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 31 years of full time experience with the city of Overland Park, KS fire department.
Experience 31 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
Question Hi Mike so I've been doing a lot of reading and looking into and I want to be a firefighter.I'm an 18 year old senior and the school year is almost over for us. I'm looking in a community college to find out about firefighter classes here in Missouri. I live in Missouri but I'm planning to move to NC hopefully this summer. I wanted to ask you what is the best plan of action for me I'm looking for a job now and I have a girlfriend and I'm getting kicked out of my house at the end of the school year so I will have to find a place to live which is what I've been doing but I don't know if I can pay for the college fire classes. I was wondering is there anything else you can take or do to get the classes or to become a firefighter? I'm an all-American football and track star so I don't think most of the fire test will kill me; but the no college experience I'm thinking will. So if you knew another way or something around it that would be helpfully because I really want to do it. Also if I had no other choice but college how long do you think that would take?
Answer Chris:
A college degree nice to have and give you an advantage but it's not necessarily needed to apply for most fire departments. A couple things you could look into are Emergency Medical Technician certification and Firefighter One certification. Any local fire department will be able to help you locate those certifications in your community. Just stop by any local fire station and ask the personnel. All will be more than willing to help you. In the mean time look to see if any of those departments offer a volunteer program. If so you could receive training on a part time basis which may get you in someones door. Most large departments will reimburse you for college education after you're hired.
Let me know if there is anything I can do to guide you further. Thanks for contacting me and I hope I have helped a bit.
