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/Moose_knuckle69 Apr 21 '25

I was at a medium sized dept for 13 years. Never would have considered moving. For whatever reason I took a job with an extremely small dept due to lack of fulfillment or opportunities. I couldn’t be happier, or have made a better choice for myself.

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

Good to hear. Glad the juice was worth the squeeze man, it doesn’t always always work out that way but happy it worked out for ya! I’m sure it wasn’t too easy to pack up after 13 years…or maybe it was?

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u/Moose_knuckle69 Apr 22 '25

It was very difficult to even consider packing up, and I left on great terms with a lot of friends. Surprised them as much as it surprised me. That was the hardest part I thought.

But once I framed it in the sense of my happiness and my families’ happiness, it was the easiest decision to make in the end. One fringe benefit is the difference in environment now, which dictates entirely different tactics and thought process when it comes to firefighting. It’s absolutely renewed my interest in the job too.

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u/iheartMGs FF/EMT/Hazmat Tech Apr 22 '25

That’s great to hear. Sometimes the hardest thing is always the best thing. Happy it worked out for you and the family. Most importantly it put the wind back into your sails so to speak so that is just as important.