Click here for a SiteMap
ChandlerAZ.gov

Official City Web Site for Chandler, Arizona    |    Text Size     

The Official Website of the Chandler Arizona Fire Department

A typical day in the life of a Chandler firefighter

What is it like to be a firefighter?
 
This is a look at an average day for Chandler firefighters. Some days include quarterly training at the Chandler Fire Training Center, special operations training in Phoenix or Mesa, demonstrations or tours. But a day can change dramatically for any crew at any time. In addition to everyday tasks such as training, fire prevention, or public education, crews must respond to a call at any time from wherever they may be.

  • 07:30-07:45: Arrive at the station, ensure uniform and protective equipment is ready, presentable, and serviceable.
  • 08:00: Roll Call. During roll call off-going and on-going crews meets and discuss items/information to be passed on. Some items will concern duties, apparatus/station, equipment, calls, training, demos, and inspections.
  • 08:10: Equipment Check-off. On-coming crews place their personal protective equipment on the apparatus. Crews then check-off the respective equipment for which they would be responsible.  For example: EMTs would check that the EMS gear is stocked and batteries are fresh.  Paramedics would ensure that the drug box is stocked and no medications have expired.  Firefighters would check all tools for serviceability, have fresh batteries and fuel.  Engineers would ensure the apparatus is safe and ready for operation.  Captains would sign their crews into the Phoenix Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, an accountability tool on the computer located on every Chandler Fire apparatus and then check the daily scheduled duties for their crews.
  • 08:45-12:00: Assigned daily duties. These duties can be any one or a combination of the following: independent crew training, quarterly training at the regional fire training center, EMS training, public demonstrations, station tours, annual inspections for businesses, physical training or standby for events.
  • Between 11:00 and 13:00: Lunch! Crews will generally eat lunch at some point during this time. They pool their own money together and shop for the meals they make. If they cannot shop due to time constraints they may choose to eat out at a restaurant. At anytime during the preparation or the meal itself, they can be assigned to respond to an emergency.
  • 13:00-17:00: Assigned daily duties. As above, these duties can be any one or a combination of the following: independent crew training, quarterly training at the training center, EMS training, demonstrations, station tours, annual inspections for businesses, physical training or standby for events.
  • Between 17:00 and 20:00: Dinner! Crews will generally eat dinner at some point during this time. They pool their own money together and shop for the meals they make. If they cannot shop due to time constraints they may choose to eat out at a restaurant. At anytime during the preparation or the meal itself, they can be assigned to respond to an emergency.
  • After Dinner: Crews generally wind down and relax after dinner. This time is for them to recoup from a day of hard work. They take showers, call home, check email, and study for college course they're taking or for work and self-improvement.
  • During the evening and early morning hours: Crews rest in the dormitory style rooms at night, but must get up for emergency calls at any hour. Some crews are so busy they only get a couple hours of sleep during the night, having to wake up for multiple calls.
  • 07:00 - Wake up! Most personnel wake up far earlier than 7 a.m. At this time crews will clean the station/restrooms, take out the trash, dust/vacuum and mop the floors.  After this is done, they wash the apparatus.  Washing the apparatus serves two fold; one it serves as a gesture of pride in and care of our equipment for which the citizens and businesses of Chandler pay, second it serves to prolong the life of the apparatus and equipment by removing contaminants from the prior days activities and calls. This also serves to improve the protection we offer our firefighters from environmental disease vectors.
  • 08:00: Roll call. Roll call similar to the prior morning and covering any new items. Then it is out to the apparatus to remove our personal equipment and ... go home to our families!