Dear Nozzlehead: This may not be a very challenging letter compared with the many others you receive, and I am definitely not whining or complaining, so please don’t yell at me. I am writing to see what advice you would provide to a brand-new, not-yet-trained firefighter. That’s all I am asking, sir.
-Brand New Firefighter in Z-Ville
Dear Newbie in, er, where? Z-Ville?
Advice for a “brand-new, not-yet-trained firefighter,” huh? First of all, you are not a firefighter yet. You’re a fire trainee, a probie, a rookie or whatever your area calls it. (I wonder if NIMS now requires all of us to call probies something else so we standardize on that term.)
Well, in addition to reminding you that you have very few rights yet, you should know the fire service is NOT always a democracy; we are NOT interested in your opinion; and you need to shut up, listen, work and TRAIN. So, what else can I tell you? Perhaps the fact that you now must do exactly what you are told and you may actually be just a little offended or upset by some of the things you hear or see. If you aren’t able to handle that, this may not be the job or volunteer opportunity for you. Maybe the part about you having to do more work in the firehouse than you do in your home will send you into a tizzy? If not, read on.
And by the way, for you non-probies out there, don’t get offended; when I say the new kid (boy, girl-I couldn’t care less) has few rights, I’m talking about the fact that when they are NEW, they must listen, learn and get ready for the best job ever, which means they have the right to shut up and listen for a change. They have the right to learn what teamwork is. They have the right to get used to being told what to do. And they have the right to do their own laundry, clean their own apparatus and prepare meals-without paying someone to do it. And they have the right to get as much training as possible so they increase their chances of “going home.” But they can’t do that if they don’t do the above-or the below.
So, newbie, as you get ready to start, here are some thoughts, ideas, advice and related little “gems” of knowledge for you ? in no particular order.?Some of these are “Nozzlehead originals” and some I picked up from other fire veterans, but it doesn’t matter-this information might just help you.
1. When getting ready for duty, check your equipment-and perhaps other equipment, if that’s your department’s tradition or rule-but always check yours.?Make sure you ALWAYS check your SCBA; if it doesn’t work perfectly, you can’t breathe and that sucks. When the tones go off, it’s too late to make sure you-and your equipment-are ready. Do it now.
2. When reporting for duty, ask if anything needs to be done, or look around and find what needs to be done. The newer you are in the department, the more you need to be in the truck room looking, touching and learning.
3. Make sure all your personal gear is ready to go. Every time you come on duty, check your pockets for your gloves, light, rope, etc. What should you carry in your pockets? Some things I carry: a rope, a flashlight, a flathead screwdriver, a Phillips head screwdriver and a wire cutter. Also consider carrying a Leatherman tool, webbing, modified channel lock pliers and door chocks. Why carry all that? You’ll understand why very soon.
4. Make coffee ? if that’s what they drink at your firehouse. Me? I can’t stand the stuff. Makes me hyper and then I write weird stuff.
5. As for meals and cleaning, find out what has to be done. Peel the potatoes, cut the onions or even cook the meal. Fill or empty the dishwasher anytime it needs to be done and clean anything that needs to be cleaned. And by the way, clean the toilets (no kidding). Here’s a tip:?Don’t flush?the toilet once it’s clean; leave the clean, soapy water in the bowl. This shows?the other firefighters the toilet has been cleaned. How about that?
6. Volunteer to do whatever needs to be done. WHATEVER.
7. After eating, be the first to the sink to scrub the pots, pans and dishes, and get it done very well-as if someone is going to inspect how clean the stuff is. Someone will!
8. Be proud that you’re going to learn to help people who are having the worst day of their lives. Few people get to do that. And very few people are firefighters-real firefighters.
9. Learn your firehouse or department policies and traditions-and know them by heart.
10. Always say “Sir” (or “Ma’am,” if your “Sir” is a woman) to chiefs, officers and instructors. You could also say “Chief,” “Cap,” “Lou,” etc. They’ve earned and deserve your verbal and action-related respect.
11. When arriving at a fire, always get off the rig with your SCBA and apparatus tools. Some people won’t always get off with their equipment. Don’t be one of them; they are lazy, and lazy is dangerous. You can always take the equipment off or set a tool down, but it takes longer to put it on or to go back and get something if it’s urgently needed. Be ready. Things can turn to s#%* quickly. If you and your crew are ready, it can matter. If you aren’t, it can suck.
12. When on a run, listen for your officers’ instructions and FOLLOW THEM. Always pay attention.
13. Always stay with your company. If you freelance or wander, it can kill you or other firefighters.
14. At fires, STAY LOW. Heat and smoke rise. Listen to the sounds of what’s burning, hoselines operating, other firefighters and, most importantly, your partner. Plus, know how to feel for the heat. Study and learn fire behavior, and get as much hands-on training as possible.
15. Keep your mouth shut and your eyes and ears open ? ALWAYS!
16. Never give up. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone screws up. Me. You. Everyone. Don’t be afraid of the mistakes and screw-ups; they’ll?happen no matter what you do. What you can do: everything in your power to limit the seriousness of the screw-ups. Ask questions when you don’t understand. Ask questions if you “think” you understand. Maybe even ask questions when you get it, because chances are, the?probie next to you doesn’t get it and won’t ask.
17. LISTEN! (I know this and some other items here are repeated-maybe that’s for a reason.)
18. LEARN, STUDY, DRILL AND TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN. It never ends. Also, it doesn’t hurt to be assertive. However, it can hurt you to be too assertive. Jump on things like I already mentioned, such as dishes, bathroom details and other firehouse duties; however, don’t be the rookie who’s kissing butt just to get a good review or to fit in. Besides, you’ll stand out to the other firefighters and get labeled. Let your skills and actions speak for you; you will be judged?by your actions.?It’s good to try to be No. 1. No firefighter would?want to be in a fire with anybody who’s comfortable being less than the best they can be. LEARN, STUDY, DRILL AND TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN. It never ends.
19. Respect those who have done this job before you. That’s nearly everyone. And don’t get comfortable. I’ve seen a lot of?probie firefighters in the final months of their probation get waaaaay too comfortable and forget their place in the firehouse, especially when there are newer?probies under them. Don’t be a 6-22; that’s someone who has 6 months on the job but acts cocky-like they have 22 years of experience. Stay active, stay in the books, study the tools and equipment, and work harder than the hardest-working firefighter-but NOT in a showy, “notice-me” way.?Your last few months of probation will last forever if you screw up. No matter what the problem is, don’t forget that this is the best?job around, and you don’t want to lose it. There’s no such thing as a “ranking probie.” Be respectful, stay humble, shut up, train and learn.
20. Take care of yourself. You are?priority No. 1. Be SAFE. Constantly think about safety, and remember that the job of the fire department is to help people with a problem while NOT becoming part of that problem. This is a risky job. Sometimes we must take risks, but do your best to study, train and understand when the risk is worth it, not worth it or just dumb.
21. Feel like you earned your seat on the apparatus. Earn the seat. EARN IT!
22. Know that the public, especially kids, are watching you and look up to you. What are they seeing and hearing? Act as if your fire chief is sitting on one of your shoulders and your mother is on the other.
23. Ask your boss about your progress in private. What are you doing right and what are you doing wrong? But don’t ask in a suck-up way. Be professional.
24. What you do when you first start out will set your reputation and follow you throughout your career. If you don’t start out on the right foot, they will show you the door. The crew knows more about you than you think before you even show up. And if you have a MySpace, Facebook or one of those “expose-yourself” accounts, assume every member of your firehouse has already seen it. Bet that made you happy, Pookie. And, one more thing: Stay off those stupid fire-related Internet chat rooms, bulletin boards and rants. Most of those sites will expose you to nameless clowns who prove that many in this business have forgotten (or never knew) what brotherhood/sisterhood is.
25. You’re a probie. Don’t get too stressed over that. Just keep your mouth shut, work hard, train, study, train, study, be cordial, friendly and humble. You have no opinion until you earn it. And you can’t force it. That will come with time after training and gaining experience from runs.
26. Leave your cell phone in your car until a time (months from now) when all your duties are complete. I repeat: Stay off the phone, off the instant messagers, off the text messagers, and focus on your job. You are going to be responsible for your life and the lives of other firefighters and civilians. Focus on that.
27. Before you arrive for your first day, stop at a nice bakery?and pick up some?dessert to take to the firehouse. Get a cheesecake?or something really tasty. Or maybe bring in something homemade if you know someone who can bake.
28. When you’re expected to be at the firehouse, fire training, the academy or wherever, ALWAYS arrive very early and ask-or just do-what needs to be done.
29. There will be certain duties assigned to each day of the week. Tuesday could be for cleaning the?trucks, Saturday for cleaning the building, etc. Keep track and know the plan. Stay busy around the firehouse.
Look?in all?apparatus compartments and memorize what’s in each one. When on duty, always be ready to get on the rig and respond in the seat and position to which you’re assigned. Memorize your apparatus duties and what’s in each compartment. When you’re taught about a particular tool, become an expert in that tool. If you aren’t an expert, who will be?
30. The senior firefighters at your station might have their place to sit at the table or in front of the TV, but don’t do that. Besides, you probably have probie tests to study for. I repeat:?Don’t sit?in front of the TV. No more video games either. No matter what the atmosphere, you’re being watched, so study! Or don’t, and just go work at a bakery or somewhere you get to say, “Can I take your order? Please drive to the first window.”
31. Be the last one to serve your plate; make sure other members get their food first.
32. A friend of mine was a new chief years ago. On his first day, one of the departments in his county held a fundraiser. He spent time visiting and then helped with the dishes. If a chief can do dishes, you can, too. After a meal, get your hands in the sink to do the dishes, and be first to take out the garbage and mop the kitchen floor.
33. Don’t tell jokes until you’re accepted. If you’re not sure, say nothing. Shut up.
34. Don’t gossip. You’ll be tempted, but seriously, don’t. Just shut up. Gossip helps no one. Shut up. It’s “golden rule” time for you.
35. Watch your temper. Chop-busting is part of firehouse life. And if they try to get to you, watch yourself and your response. Odds are, you should have no response. Smile and have fun.
36. Help others with their assignments when you finish yours; that includes cleaning and?training. Ask another probie to quiz you, drill with you or practice a skill together. If they think that’s BS, find someone else to work with.
37. Volunteer for assignments, stand-bys, special details, conferences, fundraising, teams and special trainings.
38.?Until you’re tested as an expert or assigned to do something, do nothing?at a scene until the?officer tells you what to do.
39. Never turn your back on a rig that’s backing up, and never get in the way of traffic. Stay out of the roadway on runs unless it’s blocked, and even then, be very cautious. Don’t trust the public. They don’t see you. Watch the traffic.
40. A good analogy for?your probationary period is that the department is loaning you the temporary title of “probationary firefighter.” At the end of the specified timeframe, your?officers (with input from the crew) will decide if you get to be called a firefighter-no kidding.?If you’ve proven yourself “worthy,” followed some of this advice and gotten along with your crew, their decision is easy. If not, their decision is also easy.
41. Watch what you eat. Stay fit. You don’t want to puke in your mask at a fire.
42. Work out EVERY day. You’ll thank me when you have to climb?six stories with 100-plus lbs. of gear and then attack a fire.
43. EMS can be a pain, especially when abused by those who don’t need EMS ? but that’s part of what we do. In most cases, EMS means someone is having a really bad day and you have a chance to help change that. Sometimes you’ll win, sometimes you won’t-just do your best. How would you want to be treated if you were in the patient’s situation? What if it was your mom? EMS is a part of being a firefighter these days and it matters. More lives are saved by firefighters doing EMS-related duties than anything else.
44. When you learn the job of an engine company firefighter, remember that getting water on the fire can do more to save lives than almost anything else. When the fire is under control, the scene gets better: The smoke slows down, the fire stops burning, etc. Learn the role of an engine firefighter ? like an expert.
45. When you learn the job of a truck (ladder) company firefighter, your job is usually to vent, enter, search and rescue people. Sometimes you won’t have a water line to protect you, so learn what to do about that … like an expert.
46. Study building construction. The building is your enemy and you must know the enemy. Frank Brannigan said that. Who is he? Figure it out!
47. Learn to calm down. No matter how bad it is-and you are going to see some really bad things-relax. Don’t get excited. We’re supposed to fix the problem that someone dialed 911 for. Control yourself and think about your responsibility on that run.
48. At a fire, have NO exposed skin (getting burned sucks), use all of your protective gear and don’t breathe smoke. Smoke is a deadly poison that can get you either now or later. Look at what’s burning: It’s all man-made and, in most cases, made of fuels (plastics, etc.) that give off cyanide gases. Don’t breathe that crap. Use your SCBA-that’s what it’s there for.
49. If you’re lucky and work your tail off, you might earn the right to become a firefighter. Not long after that, you may have the privilege to learn how to drive the apparatus; when you do, don’t drive like a lunatic. They LET YOU drive the apparatus; it isn’t your apparatus. Don’t hurt your firefighters or the public. Drive sane so you can get to the fire.
50. You will have an elated feeling when you get on the apparatus and respond on your runs! Always wear your seatbelt, smile and remember how great this job is. And in your first couple months, when you get back to the firehouse and no one is looking, call someone who knows what you’re doing and tell them about the run.
I could go on for hours, but I think these first 50 tips will give you something to think about. Now go study and train. And shut up!
