Q&A Feature: Am I Too Old to Become a Firefighter?

Q: I’m 45 and just now realizing that I want to become a firefighter. Will a department even consider me because of my age?

A: Everyone has an opinion of age when it comes to hiring new firefighters. Some people feel that a younger candidate has a better chance of getting hired because, after all, the fire departments are looking to hire a candidate for the next 30 years.

If a fire department hires a 21 or 22 year old, the department can train the recruit before he o...