Being a firefighter with Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical (LDCFM) is more than just a job—it’s a challenging, rewarding career that requires teamwork, resilience, and dedication to serve the community. Each day brings new opportunities to make a meaningful impact.
What Firefighters Do
Firefighters perform a wide variety of critical duties in diverse and often unpredictable environments, including:
- Fire Suppression: Extinguishing fires to protect lives and property.
- Fire and Injury Prevention: Educating the public to reduce risks.
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS): Providing life-saving care during medical emergencies, which make up 75–80% of our calls.
- Building Inspections and Pre-Planning: Ensuring safety standards and preparedness.
- Specialized Response: Handling hazardous materials, biological threats, and disaster scenarios (natural or man-made).
- Disaster and Terrorist Threat Response: Rapid, coordinated action during critical incidents.
What It Takes
All applicants must hold Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification. Firefighters at LDCFM combine fire suppression and EMS services, tackling challenges that demand physical strength, mental fortitude, and a commitment to safety.
Skills and Attributes
- Teamwork: Success relies on coordinated efforts and trust within the team.
- Communication: Delivering compassionate, respectful service to a diverse community is essential.
- Physical Fitness: Fire/EMS professionals must be prepared to carry 80–100 pounds of equipment, wear up to 80 pounds of protective gear, and climb ladders or stairs while performing high-intensity tasks like fire suppression, rescues, or patient care.
The Risks and Rewards
The role comes with inherent dangers, including exposure to communicable diseases and physically demanding conditions. However, it’s also one of the most fulfilling professions, offering opportunities to save lives, prevent harm, and grow both personally and professionally.
Daily Life at LDCFM
Firefighters balance emergency response with preparation and community engagement:
- Maintenance and Training: Keeping equipment, apparatus, and skills in top condition.
- Education: Participating in college-level fire and EMS courses to enhance personal and departmental expertise.
- Community Outreach: Leading programs on fire safety, CPR training, and helmet safety for wheeled sports.
- Station Life: Ensuring a clean, functional station environment.
Shift Schedule
LDCFM operates under the “Berkley” System:
- 24-Hour Shifts: Alternating duty days with 1–4 days off, averaging 56-hours per week.
- Administrative Roles: Follow a standard 40-hour workweek schedule.
If you’re ready to meet the challenge and join a team dedicated to serving the community with pride and excellence, we welcome you to explore a career with LDCFM.