworn in as an exterior firefighter and when im 18 i become interior if i so choose.
at least at my station i had an interview and character assesment before they let me join. for that reason..that i would be capable of being responsible for myself at an emergency scene.
thanks for your input though!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Dudan on November 7, 2009 at 10:55pm

My Dept has a few membership levels
Cadet - similar to an explorer from what i've read - age 14 & 15
all work at the station or special community events, does not respond for calls
Junior - age 16 & 17
begins to "learn the ropes" as a gopher and to soak up as much informal training as possible. as defined by New Jersey is NOT involved in ANY fire extinguishment even the use of extinguishers in live situations.these guys and girls can be bumped off the truck for firefighters
Firefighter and Probie - 18 and up
Until a person graduates the county academy and passes the state test they pretty much have the same status as a junior execpt having the ability to drive ( if certified ) and some exterior hoseline work if it doesn't involve SCBA.

Caroline in my dept you would be a junior.I've been there and it isn't the glory work but it is real life on the job training. Time will turn and soon you will able to take your spot on the truck. The most I can say is pay attention, learn, stay safe and have fun!

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Permalink Reply by Caroline on November 9, 2009 at 11:50am

interesting..what state are you in?
and thank you. in my department im regarded as a probie which you can apply to be at 16. but you can't be interior until 18. i still don't do any scba stuff, and dont plan on it until im 18 and even then im not sure i want to become interior.
and true, i dont mind being bumped off the truck for a sr member who is more trained in the situation. ive extinguished 2 fires in my life, neither of them with with dept. but on my own on my property. so obviously my experience is nowhere near a sr members ahahah. but thanks for the great input. i definately pay attention, learn, soak up experience, and stay safe.

oh and having fun comes from all of those.
thanks!

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Permalink Reply by kevin on November 9, 2009 at 11:53am

well a jr firefighter in my dept is limitied to the things.wew have our jr fire fighters get tool and stuff for us.as far as firefighter 1 its alot of work but the man thing is to work hard and listen to your oic and just do what they older guys ask you to do.
to me a jr and a probie are a lil different

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Permalink Reply by Loyd Dittfurth on November 9, 2009 at 12:56pm

Where I grew up no matter what age you were if you showed up and you could hang onto the truck and squirt water you went on the run. I was 12 the first fire I "put the wet stuff on the red stuff". The first structure I went into I think I was 17. Knowing now the danger and the lack of training. I am scared to death for that department. I tried to get some training organized but they only wanted to turn it into a beer drinking party. Its hard to teach old dogs new tricks when you grew up there and they still see you as that 17 year old kid that got drunk and fell out of his pickup. I dont care what age you are if you can physically do the job and mentally have the knowledge and training. Im all for yes let them be what they are fire fighters. But I have never met a real firefighter that is extremely (hey look at me im a fireman) Just keep that in mind it will accually gain you some respect

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Permalink Reply by BillySFCVFD on November 9, 2009 at 1:26pm

Lloyd,

What we learn from the past makes us safer today. Using kids for dangerous tasks is not one of them. Everything you stated about your FD in the past is luck over stupidity and maybe drunkeness. Have you ever been anywhere else but your little town? It sounds like probably not.


Also sounds like alcohol consumption was part of your training at a young age. Didn't you mention before that you got a DWI/DUI or two. Go figure. TCSS

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Permalink Reply by Roy Walker on November 9, 2009 at 3:52pm

THIS IS VERY DISTURBING TO ME . I'VE NEVER HEARD OF CLASSIFYING A F/F AS AN INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR F/F. IF YOU ARE ON THE SCENE AS A QUALIFIED F/F THEN YOU ARE EXPECTED TO DO WHAT EVER IS REQUIRED OR ASSIGNED TO YOU.
YOU YOURSELF ADMIT THAT YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO BE AN INTERIOR F/F. YOUR DEPERTMENT SOUNDS LIKE THEY MAY BE HAVING TROUBLE PROVIDING ENOUGH MAN POWER FOR SOME OF YOUR OPERATIONS. THE RESOLUTION FOR THAT IS CALLED ONE OF THREE OPTIONS; MUTUAL AID , COMBINING WITH ANOTHER DEPARTRMENT , OR CLOSE DOWN . RELYING ON ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IS ILLEGAL AND UNDEFENSIBLE. I DON'T MEAN THIS TO SOUND LIKE THE RAMBLINGS OF AN INSTRUCTER THAT NEEDS TO PREACH BUT THERE ARE REASONS FOR THE AGE LIMIT AND THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY IF YOU WERE EVER TO GET INJURED ONTHE JOB. THERE IS PLENTY TO LEARN BEFORE HAND AND I FEAR YOU ARE BEING LED DOWN A PATH THAT YOU ARE UNPREPARED TO TRAVEL FOR FOR MANY REASON'S .SO SLOW DOWN AND LEARNYOUR BASICS. WHEN THE TIME COMES YOU WILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO AQUIRE ALL THE EXPERIENCE YOU NEED. GOOD LUCK

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Permalink Reply by penrhyn on November 9, 2009 at 4:55pm

Caroline:
The problem with your question is that you may get anywhere from 50 to 65 different answers, depending on how many states, provinces and territories you get answers from. In my Department here in NY you would be a Firefighter. New York State (OFPC) does not recognize an animal called Junior Firefighter, you either are a Firefighter or you aren't. Also in NY. the age for being a Firefighter is left up the the Autority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). In my departments case it is 16.

What then happens is you fall under the department SOG/SOP. In my department you are not allowed to go interior unless it is at a State Training Course, or at the Chief's discression at training. We do not allow under 18 members to do interior opperations at working fires. Again at the Chief's discression they may be allowed to participate in overhaul/salvage operations once the fire is out.

As an under 18 member you also are not allowed to vote at the annual election of officers, and like your department you can be bumped by a more qualified Firefighter.
You must have/maintain a pasing G.P.A. in school, and you can not leave school for any thing other than a confirmed structure fire or a request for all available manpower. Your school must agree to release you.
Also you do not get a blue light (NY), you must respond to the station, unless otherwise directed by the Chief, and you must obey all traffic laws.

I am on my second go around with being part of starting /supervising an under 18 programme, so far I/we have had about 13 young people go through the program. Of those 13, only three have not stayed in the fire service. Others have gone on to other departments due to moves or education. If my math serves me right that is about a 77% retainment rate over a 10 year period. In a day and age where not a lot of people are knocking down the doors to the station to join, I'll take all the under 18's any one can find me.

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