What do you call your rookies?

[detroitfire1552]

I saw this same thread a long time ago but I am having a hard time finding it through a search. I am writing a comparison paper about the fire service and I need some info.

What do you call your rookies?

How long is your academy?

What cities still have separate Fire and EMS?

Does anyone know of major cities that do just first responder?

We have "box alarms". What do you call your fire runs?

How many engines, trucks, squads, chiefs, EMS, Rescues go on your first alarm?

Any other bits of info are appreciated... Thanks Guys and Gals.



Stay Low!

[Redline]

1. Though technically they're called Firefighter Trainees, they're pretty much universally called "rookies" once they hit the floor.
2. Academy runs 16 weeks.
3/4. Savannah Fire currently runs straight fire. No EMS and no first responder. EMS is currently handled by a private organization. All FFs are trained first responders but currently we do not run FR calls.
5. Not certain what exactly you mean by this. We respond to general or fire alarm calls as well as structure fire and the like. We categorize the call by the nature of the individual call.
6. Structure fire calls get 3-4 engines, 1-2 trucks, 1 heavy rescue, 1 battalion chief, 1 safety officer, and 1 command aide.

Additional info can be found at http://www.iaff574.org/

[LaFireEducator]

1. Proabationary Firefighters

2. No academy. All career people are hired from our department's volunteer staff and are certified to at least FF1 and at a minimum EMT-B (Most to FFII and some beyond that) and are already trained prior to hire. If not FFII they are required to get it within 1 year after hire.

EMS:

We operate with a Parish-wide EMS agency. Our department responds to all EMS calls, the vast majority of the time with an ALS response. The only exception would be if the paramedic on shift is being covered by a Firefighter/Basic. Often we also get a volunteer paramedic on-scene as well.

As far as the rest of the state, New Orleans is, to the best of my knowledge the only city in LA that runs it's own EMS agency. East Baton Rouge Parish EMS handles transport for Baton Rouge. Most other cities including Monroe, West Monroe, Alexandria and most if not all of the cities in south LA transport's are handled by privates, primarily Acadian Ambulance, which is huge company covering most of the south 1/2 of the state, as well as many of the gulf's oil platforms.

North LA is a combination of private and a few parish's that run a parish wide EMS agency. Ruston City handles all the transports for the city and Lincoln Parish. Shreveport and Bossier City also do all thier transports with some non-emergennt turned over to a private in the city (Shreveport).

Most, if not all of the cities mentioned above that do not transport do first response, with the exception of, I beleive New Orleans.


4. We call them fire calls.

5. The rating service requires 3 engines and a service truck, which in our case is our heavy rescue or a light rescue/service truck. Since we are primarily rural water we are also required to roll one tanker for a residental structure and 2 terankers for a commercial structure. Bossier parish EMS rolls a bus if avaialable. Chiefs roll as available.

[AbduNur]

1. In our area, you are a cadet in the fire academy and once you are hired by a department, you are then known as the rookie. Keep in mind, that most smaller to medium size departments in our area do not operate their own academy but rely on the applicant to complete an academy course at either a community college or other state certified fire training facility.

2. The academy class lasts for approximately 8-12 weeks. Some classes are accelerated and the night classes take longer to complete based on the amount if instructional hours required.

3. Very few departments in our area have separate Fire and EMS due to the fact that EMS is where the money is and it also helps justify our manpower.

4. Our structure fires are categorized as Box alarms or MABAS(Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) while other fires such as car fires or dumpster fires are categorized as Still Alarms.

5. For our department, a 1st alarm will bring an Engine Co and a Truck Co with 3 members each as well as 1 or 2 Chiefs. The Chief or 1st due Officer decides if a 2nd alarm is to be activated. The 2nd alarm brings another Engine Co and an ALS Ambulance.

Also, understand that the majority of firefighters in our area are also state certified paramedics and they cross man their apparatus. Our ALS ambulances carry Firefighter/Paramedics and are equipped with extinguishers, axes, irons, hooks, SCBA's, and rescue equipment. These "squads" as we call them are expected to operate on the fireground as search and rescue and/or part of the initial Engine or Truck Co's.

[sfd1992]

1. Recruits while they are in the academy, probies when they come to the companies.

2. 12 weeks.

3. We do EMS, everyone is at least an EMT, and we provide ALS as well. Out this way there are no dept's that I know of that don't do EMS.

4. Some people still refer to single co responses as a "still". A 1st alarm is dispatched as a full response, AFAs are dispatched as AFAs.

5. 1st-alarm assignments are variable based on occupany. 3-4 Engines, 2 Ladders, 1 Rescue and 2 BC's.

[detroitfire1552]

Are there any big city guys out there? Or does anyone have knowledge of the larger municipalities?

[Eng25Fireman]

I saw this same thread a long time ago but I am having a hard time finding it through a search. I am writing a comparison paper about the fire service and I need some info.

What do you call your rookies?

How long is your academy?

What cities still have separate Fire and EMS?

Does anyone know of major cities that do just first responder?

We have "box alarms". What do you call your fire runs?

How many engines, trucks, squads, chiefs, EMS, Rescues go on your first alarm?

Any other bits of info are appreciated... Thanks Guys and Gals.



Stay Low!

1. We call new hires "rookies" until a new class is hired.

2. Academy is 22 weeks for non-EMTs. 11-12 weeks for those with prior EMT certs.

3. If you mean separate as in different divisions, we have that. There are three different divisions, Fire Suppression, EMS, and Administration.

4. Not sure.

5. We call them "fire calls"

6. Usually depends on the structure. On a single family structure we'd send 3-4 Engine Co., 1 Truck, 1 Rescue Co. and 1 District Chief.

[LaFireEducator]

Just out of curiousity, define "big".

[FyredUp]

I saw this same thread a long time ago but I am having a hard time finding it through a search. I am writing a comparison paper about the fire service and I need some info.

What do you call your rookies?

Officially Probationary Firefighters. Unofficially pukes, FNGs, newbies, dish tech and so on

How long is your academy? 4 to 7 weeks.

All new hires are required to be State Certified FF1 and EMT-B.

What cities still have separate Fire and EMS?

None in the county that I am a firefighter in that i know of. Most FDs require at least First responde or EMT. To be honest the "Golden Ticket," if there is one, to getting hired in my area is being a Paramedic prior to hire.

Does anyone know of major cities that do just first responder?

The FDNY comes to mind. Although they do have an EMS Division.

We have "box alarms". What do you call your fire runs?

Still, Full Still, Working Still, then Box Alarms afterr that.

How many engines, trucks, squads, chiefs, EMS, Rescues go on your first alarm?

Still alarm gets either 2 engines, or an engine and a quint, and a truck, and the duty chief. Full still add another engine or quint and an ALS unit. Working still gets another engine or quint, another ALS unit, and a mutual aid engine and truck.

Any other bits of info are appreciated... Thanks Guys and Gals.



Stay Low!

Is there a specific point to your questions?

[mrpita]

I saw this same thread a long time ago but I am having a hard time finding it through a search. I am writing a comparison paper about the fire service and I need some info.

What do you call your rookies?

Dumb@... but seriously, they're Cadet while in the academy, then rookie.

How long is your academy?

About 6 months; includes EMT-B, and FF-1 and now FF-2.

What cities still have separate Fire and EMS?

Pittsburgh comes to mind.

Does anyone know of major cities that do just first responder?

Idunno.

We have "box alarms". What do you call your fire runs?

We have "locals" (car fire, wires, alarm systems, rubbish, etc.); "tactical box" for dwellings; "box" for basically any building that's not a dwelling or anything else that's not a local. There are other specialized boxes/assignments too, like high-rises, haz-mat, refinery, collapse, etc.

How many engines, trucks, squads, chiefs, EMS, Rescues go on your first alarm?

Local - depends on nature, usually single engine and/or ladder, sometimes a chief too.
Tactical box - 2 engines, 2 ladders, 1 batt. chief.
Box - 4 engines, 2 ladders, 2 batt. chief.
High rise box - add 3rd ladder for lobby control; (maybe?) 1 ALS medic unit.
Haz-mat - same as box, add Haz-Mat task force (dedicated engine/ladder/chief with specialized apparatus), EMCO, ALS unit, one of our Squad companies.
Upon (2 E+ 2 L) in service, automatic dispatch of 1 Ladder (RIT), ALS unit, SOC company (Rescue 1 or Squad, geographic dependent).
Upon "all hands" (4E+2L in service), deputy chief, EMCO, 2nd ALS, 2nd SOC company (R1 if not sent already, else one of the Squads)

Any other bits of info are appreciated... Thanks Guys and Gals.



Stay Low!

Our Rescue 1 is our full heavy rescue, does all technical/water/collapse/etc. work EXCEPT haz-mat.
Our Squads (2 of them) are regular engine companies, but also does everything R1 does but on "smaller"/less preferred scale. They also do haz-mat where R1 doesn't.

[CaptOldTimer]

They are called rookie until a newer member comes to the company and replaces them, then they are the rookie

[SFDCityFire]

Also up here in Michigan.

Rookies are called Boots.

No academy if Fire I/II certified, only a 2 week 8-5 orientation. (Budget cuts)

We have a private EMS provider, we run no EMS, just fire.

I believe Chicago has a similar setup to you guys....EMS falls under "Chicago Fire" but they are seperate entities.

Fires are box alarms. Single engine runs are stills.

First alarm gets 3 Engines, 2 Trucks, Chief.

[detroitfire1552]

By big I meant cities that most people would consider to be large... I am looking for info about large city departments but all of these responses so far have been great

[ffhh74]

We are in Metro Atlanta and have around 700 personnel.

1. Recruits while they are in the academy. Once they enter the field it depends on each house. Some may call them probies and some may call them rookies.

2. 16 weeks for already certified ems folks. 24 weeks for personnel that have to take EMT-I.

3. Savannah and Clarke County come to mind in GA.

4. FDNY

5. House fire, apartment fire, business fire, etc. Pretty rudimentary.

6. House fire- 3 engines, 1 truck, 1 box, 2 battalion chiefs, and heavy rescue unit.

Apartment/business fire- 3 engines, 2 trucks, 1 box, 2 battalion chiefs, district chief, and heavy rescue unit.

Car/Grass fire- 1 engine

As stated before, our ambulances have cross trained personnel on them. It is up to the Incident Commander if they use that unit for fire operations. If they choose to go that route, then an additional ambulance is called to the scene for medical standby.

[detroitfire1552]

Is there a specific point to your questions?

Please Re-read my first post and see if you could answer your own question.

Thank you to everyone who has responded so far. Your help is greatly appreciated!

[BoxAlarm187]

Suburban department in the Richmond, VA area with 525 personnel.

What do you call your rookies?

Rookies

How long is your academy?

22 weeks.

What cities still have separate Fire and EMS?

City of Richmond, VA

Does anyone know of major cities that do just first responder?

City of Richmond, VA

We have "box alarms". What do you call your fire runs?

We just call them whatever it is: house fire, traffic accident, chest pain, etc, etc.

How many engines, trucks, squads, chiefs, EMS, Rescues go on your first alarm?

• Single family dwelling: 3 engines, 1 special service (either heavy rescue or truck), 1 BC
• Multi-family dwelling: 3 engines, 2 special services (either heavy rescue or truck), 1 BC
• Either assignment can be upgraded, which brings: Additional engine, special service, battalion chief, ALS ambulance, and EMS Supervisor to act as safety officer.

[Picc.93Truck]

What do you call your rookies?
We call them Probie's.

How long is your academy?
Being a Volly house, we have no academy. What we have is a 6mo. Probation period, and a PA State required "Essentials of Firefighting Class" which is about 2 mo. long, or a "Firefighter 1" Course which is about 4ish months. Depending on how the class is set up.
What cities still have separate Fire and EMS?
Old Forge Does... Actually, we have 3 Seperate Fire Companies, and 1 Ambulance Service. Fire's are Volly, EMS is Paid.

Does anyone know of major cities that do just first responder?
Not a clue, sorry.
We have "box alarms". What do you call your fire runs?
Box Alarms, Full Cards, Full Boxes, STRT Box, etc.
How many engines, trucks, squads, chiefs, EMS, Rescues go on your first alarm?
ugh, 2 Ladders, 3 Engines, 2 Rescue's. I have no idea why... Oh and 4-5 Cheifs... Not including SRN's

[detroitfire1552]

Thanks Boxalarm187!

[nameless]

What cities still have separate Fire and EMS?

What are you looking for with this? Like Boston having an EMS Dept and a Fire Dept. or cities that contract for ambulance services. Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse all fall into this category. All three cities contract with Rural/Metro for EMS transport.

Does anyone know of major cities that do just first responder?

Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse all do first response EMS. In NYS the first responder certification has been severely restricted, so almost everyone has moved up to EMT-B level. Depends on what you mean by major city, Syracuse has like 150k, Rochester 210k, and Buffalo 260k. All three have a lot of problems and poverty, just not to the Detroit level yet.

[LFD2203]

Lexington, KY 526 personnel by ordinance, currently at 482. Cover 285 sq. miles, 300K population during day.

Officially, Recruits while in pre entry training, probies from the time they graduate from pre entry to the end of probation period (1 year)
Traditionally, you are a "Sub" to any member of the FD with more time on the job than you, regardless of rank. Even the chief may be a "Sub" to a firefighter with seniority. Term comes from days when guys only got off on their Kelley Day. "Sub" was a substitute firefighter that filled in for the guy off. While the city's HR has proclaimed that "Sub" is a derogatory term, it was actually a sign of achievement. If you were a sub, you were also in line to be hired when an opening occurred. Can't seem to make HR understand that the term is a valid historical term in our department.

16 - 20 weeks, depending on how bad we need them and if we have to EMT-B train them.


We provide ALS care and transport for emergency calls. AMR and Rural Metro do transfers. Fire companies are first responders for some calls. We currently have 12 of our 23 engine companies that are mandated to be staffed with a paramedic due to remote location, population density without an ambulance stationed close by, or because there is a surge ambulance in their station that is activated when we run out ambulances.

We just call them whatever it is: house fire, traffic accident, chest pain, etc, etc. Assignment depends on call type. Structure fire gets 3 engines, 2 ladders, heavy rescue, ALS ambulance, RIT engine, and 2 district officers (1 is IC and 1 is Safety officer). Minimum people with this response is 26.