Because there are numerous tasks, such as rescue, ventication, and fire suppression, that must take place simultantiously. Sufficient manpower is essential to provide safety to our firefighters and to ensure efficient rescue as fire suppresion operations.

Training takes up a great deal of their time when they are not at an emergency. Firefighters also participate in fire safety inspections, public education and pre-fire planning. They often drive the community to become familiar with the area to reduce response time during incidents. Firefighters must also check and maintain their equipment, and clean and maintain their stations.

Firefighters work 72 to 96 hour shifts (3-4 days) at their duty station. Training and equipment maintenance takes up a good deal of firefighters time when they are not on call. Firefighters constantly train so they are ready to handle any type of emergency. Firefighters also conduct fire safety inspections in businesses and wildfire safety inspections on improved property. Firefighters must also maintain and clean their stations.

It depends. Often they simply don't. A great deal of firefighting or searching is done by feel. The glow off the fire or flames is sometimes all you see in the beginning. There are devices that allow firefighters to see in smoke quite well. But these devices are usually not available to every firefighter on the scene. They are usually for very specific purposes. See, "Thermal Imaging Camera" http://www.riotacts.com/fire/glossary.html

Fire fighting has long been regarded as one of the most physically demanding of all civilian occupations. One aspect of performance, which has received little or no attention, is that of the spontaneous physiological response of the respiratory system. This is surprising, particularly as all active fire fighters use self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

Subdivision 1. No exception for on-premises residence. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of other law, home rule charter, ordinance or resolution, no statutory or home rule charter city or county shall require that a person be a resident of the city or county as a condition of employment by the city or county except for positions which by their duties require the employee to live on the premises of the person's place of employment. Subd. 2. Reasonable area or response time requirement.

Simple answer, because these folks and their spouses are putting their lives on the line and going through incredible hardships for us, and it's a very small way for Sliding Rock Cabins? to show how much it means to us. And again, thanks for what you all go through.

This is called "venting the roof." There are two basic reasons for this practice. Dangerous gases and dark smoke accumulate in a burning building. Unlike the movie versions of fires, it is impossible for firefighters to see in such an environment. When a hole is made in the roof because the building is "vented," the smoke and gases escape because heat and smoke rise. It makes it much easier for the firefighters in the building to see.

This all depends on you and the fire protection features of the building you are in at the time of the fire. There are ways to improve your chances of escaping a fire such as: If you are trapped and you know the fire department is on scene, make your location known by yelling, opening a window and hanging something out, or calling 9-1-1 and relaying your location to the dispatcher. Do not hide under a bed or table! Stay near a window or doorway.

Simple Answer - Because they can. Federal Labor laws, which regulates when you have to pay overtime for working more than 40 hours a week, exempts firefighters. Long answer - Many fire departments DO NOT work 24 /48. Some states require the paying of overtime (1.5 X reg. pay) for hours over 40, even for firefighters. Some states have unions and collective bargaining and the firefighters have a contract that gives them something other than 24/48.

A recruit firefighter is paid approximately $35,000.00 per annum. On successful completion of the recruit course and graduation, a recruit becomes a Firefighter Level 1 and is paid approximately $50,000.00 per annum. All the firefighter pay rates can be viewed at the Conditions of Employment section of this website.

The City of Farmington Hills uses a combination of full-time (career) and part-time (paid-on-call) firefighters. Station 5, located at 11-mile and Orchard Lake Road, is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The other four stations are staffed Monday-Friday from 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM. In the evenings and on weekends, paid-on-call fire fighters respond from their homes, business or other locations, to the stations and then to the emergency.

When firefighters are not helping people, they are busy in training, developing pre-fire plans and mapping the City, maintaining the station and apparatus, and working with the public. Unlike the "old days" firefighters are busy! (Return to Top)

Monday through Friday from 8am ? 6pm there are two on duty firefighters at Station 1 and two at Station 2. After 6pm there are four firefighters on duty (A Captain, Engineer and two firefighters) at Station 1. We also have volunteer firefighters who also respond and staff other fire and rescue apparatus.

A.Please see the latest information on the careers page. We do not operate a waiting list or register of interest. As soon as any further information is available it will be posted on this website. We would therefore advise you to check this website at regular intervals.

Firefighters serve on several Boards that are appointed by the Governor. Firefighters also serve on Boards and other committees as representatives of an organization that they are associated with.

According to the Women in the Fire Service 2005 Status Report http://www.wfsi.org/women_and_firefighting/status_report.php there were 95 women on 8 departments, including two engineers, 15 captains, and two chiefs. Minneapolis Fire Department, with 70 (16%), at the time of the report, also had the highest percentage of women firefighters in urban career departments.

This document identifies the minimum level of initial training for your firefighters as required by OSHA. Minimum Initial Training for Structure Firefighters

This document identifies the minimum level of annual refresher training for firefighters as required by OSHA. Minimum Annual Training for Structure Firefighters Is there a mandatory age requirement for retirement? Although Minnesota law seems to permit cities to establish mandatory retirement ages for employees who are 70 years of age or older, federal law, in general, prohibits cities from establishing mandatory retirement ages for most types of employees.

Kettlebell lifting, in my opinion, is the closest thing to being involved in the suppression effort of an actual structural fire, but with a controlled progression that adds a huge element of safety. The workload handled by firefighters is akin to time under the bells, and timed kettlebell sets provide the perfect conditioning tool for firefighters today.

I suspect that determining how many firefighters are needed on duty is more of a political and financial decision than just about anything else. We would all like to have a fire station on every corner, but that is just not possible for many reasons. There are many factors involved. In some states the firefighters have the right to "collective bargaining".

OHFD is staffed 24 hours per day by a combination of full-time (career) firefighters and POC firefighters. POC firefighters in the D-Shift Program work at least one 10 or 12 hour shift per month and are eligible to work up to 53 hours per week.

Yes, there are currently 2 female firefighters and 1 Fire Control Captain who respond on the fire trucks .

They had to be absolutely sure there was no "hidden" fire inside the walls, ceilings and partitions.

This is called "venting the roof." There are two basic reasons for this practice. Dangerous gasses and dark smoke accumulate in a burning building. It is impossible for firefighters to see in this environment. When a hole is made in the roof, the smoke and gases escape. Venting the roof makes it easier for firefighters to see and find the source of the fire, and it also reduces the possibilities of backdraft and flashover.

Firefighters are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Currently, our department works what is called a 3/4 schedule. This means our firefighters work a 24-hour shift and are then off for 24 hours. This rotation continues for three shifts then firefighters have four days off. We have three shifts that rotate through this schedule.

You will need to fill out a Waiver of Liability form and submit it to the Captain of the fire station you wish to observe.

No. CFA integrated Fire stations operate 24 hours per day through 365 days per year. Career firefighters are rostered to work throughout the year, including public holidays.

Despite what you see on TV shows, fighters in Shoreline don't play basketball, watch TV or hold cooking contests while on duty. Each shift has a rigorous training schedule, and firefighters are required to update their medical and firefighting skills monthly. They also have a full schedule of rig and equipment maintenance checks, inspections, and community education duties. Firefighters take charge of mapping, ordering supplies and equipment, and making sure their work environment is safe.