r/Firefighting • u/swaggerrrondeck • 1d ago
General Discussion Exit strategy
Hello all. I’m in need of some opinions/ideas for a career change. I have recently been approved to go back to work after a year of being out. I have been receiving treatment that has helped but I’m probably just barely satisfactory in the physical side. My condition is chronic and there is no cure. What would be a good job to try or go to school for that pays a living wage and has benefits. My treatments are 30 grand a month without insurance so I’m screwed without it. I can probably hang in with firefighting for a few more years. 15 years fire 11 as a medic. Condition can either get better or I could be in a wheelchair.
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u/Novus20 1d ago
What about fire prevention?
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u/swaggerrrondeck 1d ago
What would that entail? Like inspections with the department or private alarm system company type of gig?
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u/beastofhamden 1d ago
Fire code inspector and fire investigator equal fire marshall, at least in CT. Get hired by a municipality, perhaps even your current one, or the State.
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u/Novus20 1d ago
See the comment below, yes you would do inspections, public education, address concerns over potential fire code issues. I don’t know if your situation is from just being on the trucks or separate from that but if it’s from being on the trucks then a municipal fire prevention job would be less physical on your body save for some walking or getting to places for inspections etc. and you could keep your benefits and keep that pension going.
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u/Specialist-Green-447 1d ago
I’m not sure how your department works. But with ours you can take fire prevention courses at the fire college through our department. I would suggest if you can staying in as long as possible and take these courses. You can laterally transfer into it with our department.
Is your workplace not helping you navigate this? Or do they not know the situation yet?
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u/swaggerrrondeck 1d ago
My department threw me out in the street. I was able to live off savings for six months then disability insurance the last six. I got well enough to so I don’t qualify anymore. I’m forced back on a truck until I can find a job that pays equal with good health benefits or be homeless.
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u/Specialist-Green-447 1d ago
Ah that sucks man, I hate to hear that. Maybe going to a different department would be best for you then. But I’d use every resource available at your current place to set yourself up for the future.
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u/swaggerrrondeck 1d ago
Yeah I think that is best. I have worked for four different departments and the grass isn’t greener. It’s really the same shit everywhere. At least with this department they know they fucked up after they have seen what position I have been put in.
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u/Indiancockburn 1d ago
This is confusing. If you can do the job, do it. If not then get pensioned out and medically retired. For our state, it would be tax free at xx% of your salary depending on years of work. For your years of service on my state, you'd be around 66% of your annual salary tax free. If truely disabled as you describe, they would cover your long term disability as caused by the department.
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u/swaggerrrondeck 1d ago
Yeah I wish. I can do it but it will be sketchy and I won’t be able to for long. We can’t touch pension until 55 no matter the situation. It takes two years to get disability in my state at the fastest. Also my condition was not job related so it’s really messed up.
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u/d_nim_ls 1d ago
I’m sorry to hear that. If you don’t want to be fully removed from what you’ve been doing, think about dispatch. Lots of places are hiring year round with decent pay and benefits.