The time and energy it takes to become mentally and physically prepared as a seasonal firefighter

Being hired as a seasonal wildland firefighter was an experience that was very unique and rewarding that was extremely challenging in many aspects, Physically mentally and emotionally. However the challenge does not only begin when you step foot on the fireline. The challenge begins months before in preparation for fire season up until day fourteen of your last assignment for the season. From destroying your body during PT in order to prepare for the vigorous work that lies ahead to learning your fire knowledge such as fire behavior and learning your 10s and 18s by heart, even conquering that voice in your head that starts talking to you when things get difficult. As a seasonal firefighter I have my put blood sweat and tears in order to prepare for the season and to push through each fire assignment assignment One of the first and very important steps it takes in order to become prepared as a seasonal firefighter is to physically prepare yourself, to train and become physically fit for the job. Being a wildland firefighter is a very vigorously physically demanding job, if your physical abilities aren't able to keep up with the physical demands of the job then you will not be able to perform as an efficient firefighter, but what's even more crucial about not being physically fit is you become a hazard for yourself and your crew. 

When it comes to physically training for the job one must take their training very seriously. Like I mentioned earlier, not being physically fit can have serious consequences for you and your crew. A saying I once heard from a crewboss:

“Don't train like your life depends on it, train because your life does depend on it.”

One must constantly push themselves every training session pushing beyond your limit in order to maximize the physical strength and endurance that is required for the job. These training sessions must begin months before fire season in order to achieve the conditioning that is required. I would wake up at 3 in the morning and go for a run before work since I entered work at 5 in the morning. Because of the job I worked at, some days I wouldn't get home till 11 o-clock at night. So I would wake up before work to make sure I went for a run or trail run to ensure I was keeping up with my physical training because I knew once fire season arrived I had to be in the best shape possible. Another important part of my training was hiking on my days off or even on the days I was off of work early. No matter what, I made sure I was constantly training. Without pain there cannot be any growth or improvement, and in this case growth is very essential. As a firefighter it is important we also take care of our health as well. This means getting the proper nutrition we need. Taking care of our bodies and prioritizing recovery just as much as we prioritize physical training. 

Apart from physical training, one must study and learn their fire knowledge. It is also important that once you learn your fire knowledge to always go back and review to keep that knowledge current in your mind. A prime example of me constantly reviewing my foreknowledge that I had already learned were my tens and eighteens. Those are very critical for every firefighter to learn and know by heart for they have been written in blood. It would be extremely disrespectful as a firefighter to not know them, which is why I take importance in constantly reviewing them. Every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to sleep throughout the year, not only during fireseason. The same applies to reviewing my fire knowledge. Everyday, year-round I take time to review my fire knowledge by studying and reviewing my notes and course work from my courses. I even ask loved ones like my wife to quiz me to help ensure I still have my fire knowledge engraved in my head.

Just like physical training, your knowledge on fire is also crucial to your safety.  

Your life depends on your knowledge as well. Just like physical training, if you don't know your knowledge you are not only a hazard to yourself but for your crew as well. Without your knowledge you will not be able to understand fire behavior, environmental conditions, fuel arrangements, or be able to identify hazards along the fireline. If one fails to identify extreme fire behavior such as crowning, spotting, or torching, the consequences can result in the death of you and your crew. Which is why it is important to not only be sure to be confident in your fire knowledge but to constantly review your knowledge year-round, even as a seasonal firefighter it is important to constantly review year round. Not only your life depends on it but the lives of your crewmembers as well. 

Although wildland firefighting is an extremely rewarding job it is also an extremely dangerous job. As a seasonal firefighter, it is extremely important to make sure to be well prepared for fire season. In order to be prepared one must prepare many months in advance to fire season and work extremely hard to make sure one is ready for those 14 through 21 day fire assignments. Although the preparation may be difficult physically mentally and emotionally, as a firefighter we must be disciplined enough to put in the hard work required to be an efficient firefighter.