What do you do for a living?

Palster · #1 03-07-2008, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW Rider

Full time firefighter for the City of Calgary. Currently working toward my Company Officer exam at the end of this month so I can make even more money for sleeping

(that trumps getting paid for doing nothing).

Although when we do have to work, it can be all out with no breaks until the job is done no matter what time of day, holidays included. It's kind of an all or nothing job. More than once I've stood out in the cold in a foot of water, half soaked, caked in ice, manning a hoseline in the wee hours of the morning (even on one memorable Christmas eve). Or the other extreme, wearing sixty pounds of fully insulated gear and working my butt off on the hottest summer day. But I love it, and wouldn't want to be doing anything else.

Best job description I heard was: we're there to un-F*** somebody else's F*** up.

I'm a full time firefighter/training officer for the city of Kelowna. Actually I strictly train existing members of my department as well as new recruit firefighters. When I get called out to fires, rescues and haz-mat incidents now it is as a safety officer and not as a firefighter.

I completed my Fire Officer I course last year. Good luck with yours and make sure you study! It's not that hard but you do have to be prepared.

I know what you mean about loving your job. I couldn't imagine doing anything else. Some days I can't believe they are actually paying me for rappelling from the side of a building or taking new recruit firefighters into a burn building or flash over simulator.

Here is a picture from inside my office. This is what it looks like inside a flash over simulator and yes it is hot in there. If you look closely you can actually see a fire demon on the right hand side in the flames.

jasond · #2 03-07-2008, 04:42 AM

I am an advisor for an independent Investment/mutual fund company. Last couple of months have been great

Der_Iron_Chef · #3 03-07-2008, 04:51 AM

Wow. Canreef could rule the world!! Look at all of our mad skillz.

Keri · #4 03-07-2008, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Der_Iron_Chef

Wow. Canreef could rule the world!! Look at all of our mad skillz.

They forgot saltwater skillz.

Der_Iron_Chef · #5 03-07-2008, 05:06 AM

Heh! Nice one. But you forgot "working with prostitutes skills..."

hillbillyreefer · #6 03-07-2008, 05:19 AM

I'll grow the grub.

G1GY · #7 03-07-2008, 05:35 AM

I'm a millwright working in manufacturing for the oil and gas industry four day's a week and an ink installer/pain therapist the other 3 days and evenings.

BMW Rider · #8 03-07-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palster

I'm a full time firefighter/training officer for the city of Kelowna. Actually I strictly train existing members of my department as well as new recruit firefighters. When I get called out to fires, rescues and haz-mat incidents now it is as a safety officer and not as a firefighter.

I completed my Fire Officer I course last year. Good luck with yours and make sure you study! It's not that hard but you do have to be prepared.

I know what you mean about loving your job. I couldn't imagine doing anything else. Some days I can't believe they are actually paying me for rappelling from the side of a building or taking new recruit firefighters into a burn building or flash over simulator.

How long have you been with Kelowna FD? I've just finished 18 years here in Calgary and had 8 years as a volunteer prior to that.

I've done several courses towards my NFPA 1021 certificate over the past year. The exam I have up coming is the departments promotional exam. Makes me eligible for promotion when I pass it. I should have my 1021 finished by the end of the year, and will start acting as a Lt. fairly soon.

The flashover simulator is a very cool training tool. We use one here too. It is a wee bit warm in there. Our training division now has special heat reflective covers for some of the gear when we use it. Melted a lot of helmets and SCBA parts in the past. Better to learn about the dangers in that environment than for real. Not too many get to live to tell about seeing that in actual fire conditions.

michika · #9 03-07-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW Rider

The flashover simulator is a very cool training tool. We use one here too. It is a wee bit warm in there. Our training division now has special heat reflective covers for some of the gear when we use it. Melted a lot of helmets and SCBA parts in the past. Better to learn about the dangers in that environment than for real. Not too many get to live to tell about seeing that in actual fire conditions.

Is this what is affectionately known as the "Easy-Bake Oven"?

BMW Rider · #10 03-07-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michika

Is this what is affectionately known as the "Easy-Bake Oven"?

One could call it that

. Its basically a couple of shipping containers joined together and modified to create flashover conditions without killing the guys inside in the process. Gives us an idea of what the conditions and indicators of a pending flashover look like so we know when its possibly going to happen and we can make our exit if we should ever come face to face with it in real live fires. A flashover is basically everything erupting into fire simultaneously. Its very very bad if your inside.

Where is your brother working? Is he here in Calgary too? If so perhaps I know him, although with the number of new hires in the past few years, there are more guys I don't know now.