3 Things About Joining a Fire Department You Didn’t Know

People depend on firefighters to save them from fires but fail to see the struggle they go through to save people's lives.

It’s a very daunting job and requires blood, sweat, tears, and burns. Besides putting their lives at risk, here are all the insights about firefighting that you might not have heard about.

Firefighting is as Dangerous as Ever

If you think that modern advancements have made firefighting less risky, you’re mistaken. A study by Underwriters Laboratories shows that new homes burn eight times quicker as compared to old homes from the ’90s.

One of the major reasons behind these stats is the increasing demand for open floor plans in new homes. Although these homes are nice to live in, the lack of doorways makes it harder to contain the fire.

Keep in mind not to break down the wall between your living room and kitchen because open space makes airflow faster. Better airflow means more oxygen for a fire which leads to quicker spread.

Hardly Any Downtime

Even a ‘slow’ day can turn into anything but that for a firefighter. Downtime is an unknown concept when it comes to firefighting. They don’t have the freedom to chill and relax.

Firefighters have to take time out of their already tiring fire emergencies for non-emergency tasks such as inspecting fire hydrants, doing training exercises, and checking areas for fire safety. Moreover, they have to work on stations as well.

The Reality is Very Different from What You See in Movies

We all know firefighting is one of the most physically, emotionally, and mentally draining jobs out there. But the reality is far away from what they show in the movies.

Hollywood typically showcases firefighting in heroic scenes where they’re running across burning buildings, but in reality, there isn’t much you can see as there is low-to-zero visibility. There’s smoke everywhere and you can easily get disoriented.

Moreover, firefighters can’t give away their oxygen masks to save the victim because they can’t help anyone if they aren’t able to breathe themselves. In conclusion, movies only show the partial truth.

If you want to pursue a career as a firefighter, Civil Service Success can help you with clearing the NYC firefighter department exam. They’ve helped many students in the past secure a position in civil services and continue to do so. Contact them now!