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Is anyone a fireman on here?
MK9R - 7/9/09 at 10:26 AM

Totally peeved off with my job, and have been for a few years. I always wanted to join the forces or Fire brigade, but when i finished uni i went for a more money motivated career. I have a well paid job but just don't get any satisfaction from it, so started looking back at what i actually wanted to do. I'm too old (34) and have a family so the forces are out of the question, but the fire brigade still interests me massively, but my main question is, what does an average qualified firefighter earn including OT and unsocial hours. Money isn't everything but i have to be realistic and could afford a huge cut.


Guinness - 7/9/09 at 10:30 AM

I'm not a fireman, but used to work closely with them.

Nearly all the lads I knew had another job on the side. So they were Fireman / Plumber or Fireman / Plasterer or Fireman / Decorator etc etc.

Working 4 days on and 4 days off, they tended to get bored during the 4 days off, so did other work.

HTH

Mike


Flamez - 7/9/09 at 10:32 AM

I was a fire officer for more info see here


MK9R - 7/9/09 at 10:38 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Guinness
I'm not a fireman, but used to work closely with them.

Nearly all the lads I knew had another job on the side. So they were Fireman / Plumber or Fireman / Plasterer or Fireman / Decorator etc etc.

Working 4 days on and 4 days off, they tended to get bored during the 4 days off, so did other work.

HTH

Mike


Thats what i had gathered from some of the guys i have met, which would suit me well as i do have another job i could expand on.


MK9R - 7/9/09 at 10:41 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Flamez
I was a fire officer for more info see here


My local station is manned by entirely retained firefighters as its only a small rural station, they are desperate for midweek cover, but as i work miles away i can't do it. I assume if you are a full time fire fighter, you could work as a retained memeber at the local station on the day off to bump up the income, this again would suit my second job as i would work at home.


graememk - 7/9/09 at 10:42 AM

you'll never be rich, if you thinking retained duty you need to be self employed or have a understanding boss.

try looking at this site.

http://www.fireservice.co.uk/


mistergrumpy - 7/9/09 at 10:55 AM

I speak to them occasionally on jobs and it seems that unless they've not too far to retirement then they'd drop their job at the slightest whiff of something else.
Their's something about their shifts that they're on cover at home a lot I think but either way their cushy shifts are all but done after they went on strike and effectively screwed themselves over.
I've nothing massive against them apart from the fact that when they went on strike and many were effectively forced through the unions, it was my mates in the forces having to cover for them who were extremely ill kitted and trained whilst I was trying to cover their jobs and supply misiles to Iraq. It was a massively busy time.


omega0684 - 7/9/09 at 10:56 AM

one of my best mates dad is a fireman, he's been one for just under 30 years, so is due to retire very shortly.

i was having a discussion with him the other day and he said it used to be ok working the night shift cuz you used to be able to sleep but now apparently you have to stay up all threw the night and your not allowed to sleep. and they make you work 10-12 hour shifts at a time, i always thought that fireman started on around 23-24K (not enough in my eyes!) but that is just hearsay


mistergrumpy - 7/9/09 at 11:04 AM

Stay awake for a full shift? Work nights? 10-12 hour shifts? That's my job and exactly what I'm doing tonight. I don't see why you shouldn't stay awake when you're at work and being paid?


graememk - 7/9/09 at 11:15 AM

i dare you to post that on the fire service website lol

thats the kind of post a police officer would come out with, so are you ?

quote:
Originally posted by mistergrumpy
Stay awake for a full shift? Work nights? 10-12 hour shifts? That's my job and exactly what I'm doing tonight. I don't see why you shouldn't stay awake when you're at work and being paid?


[Edited on 7/9/09 by graememk]


mistergrumpy - 7/9/09 at 11:29 AM

Yep. But why not stay awake? There's more than us doing that. Heck I know cleaners that work hours as long as that and start at 0400 hours or bakers do the same. I can't see how it's that unusual.
To post it on a firefighter website would quite obviously stir things as they obviously feel that they shouldn't have to be awake during a shift but I can't see why not, you're being paid. Each to their own thoughts though.


graememk - 7/9/09 at 12:04 PM

we dont need beds anyway, the local police station donated there old dounut machine to us as they dont have time to eat them now that they have to chase criminals for a living.

we are all awake on a sugar rush now.


[Edited on 7/9/09 by graememk]


mistergrumpy - 7/9/09 at 12:09 PM

Fair enough.Most coppers can't run to save their lives.


oldtimer - 7/9/09 at 12:44 PM

I was a firefighter till a couple of years back. I left after the national strikes as I spoke out against striking and that was not well liked. It can be a very boring job, with very occasional moments of high excitement and stress. Probably less that 5% of calls actually see you doing anything. As there are no academic requirements to get a position there are some pretty basic types in the fire service. The latest recruitment in Avon saw over 1000 applicants for 20 places....


TimC - 7/9/09 at 02:44 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MK9R
Totally peeved off with my job, and have been for a few years. I always wanted to join the forces or Fire brigade, but when i finished uni i went for a more money motivated career. I have a well paid job but just don't get any satisfaction from it, so started looking back at what i actually wanted to do. I'm too old (34) and have a family so the forces are out of the question, but the fire brigade still interests me massively, but my main question is, what does an average qualified firefighter earn including OT and unsocial hours. Money isn't everything but i have to be realistic and could afford a huge cut.


What about moving from automotive engineering to defence? My best mate and his partner are both involved in defence supply/communications and they are pretty well paid, interested and have decent work-life balance.

Just a thought.


Brooky - 7/9/09 at 05:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MK9R
Is anyone a fireman on here?


Guilty as charged your honour......

pay details can be found here....

http://www.fbu.org.uk/workplace/pay/index.php