AboutFrank Billington Expertise Let me help you determine the most effective place to
install your smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors,
fire extinguishers, and other home fire safety equipment.
I can give you tips on home fire and safety inspection. So
often the poor placement and care of life safety tools
results in loss of life and property that could so easily
be avoided. As a firefighter since 1993, I am intimately
familiar with fire behavior, and steps you can take to
protect yourself and your family.
Experience I have been in firefighting since 1993. I determined to become a firefighter at the age of 11, and achieved that goal. But God and my family come first.
Question QUESTION: I am at unf trying to figure out a degree that would further me along in becoming a firefighter, prob. more higher up. I would like to know what degree would help me with becoming higher up in the ladder with fire.
I fully expect to get an EMT and paramedic license first, due to the fact that i love medical and i am enrolled at a community college to get an AS in fire science and then possibly when hired get a BS but my quest. is except from this what degree should I further pursue (right now i am pursueing a major in secondary education in either Biology or Chem) and after plan on going for a nursing BS at UNF where i am right now.
the other question that i have is that my driving record does not reflect my character and ambition, meaning that i have made dumb mistakes...is this going to hurt my chances significantly? (no DUI, but i have gotten my license suspended once before and a couple of other tickets)
ANSWER: Regarding desired degrees, you will probably get more use from management/administration degrees than anything if you want to climb the command and administrative side of the fire department. However, in my personal opinion, you will increase your chances of success in the field greatly by first getting into a fire department and then obtaining your command training according to the leadership progression standards of that agency by following the steps laid out for climbing the command structure (Lt, Capt, Deputy, Assistant, Chief, etc), and obtaining further education as seems prudent under your future circumstances as presented along the way. Simply entering the service with degrees in hand will not be nearly enough to jump start your climb, as you will require years of experience and demonstrated practical leadership abilities before you will be seriously considered for rank progression regardless of how many credentials and diplomas you may have when you walked in.
On the topic of your driving record, I cannot answer for whichever departments you may choose to apply to, but in my experience a driving record such as you describe is not an automatic barrier to hiring and employment. It might make it slightly trickier to get through the hiring process, and you will need to be crystal clear and honest during the investigation and interview stages, fully explain what happened so that no additional surprises are found by those checking up on the records, why you now know it was wrong, and demonstrate somehow that you have put that behavior behind you with some real examples of changed habits, something more than "I promise I won't do it again".
Having the Fire Science AS and Paramedic in your back pocket will help your hiring chances a lot. Nursing certainly won't hurt but is not as valuable. The Chem school also doesn't hurt but it is not as much of a major asset, either.
I hope this helps. If you are already enrolled in the Fire Science program, you can run a lot of these questions by the program director there, who can certainly provide more insight into what will benefit you most in your area or help you get in touch with someone familiar with the departments in any other part of the country you have your sights set on, as different regions place different values on the various credentials you are striving to obtain.
Good luck!
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QUESTION: I have one more question: I would like to move from Florida to New England or Canada; what would u recommend on how to become a fire fighter there or moving from ur home state due to the fact that i know one states fire school has nothing to do with theirs.
I was thinking about getting my bachelors in fire science and paramedic license...then getting a job as a paramedic over there and then go to fire school...does this sound like something i should do or should i just stay in Florida
Answer I am not familiar with fire and medic schools in any of the places you mentioned moving from or to. Wherever you do choose to go, I think your intention to get your two year fire degree and paramedic first is a good place to start, these will be very helpful as you try to find work. It is fairly easy to get a paramedic job with an ambulance company first, to provide income while you wait, good job experience, and exposure to the area's fire services so you can feel out the best ways locally to get in the door with them.
I think one of your main considerations might be financial, such as the cost of housing if you stay in Florida while in school versus somewhere else. Fire Science degrees are pretty much recognized everywhere, but each state has their own paramedic program. Some states recognize the national registry, so find out which states on your list allow you to obtain the national paramedic, and which ones recognize it if you bring it in from somewhere else. If you can get a national paramedic certificate in Florida while the place you're going recognizes them, you could get your medic first and move later.
Look very carefully into the transferability of all of these if you go to Canada. I am not familiar with Canadian ambulance service requirements at all. Really, the best place to get these kinds of answers is to inquire directly with the fire departments and ambulance services of the places you are thinking about moving to.
