Firefighting Career Path Update

Blake – take care of yourself working all those hours. I hope your dream of FT firefighting comes true. The volunteer firefighters are the unsung heroes we need more of. Thanks for following this path.

Take care and thanks for your service.

-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!

Blake. Great update. Glad to hear you are making progress toward a full time FD/EMT position. One good thing about living in SoCal, you dont have to worry about your tools getting rusty. Good luck.

-- Smile. Life can be FUN!

I would like to say thank you for all the firefighters all around the U.S. As most people know of the fires we have had up here in Redding, Ca. We have had firefighters from all over the U.S. come here to help put these fires out. By the way they are still burning and summer has been very dark and not much sun light. But my hats off to all of you guys that try very hard to keep all of us safe from these fires. SO A GREAT BIG THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Davesfunwoodworking

Blake, I wish the best for you on your firefighting career. My son-in-law went through what you’re doing now and he could not wait the months and years it takes to get into a fire department. He had his Fire Fighter 1 & 2 certs, Hazmat, EMT and one course away from Paramedic and he ran out of time and steam. It’s a long hard road you’ve chosen, and all I can say is more power to ya. We need folks like you.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

Good luck Blake.

-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them

Blake, thanks for the update. I wish you well in your pursuit of this career and agree with other comments here. Firefighters are too often taken for granted. Take care.

-- Martin, Kansas

Blake good luck on completing all of the interviews and tests to become a fireman. We wish you luck buddy.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Thanks for the update. Life takes us where we will sometimes and where it will most times. Keep at it, mon ami. it sounds like you love the work so don’t give up EVER! Life’s too short for any unnecessary compromises. I’m almost twice your age and I still have something that I’m striving for as well. Something different than when I was a younger man but the point is, there’s still a goal. Got a have ‘em!

always,
J.C.

-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein

Keep plugging along and my offer still stands. Good luck buddy. If you need any help, refrences, tips, or just a sounding board….Holler.

-- Adrian ..... The 11th Commandment...."Thou Shalt Not Buy A Wobble Dado"

Good luck and take care of yourself. Firefighter is one of the few admirable jobs in this country. LJ’s are proud of you.

-- Bill from Lithia Springs, GA I love the smell of sawdust in the morning.

how exciting. If nothing else, the journey has been fascinating but I hope your dream keeps unfolding the way you envision it.

It really sounds like this is your path. I can feel the excitement in your writing! Good luck.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

great work Blake. Keep plugging away at the FT job. It took my husband 2-1/2 years of volunteering and interviews with I think at least 5 different departments to get his structure fire job. Now he’s a Lieutenant and also Engine Boss for fire dispatches and he loves it. He didn’t get sent to Cali due to other obligations but RMF had 3 trucks/crew out there for the past 6 weeks. I’m sure you’ll meet him on a fire someday.

-- life can always be weaved into a song.

Blake,

so good to hear from you.

You definitely have the passion for what you do. All of the firefighters that I know seem to possess the same quality. You guys must have attended the same “firefighters enthusiasm course.”

Thanks for update.

Good luck and be safe.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Blake…sounds like you are keeping busy…doing something you enjoy—-and as a fellow civil servant—-a personally rewarding field of helping others…Good luck with all…and thanks for thinking of us during these busy times…

Take care…matt

-- Matt, Napa, CA...119 days to sanity...

Great work Blake! Looks like you’ll be in the thick of things for years to come.

Remember my warnings. I know of a fireman that will never eat pizza with beer ever again. :-)

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

What’s GaryK talkin’ about? We always eat pizza with beer…and hot wings!...It’s the freakin anchovies that’ll kill ya!

Keep on plugging Blake! You’re almost there! “Highly competitive” is “Highly desireable”!

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

Blake, take care of yourself as you pursue your dream. We are all proud of you. Do relax whenever you get the opportunity.

-- Maplewood, MN

I know I speak for alot of people when I say thank you for doing the job.

-- Michael A. Brailsford

are things slowing down a bit??? i know we still have a long fire season to go…especially in so-cal with the santa ana winds not hitting until the fall…

just hope you are getting a little more rest…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...119 days to sanity...

Thank you for your service, best of luck and be safe.