Rules to Live By at the Firehouse

Rules to live by around the firehouse

Around the firehouse, whether you are a new probie or have 1-2 years on the job, there are certain rules that you need to live by to make sure that your career is successful and to try and limit the drama or confrontations around the firehouse. 

Remember – there are many different personalities around the firehouse – some firefighters are engaging, others are quiet, some are leaders, and some are the followers.  Some firefighters don’t know when to keep quiet and to keep their opinions to themselves, which can cause issues.

The rules to live by: 

• Treat everyone equally and with respect. This is not only your coworkers but the citizens you serve.
• Know who you are and what your place is around the firehouse and stay in that lane.
• Lead by example.
• The officer and other firefighters will see what kind of firefighter you will be within the first 2-3 days. Don’t work hard for the first few months and then start slowly slacking off.  Believe me – it will be noticed.  That should never happen no matter how many years you have on the job.  You always want to be the person who jumps in, works hard, is personable and respected by the other firefighters.  
• First impressions will last your career. If you’re known as someone who is starting to be a slug and can’t get along with people or has a bad attitude, that will spread throughout the department.  Everywhere you go, if you are detailed to another firehouse, your reputation will proceed you.  Start your reputation the right way.
• Give 110% all the time.
• Know your job and be able to perform all aspects of it. Always show a willingness to learn.  If there are Standard Operating Procedures, Protocols or Orders, make sure you know every single one of them.  Put the time in.
• Never be the type of person that is “It’s my way or the highway,” or it will be the highway for you off to another job.
• Be the first to jump in when something needs to be done. Don’t wait – be the first one to jump in. 
• Remember that the walls have ears – you don’t know who’s around when you’re saying to someone. You never know if the person who hears what you just said will go and tell someone else.  In the firehouse, it gets translated from person to person and what you originally said is nowhere in there.
• Be humble.
• Laugh at yourself.
• Think before you speak – this one is very important.
• Be able to take criticism. If you need to make improvement and someone is telling you that, don’t take offense.  Look at it as a way to make yourself better.
• Don’t be thin skinned. Within the first couple days, the other firefighters are going to try and see if you can take a joke.  They will kid around with you, maybe pull some rookie pranks on you.  Never, ever let them know it bothers you.  Smile, laugh it off.  If they know they can get to you, they will ramp it up by 10 times.  They’ll make life around the firehouse miserable for you if they know you are thin skinned.
• Try to be positive even if you are in a bad mood.
• It’s nice to care what others think of you but don’t make it your identify. If you are working hard, doing your job, being polite and respectful, you’ll get the same in return.
• On duty or off duty – you represent the fire department. Be professional.  If someone knows you are a firefighter and you are not acting appropriately, the fire department’s reputation suffers.
• Don’t ever, ever be late for work. If the overnight forecast is bringing 4-6” of snow and you know you are looking at a 2-hour commute in bad weather, leave 2-1/2 hours earlier.  One of the worst things for a new rookie to do is show up late for work.  There may be something totally random that happens occasionally, but you should always strive to be at work 45 minutes before the start of your shift, no matter what the weather or what’s going on.  It’s a reflection on how responsible you are.
• Don’t abuse sick time. Don’t call off sick because you had too much to drink the night before, especially in your first 2-3 years.  Don’t strike off unless you are sick.  Even though you may get 6 or 7 24-hour shifts off per year for sick leave, save them.  You never know what could happen down the road.  If you are 7-8 years on and you suddenly get ill, you’re going to need that sick leave to ensure you will get your pay and benefits while you are off.
• Don’t come into the job hungover. There could be drug testing which also includes alcohol.  If you’re out to 1 or 2 in the morning drinking and they want to drug test you in the morning, you’re probably still going to test drunk.  That will be a huge black mark on your career and reputation.
• Understand that mistakes will be made by you and others. If you make a mistake, own it.  Figure out what can be done to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
• You are going to be on a 24-hour shift with others. Be a good roommate.  If you start problems, they will make problems for you.
• Stay in shape. Almost every firehouse across the country has a gym.  There is no excuse for a firefighter putting on weight and being out of shape.  Heart attacks are the number one killer of firefighters.  That first 8-10 minutes at a fire, you have turnout gear on, a mask on, you’re in an atmosphere of 1000° - it will take a toll on you.  The better shape you’re in, the better you can handle it.  Don’t be a slug – keep yourself in shape.
• Make sure you know and study the map of your response area. One day you will be driving that apparatus – you want to make sure you know where you’re going. 
• Learn those compartments. If you’re on a fire scene and the chief asks for a specific tool, don’t be opening up different compartments looking for it.    If there is an inventory sheet in the compartments, learn it and memorize it.  Even if you are on the ladder company and there is another engine, learn the engine.  Being a new rookie, you will get moved around from apparatus to apparatus.
• Put a smile on your face.
• Act like you care.
• If the department holds a fundraiser or gathering, participate. Be part of the family, part of the team – get involved!

Final thoughts – this is the greatest job in the world, bar none.  Don’t mess it up!  Your probationary period will typically be from 1-2 years.  Make the most of it.  Learn your job, be sociable, be respectful.  Show that you care.  But if you are fired during your probationary period, you will never, ever find another fire department job.  How will you explain that you were fired to the next department?