Fire Service Rules 2014

[Nakita Heitmann]

Thefollowing are 20 rules for rookies that I learned from working with some extraordinary firefighters. I share these rules in the hopes of helping rookies establish themselves as competent and confident members of our profession. These rules can also serve as a refresher for those of us who have more years under our belts.

It is an honor to be a firefighter. To become complacent is to dishonor those who have gone before us. This job is not just 10 days and a paycheck. Embrace training as a means to maintain the necessary level of proficiency. Truly loving this job means loving every aspect of it and therefore deserving to wear the badge. This is the greatest profession; treat it as such.

The first whip or senior firefighter will be your greatest asset. Ask them all of those questions related to your first day in that house. Which bed is mine? What housework do I do? Where can I find a mop? These types of questions should be asked of the first whip, not the captain. The captain has more important things to do than to show you where the mop bucket is. If no one steps up as the first whip, any of the other firefighters should help.

This information can also be obtained from the senior firefighter. They will instruct you on how the crew does things and how you fit in. Understand what is expected of you before you go out the door.

This rule can never be overstated. Failing to be prepared is preparing to fail. Check your PPE and SCBA. Check every nozzle every shift. Check the rest of the equipment on the engine or truck to make sure it is where you left it the day before. If you are there for the first time, check to see where everything is. Knowledge of what is in those cabinets means you have one less thing to worry about when the big one hits.

Contrary to what you might think, you are not indestructible. You have been given protective clothing to ensure that you go home at the end of your shift. This clothing cannot protect you if it stays on the hook in the apparatus room. Wear your hood, pull down your helmet shroud, button your collar, and wear your structure gloves. Give yourself every chance of getting back home in the same shape as when you left.

Pride has no business impeding knowledge. Not asking something for fear of looking stupid will only get you in trouble. The bottom line: You need to know what you are doing, even at the expense of looking cool.

Remember, when things go bad, all you have is your crew. Crew continuity is built at the firehouse as well as on the fire scene. If asked, join your crew for PT or other nonfirefighting activities. Attend functions such as retirement parties with your crew. A good crew is built off duty as well as on.

As stated in Rule 1, this is the greatest profession in the world. Being enthusiastic about being a firefighter can be contagious. Have fun cleaning the toilets as well as fighting fire. Develop a sense of humor; survival in the firehouse depends on it. Enjoying even the smallest aspects of this job is what leads to a happy career.

Be proud of where you work. You have chosen your department for a reason. You may not always agree with decisions that are being made above you, but do not let that diminish your love for the job and your department. Along with fire department pride comes fire company pride. As a rookie, you should be looking forward to the time when you will have a permanent house. Work at being the best firefighter, on the best crew, at the best firehouse. Pride will push you to better yourself for the good of your crew. Company pride is the sincerest form of department pride.

You are finished with the academy and probation. You can stop reading and studying, right? Wrong. The day you stop reading about our job is the day you retire. There is a limitless supply of information out there for you to increase your knowledge base. Practice makes perfect works for reading as well as hands-on.

And conversely, leave your home life at home. Your crew does not deserve your wrath because you and a family member had a fight. On the other side, try not to take work problems home. Your family does not deserve grief because you pulled the wrong line on a fire.

You can start your process of becoming an FDNY Firefighter as early as 17 1/2 years of age. You should not reach your 29th birthday by the beginning of the application process. However, there are exceptions to this rule:

In addition, you will be required to be a Certified First Responder with Defibrillation Certificate (CFR-D) by the end of your probationary period. FDNY provides a CFR-D training program during the probationary Firefighter training course. Once the training course is successfully completed and you receive your certificate, $30 per pay period will be deducted until the total cost of the training course is covered. Those who fail to obtain a CFR-D by the end of the probation period will be terminated.

The Firefighter exam does not require you to have any special knowledge of firefighting or the Fire Department. The exam includes multiple-choice questions that test on reading, problem-solving and applying rules and concepts. Once you pass the written test, you also must do an in-person interview with FDNY Officers.

Once the exam is completed, you are considered to be a Firefighter Applicant and your name will be put on a civil service list based on order of performance and other factors. Candidates will then be called to take the physical portion of the exam. The Applicant also will undergo a medical and psychological evaluation, a drug screening, and a background check.

Please note candidates for employment as Firefighter will be called based on the list number and need, which can take up to multiple years. Please also note that candidates on the Promotion to Firefighter Exam list get called before candidates on the Open Competitive Exam list.

No. The test will include a competitive computer-based test (CBT) and a qualifying physical ability test. You must achieve passing scores on the CBT and the physical ability test in order to be eligible for further consideration in the selection process.

The CBT is designed to assess important abilities and aptitudes that are required to successfully learn and perform the work of a Firefighter. The test will evaluate basic abilities, such as Reading, Listening, Problem Solving, Basic Arithmetic and related areas. It also will assess the way candidates approach work, interact with others, and concentrate on details. Before you take the CBT, you will have the opportunity to view a computer-based tutorial so that you are familiar with computer-based testing and the various question types. You are encouraged to view the tutorial. The tutorial is available for viewing on the DCAS website at -year-2024-2025-firefighter-computer-based-test[1]tutorial.page. You are encouraged to view the tutorial.

Candidates who pass the computer-based test will be scheduled to take the physical ability test prior to admission to the Fire Academy as vacancies occur. The physical ability test used will be the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT), which is scored on a pass/fail basis. This test consists of a series of 8 events designed to assess the ability to perform the physical aspects of the job of a Firefighter. The test events are: stair climb, hose drag, equipment carry, ladder raise and extension, forcible entry, search, rescue, and ceiling breach and pull. A more detailed description of the physical ability test will be distributed to candidates before they are scheduled for the physical ability test, and candidates will be invited to learn more about the CPAT.

The 2003 Rhode Island Station Nightclub fire killed 100 people and injured 230. After the tragedy, Massachusetts passed new fire safety rules for nightclubs, dance halls, discothques, and bars.

One change that improved nightclub safety is the rule that a trained crowd manager be on duty when nightclubs are open. Studies show that people look to staff for guidance during emergencies. Crowd managers know how to help patrons leave a building safely. Crowd managers also make sure a building is safe each day.

Men and women, both young and old, are attracted to the fire service for many reasons: the challenge of a physically demanding job, the rewards of performing a service to the community, and/or good pay and benefits. No matter what your motivations, you have to start somewhere. We hope this document is helpful to you, and we hope you will utilize the New Hampshire Fire Academy as a resource to you on your path to becoming a firefighter.

There are a few things you should know before pursuing fire fighting as a career or a civic service. New Hampshire firefighters are broken into three major categories: volunteer, part-time/on-call, and full-time/career.

Volunteer departments manage their firefighters without compensation and those firefighters view their role as a civic service in their community. Part-time/On-Call fire departments do not have regular staffed shifts, but compensate firefighters on a per call basis; or they may include a monthly stipend. About 80% of fire departments in NH operate as part-time/on-call or volunteer departments. State law does not require training for these departments. However, for the sake of your individual safety and the safety of those around you, training is strongly encouraged. Most departments have training requirements as part of their standard operating guidelines. Also, most of these departments require their firefighters to be a resident, and or live within a certain mile circumference of the town they serve. To find out if volunteer or part-time/on-call opportunities are available in your community, contact your local fire department.

Full-time/career firefighters are those whose career is fire fighting. Only about 20% of NH fire departments are covered by full-time/career firefighters, which makes seeking a career in the fire service in NH a competitive process. There are State requirements to be eligible to be a permanent firefighter; they may include, but are not limited to the following:

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