AboutCaptain Mike Grove Expertise Questions relating to but not limited to:
**Firefighter Entry Exams **Education Requirements **Physical Agility Testing **Interview Process **Scenario Testing
**Todays Emergency Medical Services **Incident Response
**Apparatus Function
**Station Life
**Scene Management
**National Incident Management System.
I possess the ability and willingness to assist those who may be or have family members seeking a future in the fire service or anyone seeking general information relating to promotional opportunities, general fire safety or any other similiar topics.
I have 30 years of full time experience with the city of Overland Park, KS fire department.
Experience 30 year veteran with the City of Overland Park Kansas Fire Department.
Overland Park,a large suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, is the second most populous city in Kansas with a population of 166,000
Overland Park ranks as one of the most progressive departments, as well as cities, in the United States. In 2006 CNN/Money Magazine ranked it 6th on it's "100 Best Cities to live in the United States". A recent 2007 article by National Geographic Magazine lists Overland Park as one of the top 50 US destinations.
Our department seems to grow daily and currently staffs approximately 160 paid fire and EMS personnel covering 69 square miles of territory with five stations. Our training facility is nothing less than state of the art with live computer controlled burn props on several floors of it's five story tower. A recently added Command and Control Center has added a new dimension to our regional wide response to large incidents.
I currently carry the rank of Captain/EMT. To this day I totally love my job and department as well as those individuals I work with. My family members include three brothers in the fire service as well as three in law enforcement. My father was a fire chief with a midwest fire department before he retired after 32 years of service. I am willing and able to answer questions on any fire/EMS related subject you may have. I can help with questions related to entry level testing as well as the physical agility and the interview process. I will do my best to answer any and all questions to your satisfaction in a timely manner.
Education/Credentials Associates of Applied Science in Fire Science Firefighter I/II/III Certification / Kansas University Fire Instructor I / Kansas University Emergency Medical Techician Certification Fire Officer I Certification / Kansas University HazardousMaterials Recognition and Identification Scene Safety Officer Certification / National Fire Academy Incident Command System / National Fire Academy Incident Management System / University of Missouri, Columbia National Incident Management System Certification / National Fire Academy Command and Control of Target Hazards / National Fire Academy
Expert: Captain Mike Grove Date: 3/29/2008 Subject: fire degrees and academy
Question I'm a freshman in high school and have wanted to be a firemen all my life so i want to prepare early. So my question is, is there18 so does the academy have any restrictions on 18 year any way i can get a medic degree or associates now, i was told i could but I'm unsure. My other question is when i go to the academy i plan on being olds, like only hiring a certain # of them?
Answer Michael:
First of all the fire service will not accept applications from anyone without a high school diploma or it's equivalent so continue to get that. The minimum age for employment for most large departments is 18 with some being 21. In the mean time you should look into obtaining Firefighter One certification from a nearby source. I would check with your local community college or fire department to see where it may be offered in your area. You could also look into a First Responder/CPR/ and or Emergency Medical Technician courses. The EMT course will be time consuming and probably not possible while enrolled in high school but the other certifications are possible while attending high school. The ultimate would be to eventually have your EMT as well as college degree in Fire Science. Actually any college degree will be of great benefit to you. The fire departments like those who have committed to getting their college completed.
Michael please let me know if you need any more help at all.
