Fire Tech Academy

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A Wildfire of a Career

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Over the last two decades we have seen an increase in wildland fires not only in the United States but across the world. Notably, 2020 was a devastating year for Australia especially with wildfires consuming nearly 44.5 million acres of land which produced enough smoke to spread across the continent, oceans, and all over the world. Here in the US we have been dealing with warmer springs and dryer summers creating a perfect storm for wildfire conditions resulting in a fire season lasting 78 days longer on average than in 1980 according to an article from the National Wildlife Federation.

What does this mean for the future of wildland firefighting?

Just as the residential firefighter position has changed with new challenges in building construction, so is the Wildland Firefighter position growing with increased fire problems. Now more than ever are well trained firefighters needed to help solve this issue which means that more jobs are opening for those eager to work hard and to get their foot in the door of the fire service.

What makes this a good option for getting people into the fire service?

The fire service is built on many aspects of teamwork, work ethic, and dedication. As a Wildland Firefighter, you are immersed in that culture of fire service professionals determined to put hands on tools and extinguish the fire problem. That experience is not found in many other jobs and provides you the foundation of what Fire Departments are looking for in their new hires. From working long hours through the night, to hand digging fire line shows a great amount of grit in the face of harsh conditions.

How do I get started in becoming a wildland firefighter?

1. Talk to someone in the wildland fire service

Getting a first-hand experience from someone that is a wildland firefighter or involved in the wildland fire service is very important. Why? Because you will be able to get a good feel as to what the job is like but also feel the heart that comes with being on a team of awesome people.

2. Obtain your Incident Qualification (Red) Card Certification

There are several ways to get your Incident Qualification certificates if you are a part of a department (full-time/part-time/volunteer) or even as an independent. You do not have to be associated with a department to earn the classes needed for Red Card certification! Some departments have a Wildland Team and will send their firefighters to get the certification but independent students can also take the class as well through Fire Tech Academy. The other stipulation is that you must be at least 18 years old to take this course which fits well for high school seniors looking for a great summer job and a foot in the door of the fire service.

3. Apply to a Wildland Firefighting team (private or public)

After obtaining your Incident Qualification certifications you then can apply to private or public wildland firefighting jobs. Examples of public job opportunities include Department of Natural Resources, US Forestry, or any state fire department. Private wildland firefighting companies are another option that are becoming more popular. These follow a similar hiring process as the public sector but they typically are hiring year-round to fill firefighter spots depending on where you are located.

With the increased fire problem all around us here in Washington State so is the increased need for well trained, eager people to join the wildland firefighting team. Take your first steps towards helping keep our communities and wildland safe by taking your Red Card certification with Fire Tech Academy. You’ll be amazed by what you will learn and how much you will grow in the fire service in such a short amount of time. Be safe out there!

5 Things Successful People Do

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Whether you’re taking a strenuous in-person EMT class, or working hard on your online classes (like Incident Qualification), following these five tips may help you be more successful day in and day out.

Just show up.

Showing up every day (even when you don’t feel like it) creates and builds on discipline. The number one reason why most people fail at something is because they refuse to show up consistently.

Put in the work.

Have you ever heard the phrase “if you have to eat a frog, do it first thing in the morning”? As odd as it sounds, the idea of doing the most difficult or challenging thing on your to-do list FIRST helps to ensure that you’ll get it done. If you wish to achieve something, you cannot procrastinate and you HAVE to be willing to do the work.

Have a positive attitude.

Challenging yourself to think positively and use positive language will help you build perseverance and grow from difficult obstacles. Keeping a positive attitude helps when working in group settings and making connections with your peers and mentors.

Focus on one thing at a time.

By picking one thing to complete at a time, you may find you are able to complete tasks more efficiently and effectively than if you tried to bounce from task to task. Making a to-do list may be helpful!

Use a planner or calendar.

The simple act of writing down assignment due dates or important class events can help prepare you ahead of time and may help them stick better in your brain. Making a to-do list for the day or week in your planner can be a life saver. When you have a packed schedule and everything feels chaotic and out of control, the ability to look at your planned out schedule may help calm your nerves and help you feel more organized.

*based loosely off of “10 Mistakes that Rich and Successful People Never Make”*  

3 Common Myths about Firefighting

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If you are reading this, then you might have a great idea about what firefighting is all about.  What if I told you that some of what you previously thought might be wrong? I am about to blow up some myths:

1) “The schedule is the number 1 perk”

OK, OK…this one is partially correct.  Regardless of the structure of your schedule (1 on-1 off-1 on-5 off, 48/96, etc.) you definitely have more calendar days off than you are at work.  That is a great thing even if you love your job like I do.  But the firefighting schedule is a double-edged sword.  As a group, firefighters show up 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 a year.  That means that when your schedule falls on Christmas, you work Christmas.  If the schedule falls on your spouse’s birthday or your anniversary,…you work.  This is definitely the truth early in your career when you are low on the seniority list.  Be prepared to miss some holidays at home and start new traditions.

2) “We went from fire to fire to fire!”

I am sorry, but most of the year, especially in suburbia, we are responding to EMS/EMT calls 85% of the time.  Fires can be few and far between and usually come in bunches.  If you have the privilege of working the 4th of July (see schedule myths in #1), this is your best chance at catching some burners.  We don’t necessarily want things to burn, but hey…it’s what we train for!

3) “During the day, when we are not on calls, all we do is play video games”

This myth has been around in some form or another for quite a while.  At my department (and most career departments I know of), we have a structured work day (8:00am-5:00pm) where we are training, cleaning, maintaining, and inspecting…when we are not going on EMS/EMT calls (see myth #2).  After 5:00pm, we are on “Standby” time.  Still in uniform and ready to respond, but able to cook dinner, workout, sleep, attend to personal business, and yes…play video games. 

Don’t get me wrong, this is still the greatest job on the planet, but these are a few things people ask often that have gained momentum and are widely believed about firefighting.

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3 of the Biggest Mistakes New EMT Students Make

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EMT Class Seattle WA Fire Tech Academy

As a new EMT you will be faced with a variety of challenges out in the field. One of the biggest ones is recognizing that the “real world” is different than the classroom…in nearly every way. Sights, smells, sounds, patients, illnesses, trauma…did I mention smells? They are all different. That contrast will result in mistakes being made by the new EMT. Here are 3 of the most common and how to avoid/fix them:

1. Treat the Patient

Treat the Patient: Too many times, new EMTs wait for vitals or talk to bystanders/family members when in reality they should really concentrate on the patient and their needs. This obviously is a bit of a moot point for unconscious/deceased patients, but even then direct your attention on the patient first and multi-task to get the information you need to make quality decisions.

2. Patient Questioning

In most EMT classes, SAMPLE is taught as the standard for peeling back the layers of a patient’s issue. The substance of SAMPLE is great, but the teaching of it in that order just to maintain an easy to remember acronym only to later find out that is not the order of questions to establish relationship or gain knowledge is frustrating at best. At FIRE Tech Academy we teach the same questions in the following order…SPEMLA. The acronym
isn’t as sexy, but as I get further into my career and see more patients, I realize that asking about any drug allergies (A) is a strange and most often useless question for the problem at hand. Symptoms, Past pertinent history, and Events leading up to the issue will set the stage for treatment, further questioning, upgrades, and/or transport decisions.

3. Names Matter

Names Matter: One of the greatest tools we walk into an emergency scene with is “confident competence”. We need to believe that by being excellent at our skills, we can help make that patient’s day better. Expressing that to the patient will fly out the window if you do not establish what I like to call the “15 minute relationship”. That starts with learning the patient’s name and using it when you are discussing their care. If you are historically not good with names, come up with a system to remember that works for you. One that works for me is utilizing the name quite a few times in the first few minutes of contact.

For example, “Mr. Smith…please explain when this started.”. “Just so I understand this completely, Mr. Smith, you were mowing the lawn and your chest started hurting?”. “I am sorry that you are feeling this way today, Mr. Smith. Let’s talk about some options for your care.”. It is difficult to forget the name when you look at the patient and use the name frequently.

As a new EMT…

You WILL make mistakes. It is inevitable. Above all else, make sure you error on the side of patient care, learn from your missteps, and ask questions.

- FF/EO Jack Greaves, Executive Director and Instructor at FIRE Tech Academy

So You Want to Sign up for an EMT Class?

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Signing up to take an EMT class can be extremely nerve racking and even cause people to avoid it because they don’t feel like they can meet the expectations. Why is that though? A big part of it is the reality that as an Emergency Medical Technician you will be making a direct impact on people’s lives and with that comes responsibility. The other part is the notion that you may not feel equipped to pass the class, let alone the NREMT test!  It can all be a little much.

During my EMT class, I remember leaving the first day already overwhelmed and stressed with the same concerns thinking “How am I going to pass this class with the rest of my life going on?”. The secret is . . . wait for it . . . hard work and determination. (You were expecting something complicated weren’t you?)  The fact is, this is a certification course and as such the expectation is that students meet the required benchmarks.  There is no easy way around it.  If you call 911, you want someone that scored high on their tests and skills showing up to your emergency.  

One of the biggest realizations in this whole journey is that YOU ARE NOT IN THIS ALONE!!! You will be surrounded with peers from all over Seattle and King County that are facing the same obstacles and will work together with you to meet those challenges. Understanding the element that you are now a part of a team is a huge step towards being successful in your EMT class.

The next expectation/requirement for success is that you spend the required time outside of class studying and completing the online curriculum. Aside from comprehending the material, designating the appropriate time to study will determine your success or failure.

What happens when you have to work or go to school during the day?

At that point, it comes down to not just the hour study periods but making use of the minutes you can spare between your other responsibilities. Whatever study method works for you . . . stick with it! But, also don’t be afraid to change it up if you aren’t seeing the results you were looking for.

Finally, utilize technology!  We live in a tremendous age where information is but a few clicks, swipes, or spoken words away.  EMTPrep is a great app to purchase at the beginning of your class and to use throughout your training to get ready for the NREMT test.

Having a good understanding of these expectations and how to apply them in reality will put you a step ahead when you walk in the doors to your first FIRE Tech EMT class! – Austin Allen, FireTech – Instructor/Advisor