AboutDominick G. Kasmauskas Expertise Former NFPA Fire Service Section, Director, Executive Board. NJ Certified Firefighter, Fire Instructor, Fire Inspector, Haz Mat Instructor. Volunteer Firefighter since 1974, Capt. Lieut. and President. National Fire Academy Fire Officer II certified. Presently a Regional Manager for the Natl Fire Sprinkler Assn and a certified fire protection specialist and a certified code enforcement official in NY State.
Experience Various awards and citations.
My oddest "call" was at my company picnic, in a remote area, when someone at the picnic had heart failure. While trying to perform CPR I was also giving directions to ALS and BLS to get to the scene.
Every alarm is an accomplishment.
Question I have a friend who has done extinguisher service work in the past. He loves the fire safety field. I am wondering what other careers that may pay better are available? What careers that are less physically demanding are available? What types of education does one get and where? Also, are there any conferences or associations that would be good places to network and learn more about all of these options. He has been laid off twice now this year. Money seems to be rough in this field and work very physically demanding. I know there must be more jobs outside of extinguisher techs but I have no clue how to find them or info on the needed education. Thanks!!!
Answer Lena~
I'm not sure of differences in pay scales, but there are many areas of fire protection to become involved with. Fire sprinklers, fire alarms, special hazards, etc.
If your friend is familiar with extinguishers then he has a good start if he wanted to look into kitchen hood systems.
Anything in the field is going to be physically demanding which is directly dependent on one's physical condition. Until he gets into the design phase of fire sprinklers, fire alarms, or other systems, it's all labor.
An organization that does certification is NICET (www.NICET.org) and he may be able to see some of the different areas he can get into there and what kind of knowledge he must have to become certified in a certain field.
There is also an on-line two-year college degree for fire sprinkler technicians through the Academy of Fire Sprinkler Technology run by Parkland College in IL.
Many folks in fire protection have been learning and getting certified in fire sprinklers for homes as this is the new trend in new home construction. Not as demanding as doing large warehouses and not very complicated systems to install. He can look into what he needs in his state/city to be licensed to do these systems too.
Sorry I couldn't offer much else, but there will need to be decisions made by him as to ability to retrain in another field, can he start his own business, can he get in better physical shape? Any direction he chooses may require funding also.
I hope this helps and ensure that he does not discouraged. Keep looking and never give up.
