r/Firefighting • u/Hero-Firefighter-24 • 27d ago

Ask A Firefighter At what age did you start firefighting?

Asking because it’s a late career choice for some, while others do it right after college or even high school.

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u/bigfootdaddyo FFII / EMT 27d ago
  1. I started as a volunteer after a wildfire swept through my property and the local volunteer department saved my home. I felt it was the only way to repay their service. Fell in love with it.

I still volunteer with them but am now a career firefighter and still can't believe I get paid to do this job.

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u/bluepika5 21d ago

How long did it take you to get a career job after volunteering? I’m 31 and just starting with a volunteer department in the next month

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u/bigfootdaddyo FFII / EMT 20d ago

Not long. I did volunteering for about 6 months then decided to go career. I work at a pretty small department in New Mexico so it was fairly easy to get the job.