As i am a newbie and this is my first post I would first like to say hi to everybody. I'm currently living in Canada and am trying to get on to the local fire department. However I would like some advice on what is the best possible way to go about doing this. Currently I have 2 options that i'm looking at. My first option is to be a volunteer firefighter for a town, just on the outskirts of the city where i live. The service last 4 years and in that time you are tought the NFPA 1001 course at no cost. My other option is to take a year long course which also gives me the NFPA 1001 as well as a EMT-A. This course would cost about $20,000 to take. Putting cost aside would the volunteer service be the better route to take or the extensive course which gives little experience working for a fire department. Any suggestions or comments would be very good. Thanks very much.