Firefighter Career
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Firefighter Career
Aug 2003
I'm a 27 year old woman looking into a career in firefighting.
I'm enrolled in an EMT class starting this fall and I'm working
out regularly to prep for the physical test. Is there anyone out
there who can give me a little advice about being a woman and
getting into firefighting? Do I stand a chance against the
thousands of men I'll be competing with to get hired? Is there
anyone who has used firehire.com and can tell me about it? My
partner and I have twins due in March so I'm trying to get as
much done as I can now as I know I'll have little time for
classes later. Any advice/info is greatly appreciated!
dana
My brother-in-law pursued a career in firefighting for several
years. I dont want to discourage you but want to share his
experience with you. He became an EMT and worked for an
ambulance company, he was and still is a reserve firefighter in
Contra Costa County. He tried for 1 year to get on full time
with a fire dept and always tested in the top 10%. He was told
that fire dept's won't consider applicants unless they are
paramedics. So he went to school and became a paramedic. He
spent three more years trying to get on as a full time fire
fighter. Last year he stopped pursuing a full-time fire
fighter position. I am not sure if you have done so, but I
would suggest getting in contact with berkeley fire to find out
if the dept still requires applicants be paramedics.
Good luck to you.
Anon
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