06 April 2022
Chief Brent Collins, President, www.FirePrep.com
New Fire Probie/Rookie to Do List Around the Firehouse
- Be the first to wake up and the last to sleep
- Make coffee
- If required, raise the flag
- Check your equipment to make sure it’s in working order
- Make sure you get your required work done. When you’ve finished that, ask your officer if there is anything else that needs to be done around the firehouse.
- If your officer is busy, don’t wait for someone to tell you what to do. There is always something to do, whether it is wiping down the apparatus, learning the compartments, cleaning the tools, cleaning the floors
- In the morning when everyone is done with their required firehouse duties, you work an additional 5-10 minutes. Find something to do. That will go a long way to making the right impression on the officer and your fellow firefighters.
- Be the first to ask if the cook needs help with dinner – peeling potatoes, making the salad, whatever needs to be done.
- Don’t take a huge serving of food because you want to make sure you are the first one up from the table to start cleaning dishes from dinner prep.
- Always be the first to jump in to do the dishes and unload the dishwasher.
- Throughout the day, make sure tables are cleared and clean. Make sure the kitchen is always spotless.
- If there is firehouse laundry to be done, make sure you do it and put it away.
- Make sure station is secured at night – windows closed, doors locked
- If you have night watch, make sure all TVs and stoves are turned off
Remember that your reputation starts from day one. I’ve seen rookies who just do enough to get by or just a tad more compared to the rookie who goes above and beyond, always wanting to learn, always wanting to work and do more. Plus, they do it all with a smile and no complaints. This is a lifetime job – start your reputation off right that first day.