Yo from Chicago (prospective LFB fireman)

Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 10:14 pm

This is a really hard one to answer completely; we fight structural fires in a different manner to our brothers in the USA. My understanding is, that your crews will have specific tasks, hose, ventilation, forced entry etc, we tend to do everything but in a different way if that make’s any sense. We do not as a rule carry out aggressive ventilation, certainly not before crews have extinguished the fire.
Firefighters can and do specialize into different roles i.e Fire Rescue Unit, USART, but these will seldom undertake structural firefighting.
Your best bet is to wait until you come over to pay your family a visit and drop into a station for a chat, let any of us know and you will get a warm welcome at any of our stations

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:55 am

Sounds like a plan.

I may visit around this Christmas... if not... definitely next summer. Now it cant come soon enough.

Check it.... say I didnt get an A.S. in Fire Science. Say I maybe got a certificate instead... or lets say I had nothing.... just a HS diploma- volunteer things, and personal charisma/confidence. Would I still have a chance of getting a ff job with LFB?

Learner User Online: Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 96

definately mate. I've got no qualifications at all!

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:00 pm

What you will need to consider is what are you going to do while you wait for applications for the job of firefighter and the length of time it takes the whole process. On average its about 2 years from application to training school, so you need to be over here and working to pay your rent etc.

Qualification does not necessarily mean much, I to have bugger all in the way of qualifications, apart from the ones I gained whilst employed as a firefighter. There is also the point that your qualifications in America may mean nothing over here apart from showing what you been doing with your time.

The appointment as a firefighter is suppose to be about your abilities and attributes rather than exams or courses you have attended, not that I want to put you off doing those courses. I think you will find it just as hard to get into the London Fire Brigade as it is in Chicago.

But give it a go!!

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 10:35 pm

2 years? Can you possibly detail what composes those two years? I know theres an interview.... then a physical test... then 4 month training... (something like that).

Is there alot of opportunity for promotion within the station? Or does not have a degree/certificates preclude that?