Wanting to become a volunteer!

I could use any suggestions, help, etc. I just turned in my application to be a volunteer FF, this is for a combination department (one of the few volunteer FD's in the Seattle area left). The orientation class is next week and the testing is in 5 weeks. The testing consists of a written, modified CPAT (from what I can tell) and an oral. So my questions are;

1) is it okay to just show up on the weekend or evenings to ask questions and meet people or should I make an appt./call ahead (I don't know the etiquette for FD's - grin).

2) What do you suggest for additional fitness (I am fit very, besides I work for UPS, where I get plenty of excersise - especially at this time of year - lol).

3) Suggested reading material?

Thank you
Suz

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Darin Curtis F330 on November 8, 2008 at 6:36pm

well i just showed up at my local hall and started talking to the guys their.most people are pretty friendly and will answer questions for you.as for the fitness you can be in great shape but untill you start doing thr job its hard to really get in better shape.you will find what parts of the body need work.reading is not my best subject but if you want to learn more about firefighting you can do a search to find good books.i would read up on things like basic firefighting,haz mat and how it affects your hall.maybe this will help.

Permalink Reply by Suz on November 8, 2008 at 7:19pm

Thank you Darin,

Any and all is appreciated. Ok this may sound stupid but what is a local "hall"? (to me that means union hall). Do you mean station? I told you I know next to nothing (grin). Fortunately I'm a hazmat responder for work, and I picked up NFPA "Fire Fighting Essentials" (I'm a book worm).

Suz

Permalink Reply by Jared Lelaidier on November 8, 2008 at 11:14pm

"local hall" is just a term for the fire house there are a few and you will get use to them. Do you know anyone on the dept. that is the key even for a voli dept. I knew a couple of guys and the chief I just went and talked to him and the guys I knew, we didnt have any type of written or cpat, most firefighting in my opinion is common sense and experiance mixed together just be willing to listen and learn as for the book it will help you get acustomed with the terms and tools used and how to correctly use them. Good luck i hope you get on there is nothing that compares to it.

Permalink Reply by Suz on November 8, 2008 at 11:34pm

Jared,

Thanks (I feel kinda stupid). I was given the name of one of the FF's there and I am trying to hook up with him, other then that no. So I figure I will wait till after orientation, that way i can meet a few more and go from there. Well they have a modified CPAT; it has everything the CPAT does but no search. The times, weights and drill's are all the same. Good thing I'm fit; I started running and lifting more than I did before. LOL

Permalink Reply by Tandy Young on November 11, 2008 at 8:21pm

Our dept. is all volunteer. Ages range from 16 - 80's. My best advice is to find one or two of the old timers & get to know them. These guys (or gals) are the ones who have seen and done it all. They are a fountain of info & 99% of the time love to share it. Read all you can about everything. Most of all though is LISTEN to whats being said.
Congrats in advance and best of luck!

Permalink Reply by Shipper on November 12, 2008 at 3:35am

Just show up i know if i was at the station and you walked in and asked some question i would show you around and answer anything you asked ( not that i know all ) but you should just show up and go in with an open mind there is alot of guys and gals that will be very helpful with alot of good advise good luck and BE SAFE

Permalink Reply by Suz on November 12, 2008 at 7:57pm

Tandy and Shipper,

Thank you. I have been reading everything I can get my hands on. I'm psych'd as tomorrow is the orientation and I am sore as hell from working out so much (lol). Listening is probably one of the most difficult skills to learn, yet is one of the most important - that i have learned over the years. I stopped by the "hall" (i'm learning) last week and talked with a couple of the FF's and they were very helpful. They suggested I go on a "ride along" to get a better idea, which I have scheduled for a couple of weeks from now (well before the testing). So thank you for the tips - be safe. Suz

Permalink Reply by Shipper on November 13, 2008 at 9:24pm

Suz
Your welcome good luck with the ride along , i can remember my first call felt like my gut was in my throat and at times with different calls it still does i love firefighting and the friends ive made along the way is priceless good luck and BE SAFE

Permalink Reply by Haston Jenkins on November 13, 2008 at 10:33pm

I applaud you for putting in your app for a vol fire. i work for a paid fd(7yrs) and vol.(16yrs.) for one in my community.
our vol. unit has about 12 members at most.it has become a younger unit b/c many of the older ones have step down.
to become a member of our vfd you basically show up for 3 months of meetings and training, also we have to vote you in. Our VFD has a couple of paid FF. A majority of our members have some FF training . But now with the new grant guidelines members have to have at least 200 hr certification like you have to.
Always ask questions. You can learn alot about ff from books but knowledge a ff has from experience goes a long way to teach younger ff. The firefighting essentials is good to read b/c it establish you a base to ff to build from. Once you get your foundation then you can expand to other specialized fields. When I became a paid ff I had to go through 14 wks of training and tests. I got my emt in 4 wks of that. FF will always be learning .
What is the modified CPAT ? Do you have to wear the 50# vest ?

Permalink Reply by Suz on November 13, 2008 at 11:34pm

Haston,

Thank you for the input. This department has 60 volunteers and they run everything from 7pm till 6am (mon thru fri) and the weekends. The paid FF's work mon thru fri - 6am to 7pm. At orientation tonight they told us that they were accepting 20 volunteers (there were about 40 in the room - good grief). They have a high turnover, as so many get hired on nearby departments; Seattle and surrounding areas. I have talked with FF's in Seattle and other departments who say this combination dept. has a great reputation for training and putting out good ff's. The academy is 6 months long ( 1 night a week and all day saturday); at the end FF1, driver/pump operator - 4 full days of live fire drills, etc.

The modified CPAT includes the 50# during the entire test, plus an extra 25# during the stair climb. Other events are; hose drag, equipment carry, rescue (165# dummy drag), weighted hoist (simulates ladder raise) and a backboard lift.

So wish me luck on the test in 3 weeks and I will keep working out. Any other tips, hints, etc. are greatly appreciated.

Be safe,

Suz

Permalink Reply by Haston Jenkins on November 15, 2008 at 12:08pm

good luck with you test. do you have a time limit ? is the stair climb actual climbing stairs or is it a machine? some advice that might help you on the rescue ,is if you can grab the dummy with one hand and walk forward instead backwards. this will not tire your legs out as much.but also which ever way is comfortable to you. the cpat i had to do to have my name placed on the list to hired had a time limit of 10mins. and 20sec. it is probably the same one the pd ff have to do. 3min 20sec on step mill,hose drag,tool carry,dummy drag,ladder raise and lower, forcible entry w/10# sledgehammer,search maze,ceiling breach. i had to do it a total of 5x. i passed it every time.
be safe and again good luck on test. .... haston

Permalink Reply by Jr on December 9, 2008 at 1:45am