I rode firetrucks for 15 years. I can’t speak for other departments but in my department we had one standard to become a candidate. Then another aet of standards to move up. Each position on the apparatus has requirements and if you couldn’t meet those and get turned over for the spot you didn’t ride that spot or move up. More simply put if you get winded carrying a 70-80 pound hurst tool from the truck to a scene while wearing full turnouts and you got nothing left for the poor guy or girl pinned in a chewed up wad of sheet metal bleeding out and dying in front of you?
Honestly I don’t care what is between your legs. If you don’t have the heart and dedication to train for the job then someone who wants it more will be happy to take your place. Just because someone is male doesn’t mean they have the strength and stamina to perform when it counts.
To answer the question about pulling a 250 pound person out of a fire. Real life isn’t like hollywood. I weigh 250 pounds and I work out like a beast and its unrealistic to think I’m going to heft someone over my shoulder with all the gear I wear. First off their just isnt the space and you want your patient closer to the floor where its cooler and away from the smoke and steam. Which usually means dragging someone out. In dire straights you could hollywood your way through that but in my department we have a rapid intervention team for that purpose. They have a litter the tools and manpower to exfil just about anybody way faster than 1 or 2 people can and once they take over you can finish your search or go for some water and a fresh bottle.
The days of knee boots, long coats, and running around inside fires without air are over. I love a good hollywood fire movie just like anyone else, but if we wore our gear like that we would get written up or suspended.
Being in a fire is hot, usually darker than most nights, steamy, uncomfortable, bumping into shit and knocking shit over,having shit fall on you and a real feeling of claustrophobia if you aren’t used to having most of your senses dulled to gross motor movements.
Anyone who wants to do that job is welcome because its not for everybody, but you have to be in the kind of shape it takes to do the job and thats male or female.
![image showing [image]All-Female Crew Makes History At Florida Fire Department](8ff145bc-19e3-5198-a36e-106cdebf223e.jpg)
DANK_DOCTOR on October 15th, 2020 at 00:27 UTC »
Suddenly my house is on fire
redmasc on October 15th, 2020 at 02:23 UTC »
No hate from me. As long as they can drag my ass out of a fire, it's all good.
Zen_Diesel on October 15th, 2020 at 05:31 UTC »
I rode firetrucks for 15 years. I can’t speak for other departments but in my department we had one standard to become a candidate. Then another aet of standards to move up. Each position on the apparatus has requirements and if you couldn’t meet those and get turned over for the spot you didn’t ride that spot or move up. More simply put if you get winded carrying a 70-80 pound hurst tool from the truck to a scene while wearing full turnouts and you got nothing left for the poor guy or girl pinned in a chewed up wad of sheet metal bleeding out and dying in front of you?
Honestly I don’t care what is between your legs. If you don’t have the heart and dedication to train for the job then someone who wants it more will be happy to take your place. Just because someone is male doesn’t mean they have the strength and stamina to perform when it counts.
To answer the question about pulling a 250 pound person out of a fire. Real life isn’t like hollywood. I weigh 250 pounds and I work out like a beast and its unrealistic to think I’m going to heft someone over my shoulder with all the gear I wear. First off their just isnt the space and you want your patient closer to the floor where its cooler and away from the smoke and steam. Which usually means dragging someone out. In dire straights you could hollywood your way through that but in my department we have a rapid intervention team for that purpose. They have a litter the tools and manpower to exfil just about anybody way faster than 1 or 2 people can and once they take over you can finish your search or go for some water and a fresh bottle.
The days of knee boots, long coats, and running around inside fires without air are over. I love a good hollywood fire movie just like anyone else, but if we wore our gear like that we would get written up or suspended.
Being in a fire is hot, usually darker than most nights, steamy, uncomfortable, bumping into shit and knocking shit over,having shit fall on you and a real feeling of claustrophobia if you aren’t used to having most of your senses dulled to gross motor movements.
Anyone who wants to do that job is welcome because its not for everybody, but you have to be in the kind of shape it takes to do the job and thats male or female.