What is the pay for Antarctica FF jobs?

[cavis1]

I just got through reading the article that Firehouse.com has posted about jobs in Antarctica. I applied for one of these jobs in the early 90's, but I was turned down. Now that I have many more years of experience and much more training, I'm thinking about applying again. Does anyone have any idea what the pay would be for one of these jobs?

[FlyingKiwi]

Don't know about the pay, but if you get it you will be travelling through the "Operation Deep Freeze" base in Christchurch, New Zealand for training and orientation. Be sure to contact the Airport Crash Fire Service, and the local New Zealand Fire Service guys for a social call to pass the time.

Lucky lucky you will probably fly from the USA ensconsed firmly in a C-141B starlifter from the USAF. NOT 1st class.

[sconfire]

Kiwi,
Good thing for him the USAF does'nt fly the 141's anymore, only a few left in the ANG. The USAF has switched completley to the C-17's and I can tell you that these are a 1st class ride!

I flew in one about 3 years ago to Arizona and was extremely impressed.

I live in Charleston, SC and they fly over my station all the time.

[FiremanLyman]

I don't know about the pay, but all you can eat snowcones!

[ScareCrow57]

Don't know about the pay, but if you get it you will be travelling through the "Operation Deep Freeze" base in Christchurch, New Zealand for training and orientation. Be sure to contact the Airport Crash Fire Service, and the local New Zealand Fire Service guys for a social call to pass the time.

Lucky lucky you will probably fly from the USA ensconsed firmly in a C-141B starlifter from the USAF. NOT 1st class.

Don't know about the C-141, but the C-130 goes out of here all the time to fly down there. We have the only base that has the C-130 equipped with skis.

[DennisTheMenace]

Kiwi,
Good thing for him the USAF does'nt fly the 141's anymore, only a few left in the ANG. The USAF has switched completley to the C-17's and I can tell you that these are a 1st class ride!

I flew in one about 3 years ago to Arizona and was extremely impressed.

I live in Charleston, SC and they fly over my station all the time.

I don't think the C-17 flies down there to the antarctic, believe it is only the C130. And C5>C17.

[LVFD301]

I got to echo what Dennisthemenace says - It is my understanding the LC-130 is the aircraft of choice into McMurdo station, and to the pole. For the NSF through DOD it is service provided primarily by the 109th Airlift Wing at Schenactady NY.

The Kiwi's have airlift from a private company using the same type of aircraft.

Nothing beats skis and JATO on a C130!

[Fitguy51]

Well LVFD301 you are right about the 109th flying down there, and you were pretty close on the spelling of Schenectady, but I can understand having trouble with it. We watch them fly in and out of the Stratton Air Base all the time, w/ and w/o skis. They are the same unit that plucked that Dr. with cancer off the ice down there several years back. They are good at what they do.

[FyredUp]

All kidding aside the pay would have to be really oustanding for me to freeze my butt off in the Antartic. I am well past hating the Wisconsin winter at this point in my life.

Having said that, good luck and stay safe.

[MikeyD1]

Wow I feel bad for participating in a hijacked thread, but here goes

McChord AFB has been flying C17's down to Antarctica, our local paper just did a story on the pilots:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...rctica25m.html

Hope this helps,

Mike

[Catch22]

OK, I'm curious now, exactly how busy is a FF in Antarctica. I can't imagine an outlandish call volume for some reason.

[LVFD301]

Wow I feel bad for participating in a hijacked thread, but here goes

McChord AFB has been flying C17's down to Antarctica, our local paper just did a story on the pilots:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...rctica25m.html

Hope this helps,

Mike

I stand totally corrected.

Although the 109th does continue their flights, as well as the unit from McChord.

I was with the 109th back in the 80's.

[FFPCogs08]

I just got through reading the article that Firehouse.com has posted about jobs in Antarctica. I applied for one of these jobs in the early 90's, but I was turned down. Now that I have many more years of experience and much more training, I'm thinking about applying again. Does anyone have any idea what the pay would be for one of these jobs?

In answer to your question I believe the pay is about 30K per year for a FF. These are contract positions and you must be approved for renewal for every tour if you want to stay on.

Look in the "Americans overseas" thread on this site for more info

[nmfire]

http://www.newzeal.com/theme/bases/M.../MaccaFire.htm

They have some real KICK *** equipment! I want to play.

[...]

I believe the pay is about 30K per year for a FF.

Why would you want to go to Antarctica when you can get better pay back here in the states?

[Dickey]

It's such a pain to fight fire down there from what I have been reading. Even under the best conditions it's tough but in way below zero freezing nothing works right, all the snow makes it hard to get anywhere and they gotta be constantly tied off to something to prevent them from falling off the bottom of the earth!!

[CGITCH]

It's such a pain to fight fire down there from what I have been reading. Even under the best conditions it's tough but in way below zero freezing nothing works right, all the snow makes it hard to get anywhere and they gotta be constantly tied off to something to prevent them from falling off the bottom of the earth!!

That is what I was thinking...how do they spray water so it doesn't "fall" into the sky? They probably just use a FIT-5. What am I thinking.

[cochief]

I just finished my first season on the "ICE". It is certainly not for everyone!! McMurdo is a rugged town, limited activity and if our fire prevention and public education maintain their health, a very low fire rate. Not a lot of exciting fire calls for the more junior firefighters. Airfield ARFF services are a major component of the department services. We have upgraded the PD's to better match industry standards. Previously we only had PD's which were essentially apprentice F/F/ level. Now add are journeymen level PD's. The kick-off for hiring happens on 1 March, 2010 when Rayjobs web-site will open and allow a job search. For more details visit the DoDFire website and open the jobs button on the left. The information sheet is not posted there yet but should be up sometime next week.

Vr,

Mark S. Lawler, Fire Chief, AFD

Fire Captain-I TSC116357 Firefighter-II TSC116673
Fire Captain-II TSC116676 Dispatcher TSC116206
Fire Lieutenant I TSC116252 Dispatch Supervisor TSC116250
Fire Lieutenant II TSC116675Fire Equipment Repair Technician TSC116286
Firefighter I TSC116248

[LaFireEducator]

But one of the big fringe benefits is the All-You-Can-Eat Snowcone Stand.

[pasobuff]

But one of the big fringe benefits is the All-You-Can-Eat Snowcone Stand.

Just don't eat the yellow ones!

Seriously - if it wasn't for the COLD (note that is a 4 letter word!) - I think it would be neat to head down there.....