Firefighters are a core part of our community as they respond to a variety of emergencies. They respond to medical emergencies, fires, water rescues and motor vehicle accidents. Our community is as safe as it is due to the hard work and dedication of firefighters, EMS providers and their partners in law enforcement.
At the Idaho Falls Fire Department, all firefighters are crossed-trained. Every firefighter is trained as either an emergency medical technician (EMT) or a paramedic, while holding additional qualifications required for specialized teams. Some of the department’s special teams include search and rescue, swiftwater rescue, hazardous materials and all-hazards incident management. The department is filled with passionate firefighters who work hard to protect our community.
Firefighter/Paramedic Justin King is a third-generation firefighter who was recognized as Firefighter of the Year in 2022 by the Idaho Falls Fire Department. Being a third-generation firefighter, Justin grew up looking up to his grandfather who was a firefighter, and his dad who is a fire chief.
Firefighters work for 48 hours at a time and then have 96 hours off. So, what happens during those 48 hours? Firefighters are required to stay at the fire station for 48 hours and respond to any calls during that time.
“No two days are the same,” Justin said. “We show up at 8 a.m. and it’s not going to be the same as the last day we came to work.” The department responds to thousands of emergency calls every year, with over 17,000 calls for service in 2021 alone, according to the department’s 2021 annual report.
“I work at Station Four right now,” Justin said. “Last week I had 12 calls in my first 23 hours of work.” Station four is located at the corner of Sunnyside and Woodruff Avenue, where Justin works as a firefighter/paramedic.
As a firefighter/paramedic, Justin is also in charge of taking care of the department’s emergency medical supplies. “I have to make sure that all of our supplies are restocked, so that all of our ambulances can come restocked as they leave the hospital,” Justin said.
Justin begins his shift by getting his stuff on the rig he is operating out of that day. A “rig” is a reference to any emergency response vehicle, for instance, a ladder truck, a rescue vehicle or an ambulance. Next, he will do a rig check, making sure that everything is working properly. Fast response times are a priority for the department, so making sure everything is in working order is one of their most important tasks.
Throughout the 48-hour shift, Justin will primarily respond to emergency calls. Between calls, he and his fellow firefighters will complete paperwork, go shopping, eat, clean, restock supplies, maintain equipment, work out, train, study and rest.
The crews spend time each shift doing some sort of EMS training, either as an EMT or a paramedic, to keep up their qualifications. After the crews have completed their tasks for the day, they begin to wind down for the night around 5 p.m., and they will sleep at the station.
Firefighters sleep at the station during their shift but they can be awakened by an alarm signifying an emergency call at any time. They are considered to be ‘on call’ the whole time they are at the station.
As the only full-time fire department in Bonneville County that provides dual services—both fire and EMS—the department has a lot of work on their hands. “I work on an ambulance but at any time we could go to a structure fire, for example, and I am expected to fill that role as a firefighter too,” Justin said. The department also provides EMS to portions of Jefferson County and Bingham County.
Because firefighters spend so much time at the station, it becomes a home away from home. “It’s like a second home,” Justin said. “We show up, everybody knows each other and all of our families know each other.”
Personnel at the Idaho Falls Fire Department are passionate about their work and helping the community. “Being able to help people and make an impact on their lives every day is pretty rewarding,” Justin said.
To become a firefighter/EMT or firefighter/paramedic with the Idaho Falls Fire Department, the department requires the individual to hold at least an EMT certificate. They also encourage potential applicants to take the written exam through Public Safety Testing and sign up for the City of Idaho Falls’ job alert notifications by going to www.idahofalls.gov and clicking on the Human Resources tab. The department holds recruit academies locally as the need arises.
Check out the Idaho Falls Fire Department website, www.idahofallsidaho.gov, for more information about the department or information about becoming a firefighter.