EP1: The Fire Service - Transcript

In this opening episode of Fourhall, we explore what it means to step into the fire service for the first time. From expectations and qualifications to the unspoken traditions that shape every hall, this is where the journey begins.

[SHOW OPENS]

HOST (CORY ASHWORTH):

Welcome to Fourhall. My name is Cory Ashworth. This is episode one, the fire service. If you're listening to this, you either are or you want to be a firefighter. If this is the start of your journey, I'm so glad you found us. You know that feeling of stepping into something big for the first time? That mix of excitement and nerves and maybe a bit of, what have I got myself into? Most of us don't remember every detail of starting, but we do remember the feeling of being new, unsure, and not quite knowing where you fit yet. When you're first starting out, especially in something as demanding as firefighting, the pressure, the personalities, the flood of training and information, it can be a lot. As my chief put it:

CHIEF DRAKELEY:

"If you're overwhelmed easily, this probably isn't a job for you. Anybody can learn this, but not everybody should do it.

CORY ASHWORTH:

It's blunt, but honest. This job will stretch you physically, mentally, and emotionally. But that's a part of it. The work starts way before the job offer, and the learning keeps on going long after. We build Fourhall with you in mind. This podcast is meant to be a quiet companion to your formal training. You're not just stepping into a building. You're stepping into a role. and how you show up matters to your crew, yourself, and to the people who call when things fall apart. Episode one lays the groundwork. It's not about tactics yet. It's about who we are, why we exist, and how we carry ourselves. So what do you say? Let's start right there. This little piggy is going to roll out the firefighter guidelines, the expectations. Every hall has them, and every firefighter will hear them multiple times in their career. But these five guidelines, they are the must-haves and the non-negotiables. And that's why these core expectations exist. Because they shape how you show up. Let's break them down. Number one is be safe. And yeah, it sounds obvious, but it's the truth. If one firefighter gets hurt doing something preventable, it doesn't just impact them. can affect the call, the crew, and in some cases, the whole community. Number two is follow orders. This one gets misunderstood sometimes because it's not about blind obedience. It's definitely not about ego. It's about accountability. And building the kind of trust a team needs to actually function under pressure. When lives are potentially on the line and decisions need to happen fast, you need to be operating under a clear unified command and there's no room for confusion and no room for debate. You need to know who's in charge and trust that they've got the big picture in view while you take care of your piece of the puzzle under their direction. Number three is work as a team. Firefighting is at its core a team sport. As part of any crew or team the more tools you bring to the table the more ways you can help.

CHIEF DRAKELEY:

You need to be the Swiss Army Knife and And that's the key to having a long career. Mentally knowing a lot about everything will help you through those tough times. And also being a partner, a good part of the crew, being that guy that can be that Swiss Army knife, I can do this, I can do that.

CORY ASHWORTH:

Number four is think. This one's a little less direct than the others, but it might be the most important. Procedures and protocols give you structure. But on the fire ground, Not everything plays out the way it's written in the book. The fundamentals are what we're focusing on here and are simply a base and starting point. You have to be able to think, to assess what's actually happening and to recognize when something's off, to adapt and make a smart, fast decision in real time. Number five is follow the golden rule. It's a classic. If I asked you, what's the golden rule? I'm sure you could recite it. It's like ingrained into our heads. Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you. Sounds biblical, actually probably is. Hold on, hold on for a sec. Hold on, just wait. Okay, yeah, I checked and the golden rule is in the Bible. Specifically, Matthew 7, 12. So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. For this sums up the law and the prophets. Okay, cool. Thanks Bible.

The mission of the fire service. So what's the actual mission behind the fire service? It really does come down to three core priorities. And these guide every decision on scene. Number one is life safety. Always number one, we're protecting lives, the publics, your crews, and don't forget your own. That always comes first. Firefighters' lives come first before the public. The job carries risk, yes, but remember your life is not a trade-off. You're not here to die. You're here to do a job well and go home. Number two is quick and dirty. It's incident stabilization. Get things under control. Stop the situation from getting worse. And number three, the mission of the fire service, property conservation. Save what can be saved. Protect buildings belonging to an infrastructure when it's safe to do so. And when it comes to fires, there's a real difference between being reckless and being ready to attack.

CHIEF DRAKELEY:

We need to have aggressive firefighters. It's part of the job. There's being unsafe, aggressive, where you're not quite sure of what you're doing, as opposed to being very sure and very trained, being able to get out of fire, quickly attack it, put it out.

CORY ASHWORTH:

Those priorities, life safety, stabilization, and property conservation, they're not just theory. see them in action on every call, I promise. Beyond those immediate priorities, most fire departments have a much broader scope in the community. We basically do everything. Things like prevention, actively trying to stop fires before they start. Public education, helping people understand fire safety. Suppression, like actually fighting the fires. Rescue, that can be everything from car accidents to technical and water rescues and confined space calls. Prevention, education, suppression, and rescue, that covers a lot of what most departments do. The Culture of the Fire Service So let's talk about the culture because that's a huge piece of what makes this work. There is a very specific rhythm to life in a fire hall. It has its own language, its own pace, and definitely its own kind of humor. The culture is forged through intense shared experiences, long nights, hard calls, and all the little often unspoken ways people support each other. They're small acts that are done without fanfare over and over, like daily truck checks, raising the flags, lowering the flags, sweeping the floors. These are just small things over and over. They build trust, they build purpose, and they build the kind of team that shows up without being asked. And when the job gets heavy, and it will, that trust and culture is what helps you carry it. Not alone, but together. Here's the good chief on the bad calls.

CHIEF DRAKELEY:

People call you on the worst days of their lives and you're going to see terrible things, but young guys have to realize that none of what you see is going to be your fault. You're there to do the best job you can with the training that you've received. Sometimes it's just not going to be good enough for a good outcome. These moments are why the chief is a huge believer in the power of good training. I'm a big proponent in training. I think good training gets people confident in their skills and it prepares you for these bad days because your mind, if something's happening and you haven't been trained in it, your mind will automatically go to, "Damn, I shouldn't have done this. I shouldn't have done that." Whereas if you've been trained, you know what the outcome is going to be based on your training and what you should have done. And if you can be confident in the fact that you've done all you can do, I think that mentally prepares you a little bit better.

CORY ASHWORTH:

And under all of that, the training, the jokes, the hard calls, there's a set of values that hold everything together. Courage, honor, duty, respect.

CHIEF DRAKELEY:

Respect for everybody, not just the people on the job, but firefighters are the most trusted profession in the world for a reason. And that's because they do respect everybody.

CORY ASHWORTH:

Integrity and character. They do sound kind of like cringy in 1950s when you say them out loud. But in reality, these are the fundamental expectations for how you show up, how you carry yourself, and how you treat people on scene, in the hall, and out in the world.

Qualifications. So you might be thinking, "I'm in. I want to do this." But what do you actually need to get started? Qualifications vary by country, state, province, department, and whether you're joining a career or volunteer department. But here's what you can expect in general. The minimum age qualification can range between 18 and 21. A high school diploma or equivalent is typically the baseline for your educational requirements to join. That being said, competition is fierce, so a higher level education, a degree or a trade background is going to be a huge asset. You'll need to pass a comprehensive medical exam, often based on the NFPA 1582 standards. This is to make sure you can safely handle the physical demands of the job. I'll put that standard in a link in the show notes, and I'll tell you at the end of the show how to get there. Then there's the CPAD, the Candidate Physical Abilities Test. This test is standardized and designed to simulate the actual job tasks in order of progression on the fire ground, climbing stairs with weight, hoisting ladders, dragging hose lines, carrying equipment, forcible entry, search and rescue, and finally, sealing breach simulations. These skills are performed back to back, under pressure, and timed. I'll put a video of a guy crushing the CPAT like a final boss robot in the show notes. Watching it will give you a real idea of what to expect and how the CPAT is typically rolled out. Most departments will expect some level of emergency medical training, so EMR or EMT certification, or at least a valid first aid and CPR ticket when you start out. The application process and competition can suck. There's no better way to put it. You will likely go through a written exam, an oral board interview with a thorough background check. It's a lot of pressure, but that's also the point. They're not just looking for technical knowledge. In fact, they're looking at your communication skills, your character, and to see your overall fit with their department. We'll do a deeper dive into mastering your interview and application skills in a future episode. Finally, your driver's license. I hate to tell you that a clean record is a must in both the US and Canada and can make or break your chance of working in the service. It's a demanding process. It takes real dedication. You're doing the hard part first, though. You're actively preparing yourself. some final thoughts from the chief:

CHIEF DRAKELEY:

It's a great job, it's a great career, it's a great service. If you're into it, be into it, make it part of your life. There's nothing worse than a firefighter who looks at the fire service as just a job. It makes it painful for everybody around you that's trying to do their best or make the most of their time in the service. Again, the service isn't for everybody, but if you're going to do it, jump in with both feet.

CORY ASHWORTH:

Thanks for being here. Whether you're brand new to the hall or 10 years in, I'm glad you showed up. This series is about growing into the role together, one call, one drill, and one breath at a time. Next episode, we're talking about roles and duties. and what it takes to show up when you're not sure you can.

JESSE HILDERING:

Our job is all about the unknown. You never know on any given day what you're going to show up to, right? It's an emergency. And as long as you train and you trust yourself and you trust your teammates, that's what gets me through it.

CORY ASHWORTH:

If you want to reach out, you can email us at hello@fourhall.com For show notes, transcripts, and to join the mailing list, head to our site, fourhall.com. If this episode meant something to you, like it, follow it, share it. Your support helps us grow. Thanks again. We'll talk to you soon.

[SHOW CLOSES]