If you have ever thought about becoming a firefighter, then this article is for you! You will learn everything you ever wanted to know about becoming a firefighter, where firefighters work, how much they get paid, what kind of additional in-service training they need, how you can become a firefighter, some of the dangers involved in the job, when you can expect to retire and how you can make difference in the lives of people you serve.
Being a firefighter as a full time job is a unique thing because you are a part of the worst day of the lives of certain people, and you have to be a strong and reassuring image for the victims. Firefighters don't only extinguish fires, we are also there on car accidents, on any kind of rescues, and on medical emergencies. Waiting is a big part of the job, you just wait for the emergency calls at the fire station, but when the bell rings, you better be ready for the war. It is a stimulating job with a good dose of adrenaline, it is what is keeping us alive!
As I said before, firefighters don't only extinguish fires, we are also there on car accidents, on any kind of rescues, and on medical emergencies. We also participate to non-lucrative events and raise money to good causes, it is a non-written part of the job.
A typical work day for a firefighter is a 24-hour shift that starts at 7 a.m. The day begins with breakfast and a coffee at the fire station with the team, so the day basically starts with rest! Around 9 a.m. we go in the garage and start the routine checks on our equipment. Checking everything from the truck itself, to the small engine tools like chainsaws, without forgetting the inventory of the vehicle. We eat all together at lunchtime, and we can do whatever we want during the afternoon, for myself, I prefer to train of talk with the "boys". Finally, we cook and eat again together, watch a good Canadian's hockey game and go to bed. Of course, If there is an emergency call during the day, we left what we are doing in the fire station!
All firefighters work at a fire station, there is at least one in every single city!
To become a full time firefighter like me, you have to complete a 10-months DEP at IPIQ, which stands in French for Institut de Protection contre les Incendies du Québec. After this step, you have to do a two-year technique at Montmorency College.
A firefighter makes approximately a hundred thousand dollars per yer.
Every year, we have to receive multiple additional job training to be on point with everything.
The biggest risk is obviously to die on the job, but you can also suffer a multiple of different injuries like burns, mental disorders or chronicle back pain. But we do this because we absolutely love this job.
Firefighters are absolutely non-replaceable by robots since it is a very manual job, and we work in tough places.
Full time firefighter all retire at 62 years old, it is require by the law.
I am now in the last few weeks of my solar curse to become a firefighter, I hope I succeed to transmit to you my love of the job and to have answered all of your questions!
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