In the Feb. 6 edition of FireRescue1’s Daily newsletter, I asked readers, “How old were you when you joined the fire department?”
I was 17, but — if I’m being transparent — I got my feet wet long before then.
I posed the question due to our report of an Illinois House bill that could potentially widen the recruiting pipeline by lowering the minimum age to become a firefighter to 18. In my experience, as a firefighter and as someone associated with a fire service media company, it’s the kind of proposal that immediately splits the room — and also exposes the tension the fire service wrestles with every time staffing comes up. (Note: The bill would also raise the maximum age of those eligible to to take a firefighter exam — but that is another debate for another time.)
Over the years, I have read and written plenty about recruitment and responder well-being, but I keep coming back to the same unresolved conflict. Some readers argue that bringing teens into the fire service early is one of the best ways to build a long-term workforce. Others counter that we can’t spend one breath warning about stress, trauma and cumulative exposure — and in the next breath push younger people toward the scenes that cause them.
So I asked you, our readers, and your responses made one thing clear: It’s a conversation about readiness, support, culture and what we owe the next generation if we’re going to ask them to get on the rigs.
Many of you have the same views I have:
- If they are old enough to serve in our armed forces, then they should be able to join their local fire and EMS departments
- It is the responsibility of the department’s leadership and training to equip and prepare them properly for what they will eventually face. No department in its right state should simply have them gear up and let them ride-along.
FireRescue1 readers respond
Some reader replies have been edited for grammar and brevity.
“Speaking on the reduction of the age limit for hiring, in Illinois, we experience challenges with recruitment as much as anyone, I would assume. It is a delicate topic without doubt. We have seen more success with retention with individuals who are hired when they are past the age of 21. Below 21 is pretty young, yet you could put your 30 years in and be able to retire. You would capture more of their youthful years from a physical standpoint as opposed to hiring older, and the firefighter struggles on the back side as the older we get.” — Shawn
“I was a junior volunteer firefighter at 16, but when I first became a paid firefighter, the minimum age to drive was 21 because of insurance. I believe that has become the case in many agencies. The individual would be able to serve as a firefighter, just not a driver. In small agencies where everyone drives this might be the only problem. I still live by the adage, ‘if they are old enough to fight for the country and vote, they should be able to do anything else as well’.” — Clinton
“I began as a firefighter at the age of 16 and have had a successful 50-year tenure in the fire service. I was also certified as a FF/EMT at that age ... I believe it is about the individual and not the age. Beginning at a young age forced me to mature and professionally develop with no regrets as I continue my career at age 66. My son was hired by a metropolitan fire department at age 18, already being certified as a volunteer starting at age 14. At the age of 26, he was competitively promoted to a lieutenant position, where he has remained for the last two years.” — Michael
“ It's as much about leadership and watching out for our young firefighters as it is about their age. Good leadership makes a difference! ”
“After over 50 years as a volunteer firefighter, 20 as an instructor, and serving in three different departments, I have seen both sides of the age argument. My first department didn’t want youth or teens, ‘because they only move away after graduation, and it’s just a waste of our time to train them. My second department was starved for daytime responding members,and in an era that was skeptical of women in the fire service, welcomed them aboard. They also created junior membership in coordination with the local high school. They had to maintain a grade average, attend fireservice training, drills and meetings. The attitude there was that, ‘We don’t care where they go after graduation. They are trained firefighters and will be an asset to their next community, and that reflects well on us.’ We know that after Vietnam, there was a “missing generation” in fire department membership and history repeats itself. Now we have a missing generation in youth and working-age parents, due to educational demands and work pressures. We also know that for rural volunteer departments, when members incorporate their kids (even at elementary ages) into firehouse activities (rolling hose, washing trucks, cleaning equipment and learning how it is used), those kids are more likely to become members themselves when of age. With careful mentoring, set guidelines, and proper training and guidance, there is no reason why there should be an age discrimination for firefighters and EMT’s.” — Joseph
“Sure, that solves staffing issues, but is that what you’re in the business for? Or do you want more level-headed, mature males and females on the trucks? I joined a volunteer department at 18 just to get a “taste” of the job and lifestyle. But I was also taking night classes for civil service firefighters exam. At the same time I graduated as a firefighter, I also passed my EMT exam as all firefighters on my department were EMTs. I then went on and did my training for paramedic, so I could be used wherever they needed me for that shift. I think having them start on a volunteer department is good, but don’t let them rest there. Put them through the books and real-time practice at your training facility. After that if they are ready physically, mentally and emotionally ready and have proven to be a mature asset to represent your municipal fire department at 21, turn them loose. But going from being handed a high school diploma to a helmet and turn-out gear all at 18? No, they’re not mature enough.” — Steve
“I started as a volunteer firefighter a month after my 16th birthday. I finished Firefighter I before my 17th birthday and was a state-certified EMT before my 18th birthday which qualified me to respond to calls. Within the first 12 to 18 months, I worked my first structure fire, saw my first code, handled a DUI fatality motor vehicle accident and was assaulted by a patient. The leadership of the department talked with me, helped me process what was going on around me and most importantly helped me grow up. I saw things that most don’t get to see and am better because of it. 49 years later, I have sat in nearly every chair in the fire service as a volunteer including chief and had a very successful career with a Fortune 50 company. I have regular physicals and work out several times a week so I don’t become that ‘heart attack at any moment’ guy that ends up needing CPR. I’m afraid people are missing a key point. It’s as much about leadership and watching out for our young firefighters as it is about their age. Good leadership makes a difference!” — Bill
“I fit perfectly into this discussion with my background. I became associated with a volunteer department at the age of 12. The minimum age was 15, but after a year of me hanging around and not going away, and looking for other things to do until I turned 15 and could join the FD (i.e., Civil Air Patrol, Sheriff’s Explorers), the fire chief obtained approval for me to join early, with additional limitations on what I could do at this age ... A well-run Explorer program provides a great opportunity to train them properly before any bad habits are created and provides a pool of well-training manpower where you already know what you’re getting, and puts them ahead of the learning curve once their career begins. A better focus of research and study would be pairing with the military to learn more about PTSD, especially where it would focus on early recognition and treatment, rather than the age of the impact. Like I previously stated, everyone brings different backgrounds and past experiences to the table, causing them each to cope differently.” — Brian
“I’ve worked in both Canada and the U.S., and the province of Ontario currently allows obtaining certifications starting at 16, but not becoming a firefighter until 18. I think the fire service is talking out of both sides of its mouth. First, we say this job is wrought with significant potential emotional and psychological damage and chiefs consistently say they hire for character, maturity, high emotional quotient, then we say, ‘at 18, you’re good to go’. I think it reveals the kind of organizational failure many departments are already guilty of, bearing out as a general lack of psychological care.” — Dave
What’s your take?
