Short Firefighters

[robinsonfv]

Are any of you short firefighter (under 5'3")? If so, what problems have you encountered and have you had any problem getting hired by a paid department?

[fireflyer]

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[fyrpwr]

i agree with fireflyer, and have been in the same position. i am 5'3" and having upper body strength really helps in dealing with the hose as she said and at the same time it is true that i am the one sought after to go crawling into around on top of or anything else that is just not going to be done by a taller or bigger firefighter especially with an scba on. i do believe it is illeagal to discriminate against one due to height. i can tell you though i get teased plenty by the guys i work with but as in all you take it and dish it right back. you will find ways to do what you need to being short and they can be pretty creative depending as long as you can do your job and do it well if not better than by all means go go go. take care and be safe:cool:

[mark440]

If you want to ride bulls being tall is not good. They discriminate against tall people for rodeo riders, so us tall people get discriminated against too! I like short firefighters, I can put them in my pocket if they keep yapping... :D

*Mark

[HurleyCo5]

im short. i make up for it by me too, going into small spaces. im in good health and strong so they dont really discriminate against me bc i can do just as well as my guy ff's. youre fine.:D

[Iris A. Monge]

Hello everybody,
I'm a 5'2 wildland firefighter that really wants to go into structure firefighting. When I mention to people that I'm a firefighter and want to go into structure, I get alot of "Don't you think you're just a tad TOO small to be a firefighter?" Especially when men and women (outside of the fire service) say things like "I don't think you can carry me out of a burning building!" Little comments like that really make feel small:(
But when I ride out with a fire station by my house, the FF's their are always telling to apply and that I can do it. It's really, really encouraging coming from them, they KNOW what it's like because they have been their. If there's a 5'2 guy that wants to become FF, will he get the same response from people the way I do? Well I'll find out soon whether or not I'm TOO small to become a FF with the city. But one thing is for sure, "I" won't let my height stop me!! :p
Iris