JW Firefighters
by tresdecu 41 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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thomas15
In response to the questions regarding post high school education before becoming a paid fire fighter. Well, I have mentioned that I'm a volunteer firefighter, which as many of you know is not the same as paid. But I do know a few things about it, first, it depends on the city if post high school or prior experience with a volunteer company will help. A lot of cities view it just like any other civil service job, you take a civil service test, physical/medical/psy test and if you pass they admit you to their fire school.
As a volunteer, I'm state certified firefighter1 and 2 and vehicle rescue tech which is the same as a paid firefighter is expected to have. I'm currently in EMT-B class and will have that completed by years end, although we are not required to do any medical. I also have a CDL class B and many hundreds of hours of state fire school. There are colleges that offer fire science degrees but taking this route would be risky without having a promise of employment. I don't know of any volunteers that are JWs.
I have been a vollie for over 5 years now. I got into this because we moved to a new state and I wanted to meet people. At the time I joined, I was 46 years old. There are few things that are as rewarding as saving someones house/property or assisting them at an accident scene. We run about 200 calls per year and since I work during the day I don't make about half of them, but it (the fire service) becomes a part of your life. You find yourself doing things that you would not normally do on your own, especally chores that require tall ladders. Even as a vollie, this is a very dangerous job.