Expert: Mike Smith Date: 3/29/2008 Subject: fire degrees
Question I'm a freshman in high school and want to be a firefighter, so what fire certifications should i go for when it becomes time to get one
Answer Hi Michael,
Sounds like we get another top notch firefighter. Awesome.
Make sure you finish high school with the best grades you can pull.
Then, try to get into Firefighter 1,Firefighter 2, EMT, Hazardous Materials Awareness, then Hazardous Materials Operations.
These are kind of the basics, some departments require them some don't.
One thing I would recommend (For your own safety) is to try to at least get through firefighter 1 as soon as possible. Some volunteer departments bring on firefighters with no schooling or experience. Not because they are bad departments but usually because they need people. That is OK but it increases your chances of getting hurt about 10 fold. I admire your spirit dude, just be safe.
Obviously, were I in high school, and wanted to go to college,(With what I know now) I would get involved in a recruit academy.
Their is a guy by the name of Gary Noll nollga@uvsc.edu that is probably the best recruit academy person I know. You can look at places like the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy www.uvsc.edu/ufra
The Basic Recruit Academy really has it together. You would do well there.
Good Luck and let me know how it turns out.
Mike
