I don’t know if this is the right sub to post this in but I’m lost and don’t know how to navigate this. This happened this morning (Monday morning) and the services are being planned. He will be getting the full procession, a Firefighter Funeral with Full Honors (I think that’s what it’s called).

This probably sounds stupid but I don’t know what to wear to his service. In my Brasilian culture, wearing white is the respectful thing to do but I know in America normally wearing black is expected. Is the attire different for a service member? He was a Fire Captain. This has been a very traumatic event that I know his family, friends and crew were worried about and tried preventing. I cared for him deeply and I’m honestly devastated.

What can I do for the family? His nephew lives/lived with him and was the one that found him. I would like to honor my neighbor in some way but I don’t know what is appropriate or would be meaningful to his loved ones. I’m absolutely heartbroken and cannot sleep tonight because of it.

I’m sorry if this is not the right subreddit to ask in. Please let me know the proper place to ask. I don’t mean any disrespect. I’m just genuinely devastated and don’t know anything about funeral processions/attire for service members and what I could get the family to honor him. 💔😓

Thank you in advance.

What’s the pay for a rookie firefighter in Worcester, MA area? I have a CDL A job and I’m @65,000 already and it’s only August but I’m thinking about a career switch to become a firefighter since I’ve always wanted to do it but I’m scared about a huge pay cut, can yall help me with valuable info?

I am a shorter woman (5’2) wanting to go into Ems and possibly firefighting. I am moderately in shape and weight about 125lbs at the moment. I train about 3-4 times a week mostly doing cardio and some strength training. I have quite a bit of time before I can go into the academy.

Any specific exercises or training I should work on?

Looking for suggested apps that can help me workout out. Looking for an app that shows me various weight lifting exercises and workouts. Would like to see what you would recommend before paying for an app.

I have a small gym at the station with dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, treadmill

Out of curiosity, at what point do you consider someone to have made it and/or a part of your department and/or a first responder? Is it when they’re a candidate, probie, part time, full time? Finish EMT or finish fire academy or both? Obviously there are varying degrees even though as soon as you get a paycheck you’re technically a member. Just curious what you personally consider. This isn’t a hiring question, it’s about when someone is really viewed as a member.

I would like to ask for your recommendations for structural boots.

I've been wearing the Pro Warrington 5006SG boots for 5 years now, but after a structural fire on saturday I noticed a cut in the leather (about an inch), exposing the internal layers of the boot, so I would say it is time to think about getting new ones.

I can't complain about those boots, but the fitment wasn't the best, after using them for a while they start rubbing above my heel while walking...

I would like to get some other boots that are more comfortable than these ones, but keeping the durability, which ones would you recommend?

I've heard great things about the Globe Supreme, but also that the sole tends to come off very soon, especially at the front.

Important note: I have wide feet and high instep, so I need to have that in mind while choosing boots.

Actually, regarding sizing, could you please help me with that? My normal shoe size is 10.5. Would you think I should go with the same size but choosing the W or XW option, or should I choose half or one size up?

My Pro Warrinton are 11E (11 Wide). I haven't had issues hitting my toes with the boot, but I don't know if having that extra half size has affected on rubbing my heel. The E option is good but sometimes I have felt my feet a little bit tight.

Since I'm not in the US and I have to ship the boots to my country, the return and change process would be very difficult, so I would like to be sure on which is the right fit for me.

Thank you for your help!

As the title suggest, I’m wanting to get a training prop at my station that would essentially be a small 2 story prop. The first floor would mainly be for forceable entry and ideally I would like for it to have a small staircase leading up to a second floor which has a window that can be used as elevated window bailout/victim removal. For those with experience getting props made for their stations, how did you go about it? Propositioning the city for funds is out of the question, we can’t even get a simple single unit force entry prop funded through them.

There's a difference between programs that are technically online and programs that actually survive a rotating schedule long term. A lot of people start strong and then hit stretch of mandatory OT or back to back shifts and fall behind because the programs has deadlines or requirements that don't flex around what the job looks like that week. what's the actual structural difference between programs people finish and programs people drop out of. Is it pacing, format, how the school handles missed deadlines when work gets in the way. For people on 48/96 or 24/48 who are actually making progress, what specifically about the program is making it survivable? And if there was a previous attempt that didn't work out, what killed it?

This is just a happy sappy ramble as I'm riding high from a recent visit, but ever since I developed an interest in firefighting, I've found a passion in visiting stations. I dont know why, but it's so appealing to see how each station operates depending on size and specialty, and everybody is so welcoming (granted there are some visits that don't end up on the nice list).

Also, the more you know means the more questions you have, so it's just an endless learning opportunity which I think is the main reasons I would love to be on the job. The things I've seen and the stories I've heard are always so memorable from the probie's first few months on the job to a senior or captain who's been on for years. Sometimes I find myself asking the same question I already know the answer to, but come to find out I dont because every answer is different.

But anyways, to the fellow firefighters who give out tours to people on the daily, thank you! I love it and I love rambling to my parents about it which they're probably sick of, lool. I hope you enjoy giving out tours just as much even if it does take time out of your day. Just know that it makes a big difference and something so small can mean so much. The person I was when I visited my first station would be proud to see how far I pushed myself all thanks to wanting to be on the career, and to think it started because of one probie who let me carry the SCBA pack.

Hope to work on the field someday, and again, thank you for everything you guys do! Y'all rock.

I’m a volunteer on a department in the South East US. I’ve seen two different styles of helmet mounted flashlights: purpose built and multipurpose helmet mounted (small flashlight in a helmet mounted bracket). Does anyone have any recommendations on the type and where to purchase it.

I was looking on Amazon but wasn’t sure that was the best option. Streamlight seems to have a good inventory.

I don’t remember learning any hard and fast rules about defeating the hood latch. My only tactic is to get to the hood release as fast as possible.
Other than that, I try to get the forks or the spike of the halligan on the latch and twist.
I’d really like to get better at this. I am 0-for my career on defeating the hood latch quickly.
Thanks for any input you guys have.

Hello folks!
COTA and the Samaritan Center are hosting their annual Memorial tower climb this September 11 at the Circuit of the Americas tower.
Participants can complete the tower with a weighted vest, no vest, or in gear if you are a first responder.

The memorial climb includes climbing the tower (up and down) a total of 4 times, but you as a participant, are welcomed to do it as many times as you need to.

Last two years Travis County Sheriff’s Office has outnumbered the firefighters, this year, I am hoping to change that.

Wondering if anyone in the Chicagoland area has a lead on where I can buy Niedner hose. The vendor I used several years ago is no longer responding and I filled out a contact form on Niedner’s website but they haven’t gotten back to me.

Thanks in advance.

Hello! This is a very niche ask!
My husband just became a firefighter and we are also celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary. I’m looking to get him a gift that
A- is useful
B- is made of leather (we do the “traditional” wedding gift thing)

I was hoping there are things that you use frequently that is either leather or something I could find similar that could be made of leather. Just trying to think out side of the box because he always gets dope gift and I look like a slub.

Thanks!

We’re hosting our annual fire department open house next month during fire safety week. In the past we’ve had a plywood house with “fire” on hinges that kids would shoot with the hose to knock the fire down - the city has decided we are no longer allowed to have the kids shoot the hose/use any water off of the trucks or hydrant.
So now we’re looking for some other games/fun stations we could have set up for the kids.
We’re going to have an arson dog demo and a smoke trailer for them to crawl through.
Any ideas?

My EMS service is currently in the process of implementing Station logos, but one point of questioning is how to implement it into uniforms. I want to hear what other departments policies are. Our current uniform is a Gray polo that I/my admin don't want to change but still want to hear what other places do. Thank you in advance.

*I know this isn't necessarily a FD thing, but most EMS services don't seem to have this but FDs do. So I'm asking here.

I am a New England Fireman and I will be visiting Ireland with my family in the coming weeks. I want to grab something cool as a souvenir from the Irish Fire Service, but rather than show up at a firehouse asking for a t-shirt, I thought about how I could reciprocate.

I have a mint condition job shirt (heavy, comfy sweater) and a really cool unused duty trucker hat that I will be bringing to trade. These are both items I use daily and are my favorite issued clothing items.

Are there any Irish firefighters here, in Dublin or Dingle, or anywhere between the two as we’re driving from Dublin to Dingle? Any interest in brokering a trade?

If there is anything else I should get my hands on for a trade, I have a little over a week to get my hands on it. Thanks for any assistance.

If I’m considering it, and I have a slipped disc, is it over already?

I know fighting wildfires is very complex and involves a lot of input from the weather. I know old brush on the ground is basically yummy fuel for wildfires and there’s probably a lot of regulations about controlled burns and not enough manpower to clear it up manually.

My question is would goats be useful in this endeavor? Setting aside logistics of the amount of goats needed for this, but in general using goats in areas that haven’t seen much fire or maintenance in the past 10 or so years to help manage wildfires. Goats can eat a lot of the undergrowth and can traverse rugged terrain from my understanding.

I know someone near the Timber and Plaskett fires and the difference in how both are growing and spreading seems to be that Timber had previous fire nearby recently and beginning weather was helpful and Plaskett hasn’t had a fire nearby in like 50 years to curb the undergrowth.

I’m obviously not a firefighter and apologize if this question seems naive, but I’ve never seen any sort of discussion about this in general. To anyone that reads this, have a lovely day and thank you to firefighters for their amazing service!

I’ve been a volunteer FF for about 2 years at this point and I enjoy when I travel to collect fire dept shirts from where I visit for a souvenir and also because a lot have cool designs. I wear them when I’m out and about excluding my own department shirt unless I’m doing something before or after being at the station. Is it considered being a Jed (someone absorbed in the fire dept) or a wacker to wear fire shirts. I try not to talk about being a volunteer because I don’t want to be seen as that kind of guy either.

I’ve recently been debating on firefighting as a career choice and have been doing what I can to prepare for the physical test coming up next month. I’ve had a lot of time to think about what it would be like and if I’d fit the bill for it. The main issues I’m having revolves around my anxiety. I’ve never been diagnosed nor do I take medicine for it, but it’s been making me doubt myself. I work as a mechanic right now and sometimes it takes me longer to do things because I want to make sure I won’t break anything
/hurt myself severely while trying to repair whatever it is I’m working on. Or sometimes I’ll have to stop and do a double take when I’m working on something to make sure I’m doing it right. Do any fire fighters have anxiety like that? How do you get around it? Should I try and find something else?