r/Firefighting • u/iheartMGs FF/EMT/Hazmat Tech • Apr 21 '25

Ask A Firefighter Are you at your forever department?

EDIT: I really appreciate all the feedback from everyone! Pretty cool to hear all the different responses! Stay safe brothers/sisters and wish everyone the best of luck throughout your careers!

Title says it all. Curious how many members have found their forever depts and why you made it your home for the rest of your career. The culture at my department is simply amazing. The chiefs know every member by first name and your put into a leadership role pretty early on if you’ve earned the trust of the officers. They will send you to virtually any training, deploy you across the nation, etc. Let’s hear what you have.

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u/MonsterMuppet19 Career Firefighter/AEMT Apr 21 '25

More than likely unless there's extreme circumstances. I'm 6 years in with my department, and it's only growing with more opportunities arising and one of the best paying departments in the area. Plus, call volume wise, 20,000 annual from 9 houses, there's a speed & flow for everyone, engines ranging from 3500 runs a year to 500 runs a year.

Plus let's be honest. Going somewhere new and going through the rookie/probie period all over again would suck balls.

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u/iheartMGs FF/EMT/Hazmat Tech Apr 21 '25

Man that’s good to hear, different tempos for all. I’ve done the probie thing a few times and I’m not going back!

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u/HanjobSolo69 Recliner Operator Apr 22 '25

Going somewhere new and going through the rookie/probie period all over again would suck balls.

One of my biggest problems with this career. Cops do laterals all the time and I don't understand why we can't. Just send me to a 1-2week lateral academy and send me on my way. Stop the probie bullshit too. A guy that's done 5yrs somewhere and needs to transfer isn't a probie.