[CanesFan81]

Originally Posted by fauve

The State of Florida is laying off, not hiring. Try the Midwest. You didn't like it here anyway - why would you come back? Especially to a union job in a state that hates unions? More and more benefits are bargained away everyday in an attempt to stem lay-offs.

I was about to say the same thing. Try a major midwest city like Chicago or St. Louis. I recently saw a story on the local news here about firefighter recruits who finished training only to to be told they wouldn't be hired plus with budget cuts here, they were discussing the closing of some fire stations.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by CanesFan81

I was about to say the same thing. Try a major midwest city like Chicago or St. Louis. I recently saw a story on the local news here about firefighter recruits who finished training only to to be told they wouldn't be hired plus with budget cuts here, they were discussing the closing of some fire stations.

Really? Here in Manatee they are just wrapping up a huge new one in east Manatee near Lakewood Ranch. Also, they just built a gorgeous new fire station two blocks from my house, and are building yet ANOTHER near Tallevast. I have no idea how many if any new firefighters they will hire, but there was an article last summer about possibly hiring a new crew for the east Manatee facility. I would guess availability of firefighter jobs depends on individual counties.

[Jlopes26]

It's probably mid 30's to start. Here in Sarasota county every 4th shift you would have a "kelly day" (payed day off) but now there probably gonna take that away soon. They are even thinking about taking pensions away as well from what im told by my ff instructors. They just hired 30 people in this county recently. Schools are pumping put graduates in FL without proper training running 4-5 classes a year to get there $$$ so many people are unprepared for what they can endure. Even with the certificates and emt finding a job will be difficult. Volunteeering will probably be the best way to keep her certificates valid if your unable to find a job. There might not of havce been layoffs recently but there aren't any raises either.

[Jlopes26]

Some of the firestations made are just for ff already just moving into another location.

[StreetSmarts]

JLopes26,

Hey man, how about fire safety inspector? From what I've read, I could do that without being a FF, and having my property adjusters license and the ability to read and interpret blueprints and such, this may be something I can do. It's 5 40-hr courses, a total of 200 hrs, then you have to pass the exam. From what I've seen, pay is the same if not higher than a FF, at least hourly.

[RMD3819]

Fire Inspector is not a bad option but the job market is limited. These tend to be filled from the FF ranks who are injured or nearing retirement as it requires much less physical activity.

Welcome to the Florida Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association Web Site! (http://www.ffmia.org/index.html - broken link)

[Jlopes26]

Yea what RMD said. But it doesn't hurt to have since you got some experience and would be a much shorter time then ff school and emt.. gl

[StreetSmarts]

Thanks Jlopes and RMD.

[StreetSmarts]

Do you guys know what the starting pay is for the fire safety inspector? And what pay is after 3-5 yrs of experience? 10 yrs?

[Jlopes26]

my instructor said a "journeyman" starts at 34,000 here in fl...