BIG or small dept which is better?

[FFER55]

I have 2 offers. One for a BIG FD out of my state or stay in the state and work for a small dept. Is it worth the move for the dept or stay?? I know the decision is mine but just wanted to ask the opinion of others who have had to make this very hard choice themselves.

Thanks for the input...

[rbbehemoth]

A lot of it just comes down to what you are looking for in a department. Larger departments might generally have more opportunity for promotion and advancement (haz mat, technical rescue, paramedic, etc ect). The large city department probably has more of a variety of areas it protects, such as industrial, commercial, high rise, upscale homes, low income communities, wildland (think LA for example). Did you research the call volume and stats?

Benefits and retirement is something to consider too.

You might go your whole career with a large department and only meet half of your coworkers. In contrast a smaller department might have more of a close-knit feel to it.

Do you own a house where you live now? If so, do you want to go through the process of selling and buying again? Do you live near your family now? Do you have a wife/husband and kids who would have to start over?

It's a hard decision, good luck!

[Ticonderoga]

Depends on where you want to be in ten years.

If you want medic, engineer, USAR, Captain, etc. big departments are the way to go. But you really don't have the close knit feel of a small time.

6 - 1 really

[CaptBob]

Congrats on your success!

Many candidates don’t believe me when I tell them they could get more than one job offer once they learn how to take a firefighter interview.

You can specialize with a larger department and do more of everything at a smaller agency.

This might help in making your decision. Take a piece of paper and draw a line down the center. On one side put the pros and the other the cons for each department.

"Captain Bob" www.eatstress.com

[JayDudley]

I've worked for both. Currently I'm working for a small Fire Department. Their pay and equipment is not up to big city standards...however the closeness of their crews and home town feel makes it well worth being here. The above answers are what you need to ponder and then make your decision.

[tnff320]

I think there is a good and bad to both situations. With a small dept. you know everybody, have a better chance to move up the ranks (at least probably easier to), easier to get hired (most of the time), the call volume probably isn't there though. With a big dept., you get more calls, more fire, probably got there stuff together (at least most of it), more money for more and better things (most of the time), but probably a lot more politics (it's everywhere you go). Like you said it's your choice. Do what you think is best for YOU and your family, if your married and all that. Good luck with everything!

[CALFFBOU]

Some people like the "get lost" feeling of a big department where youre just a #.

I like the small FD were you know all the cornors and get more projects.

[fairborn]

I spent 8 yrs for a smaller career dept. 50 guys 6,000 runs. I just recently uprooted my wife and kids to move two states away for a Large career dept. 2,000 guys 120,000 runs. The move and transition are hard, so make sure your family is up for it and thoroughly informed. I think it is well worth it but like rbbehemoth stated it comes down to what you want out of the fire service. If you can get that by staying home, do so but if you might regret not going, I say go. Either way do your homework first. Good luck and keep us informed.

[jccrabby3084]

Besides the rest of the advice here, I would strongly recommend to look into the financial issues with each dept and city. The way this economy is, just because depts may be hiring, doesn't mean the jobs could be cut tomorrow. Is the city growing or is it losing people? Is the dept adding or just replacing people? Look at the businesses and industries which comprise the city, are they growing, maintaining, cutting or looking for bailouts?

Basically it would be something like Detroit FD vs Aurora CO FD. One just has to read the news to know that Detroit is struggling and many FF's have been laid off over the years. Sure they get a ton of fires and you would get some great experiences and chances for specialty teams etc, but what is the job outlook like there. Then take a dept like Aurora, CO where they are growing and adding stations. They may not get the same amount of fires as Detroit, but the job outlook would be better. (not that these are the best examples out there, but easy enough to make the analogy).

[detroitfire1552]

Besides the rest of the advice here, I would strongly recommend to look into the financial issues with each dept and city. The way this economy is, just because depts may be hiring, doesn't mean the jobs could be cut tomorrow. Is the city growing or is it losing people? Is the dept adding or just replacing people? Look at the businesses and industries which comprise the city, are they growing, maintaining, cutting or looking for bailouts?

Basically it would be something like Detroit FD vs Aurora CO FD. One just has to read the news to know that Detroit is struggling and many FF's have been laid off over the years. Sure they get a ton of fires and you would get some great experiences and chances for specialty teams etc, but what is the job outlook like there. Then take a dept like Aurora, CO where they are growing and adding stations. They may not get the same amount of fires as Detroit, but the job outlook would be better. (not that these are the best examples out there, but easy enough to make the analogy).

All of the Detroiters have been hired back FYI...

On to the topic.... IF YOU DON'T MOVE TO MEMPHIS I AM GOING TO DRIVE TO PORT HURON AND !@#$ YO @$$

My 2 cents
TELL GRAVY I SAID WHAT UP!

[FFER55]

All of the Detroiters have been hired back FYI...

On to the topic.... IF YOU DON'T MOVE TO MEMPHIS I AM GOING TO DRIVE TO PORT HURON AND !@#$ YO @$$

My 2 cents
TELL GRAVY I SAID WHAT UP!

Hey FH chief editor. You got the wrong person, But I am the other. I talked to him today and he is still going to TN. Can you tell who I am yet??? Wheres my job @ FH lol..

[alecshawn1]

Number one thing is this...:
1. No matter the City or its size..Do they ever lay off (most dont)
2. Look at the location( decide where you want to live)
In the end. All that matters is this: Get your time in and retire.
Stay safe. Professional Firefighters have a great pension and pretty darn good pay. ( most do anyways)
As long as your job is fairly secure, who cars if its a big or small city.
I will say this:
The smaller the city, the more you'll do on a fire scene.
You have less folks and in a way, the small city guys are actually better firefighters.
I admire the folks on depts with like 40-60 members.

[FFER55]

Thanks to everyone who gave their opinions. I am leaning more toward the smaller FD. It is just one of the many tough decisions in life. I just want a job. I dont want to have any regrets, but I just have to make a decision and not even thing of the other one. I am 25, have my FF I/ II, Medic, assoc degree, 5 yrs poc and work in an er so I have all the requirements. I have no kids so thats not a problem. It is just funny that you can go with no offers than all of a sudden you have to make a very tough decision with a few offers. I just wanted to hear from others who have made this tough decision and If they would have changed small for BIG.

Thanks again

[JayDudley]

I wish you good luck with your decision.

[eastcoaster]

Number one thing is this...:
1. No matter the City or its size..Do they ever lay off (most dont)
2. Look at the location( decide where you want to live)
In the end. All that matters is this: Get your time in and retire.
Stay safe. Professional Firefighters have a great pension and pretty darn good pay. ( most do anyways)
As long as your job is fairly secure, who cars if its a big or small city.
I will say this:
The smaller the city, the more you'll do on a fire scene.
You have less folks and in a way, the small city guys are actually better firefighters.
I admire the folks on depts with like 40-60 members.

Hmmm not really sure I agree with that theory. How do you justify that a smaller dept. with less firemen would make someone a better fireman than a large city FD doing 2 to 3 times the amount of runs?

The fact of the matter is simply what you want to do, large cities as people have said offer you unlimited potential for promotion, work schedules, different division, engine, truck, rescue, marine, etc.... If you like the small town feeling where you know everyone and you don't mind a bit of a slower environment, well I think that answers the question. I started in a small dept where there were 6 of us in the whole dept. and it made me crazy.

I now work in a Large FD with 6 guys on the rig. We do a lot of runs and the environment is much more fun at least to me, not to mention the fire duty as well. Look at the pay, look at the PENSION, nothing more important than that retirement. Look at the years and the amount that you receive at the end of your time. Look at what kind of disability pension they have, because sadly we work in a career where the potential for career ending injuries is high. Just my 2 cents