Am I too old or short?

I am 36 and changing careers. I am in an EMS Intermediate class, and want to ask someone about joining the fire dept. after I graduate. I am 64 inches tall, and in decent shape. I have checked on the height and age requirements and have found nothing about height. Am I too short to join? Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on February 25, 2009 at 6:50pm

Not at all....the Munchkins have a fire department don't they....?? Sorry, sometimes I just can't help myself....If you have the will and drive for it then by all means...we would gladly welcome you to the Brotherhood....Stay safe...Keep the Faith....Paul

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Permalink Reply by Don Crooks on February 25, 2009 at 6:50pm

I was 38 when I started at Florence Fire and 44 when I started at my current dept. So far, I've done pretty good keeping up with my younger partners. As a comical note, my first partner at FFD was born the year I graduated high school :) what a pair we made. As far as I'm concerned, if you can pull hose out of a hose bed, ladders off their rack, and equipment out of compartments you meet the height standards. Best of luck you my friend, keep after it, I can't think of any better job than ours.

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Permalink Reply by Lauren on February 25, 2009 at 6:57pm

this would also be a case of paid vs. vollie, like around here, its all vollie fire and vollie/paid EMS, so it all depends on what excatly u wanna do and where u live and with what the local protocal is

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Permalink Reply by Nolen Cothren on February 25, 2009 at 7:01pm

I have a brother in law who is 5' even and a State Trooper and I can tell you from experience a lot of 6' + men won't mess with him. He's 36 and while in the academy he knocked out the instructor while being taught how to defend himself. Size really doesn't matter as long as the heart is in it. There are places a small person can go and the rest of us only wish we could. So from an aging, plump fire chief take my advice and go for it. You will always regret it if you don't.

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