Height Requirements?

[pooleman]

Hello, I am a 25 year old aspiring firefighter. I am starting in on a fire science degree at my local community college. However, I am 5’-1” tall with a wide shouldered bulldoggish build. Will my height affect me in getting hired with a department? Do most departments have height restrictions?

[Dickey]

You must be this high to ride this ride....

No fire department should have a height requirement at all. In fact it is nice to have a few smaller guys for confined space stuff, high angle stuff or where a big dude like me can't fit.

That would be discrimination if someone restricted you because of your height. Good luck!

[campfire1]

I am not an expert on the rules and reg's but, I remember I asked the same question. The answer is.. there is no height requirement. There is for cops but not FF's. Just basically good hard working citizens that give a d*mn.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

Your legs have to be long enough to reach the ground!

[johnson8]

yeah that's not going to hurt you at getting a job. the only thing i have ever seen a deptartment ask for is for weight to be proportionate to height. so you will be fine. good luck.

[MemphisE34a]

I think thats why we carry ladders with us everywhere we go.

[pkfd7505]

I've never heard of a height requirement on a fire department and I can think of many situation where a smaller person would be a huge benefit. Good luck with the degree!

[Chief2701]

Your legs have to be long enough to reach the ground!

or the pedals.... I have a few firefighters that are "vertically challenged". The only job they have trouble with is apparatus driving. But they bring plenty of food to the barbeque in the other areas of fire ground ops.

[ltfd164]

I recently took an agility test, to pass one of the evolutions you had to sit in the drivers seat of a pumper and reach all the pedals and switches.

[johnson8]

haha, i've never heard of an agility test wear they make sure you can reach everything. Atleast it didn't take much endurance or strength to do.

[doughesson]

My old vollie department had two guys 5'5" and a woman about that height.We'd sometimes offer to get them a car seat or phone book when someone would grouse about the driver's seat being adjusted from the last time they drove or if someone griped about not seeing out the window when arriving.
Though the senior guy had done his thing as a tunnel rat in Viet Nam and rarely even donned an airpack,he always said if he was needed to get into a crawlspace he'd do it.

[pooleman]

Thank you for your replies! They are very encouraging. Thank goodness for ladders!