Jumpline MAG_Spring 2026 - Flipbook - Page 14
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Station Etiquette
STATION ETIQUETTE
FOR PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTERS
Chief R. Palestrant, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue
Lt. Manny Morales, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue
First introduced 1998-99
ASSIGNMENTS:
ARRIVAL:
Arrive 30 minutes prior to the start of
your shift if possible, no later than 15
minutes before. (Not mandatory, but highly suggested).
Don’t be a minute man. (Someone who shows up one minute
before the start of the shift).
Be ready to run a call as soon as you get to the station. This
means you put your gear on the truck as soon as you arrive and
are ready to go. Remember: the 昀椀re昀椀ghter you are replacing
wants to leave as soon as his/her shift is over, and you would
like someone to do that for you.
If the off-going 昀椀re昀椀ghter must run a call 15 minutes before
the end of shift, he/she may not return to the station until an
hour or more afterward. This may affect more than just that
昀椀re昀椀ghter; he or she may be replacing another 昀椀re昀椀ghter at
another station.
Report to your assigned station in full uniform even if you are
working overtime.
Check every compartment in every apparatus in the
station including the Battalion Chief’s vehicle after
you check the truck you are assigned to. Whether
assigned to the Rescue or Suppression, you may
be instructed to locate equipment from the other
apparatus on a call.
After the apparatus has been checked, ask your of昀椀cer for
your station assignments.
When completed, ask your of昀椀cer if there is anything else for
you to do.
You are the probie/rookie/recruit; your job is to answer the
telephone every time it rings. Identify yourself by station, rank,
and name, in that order.
If the recall goes off, go directly to your assigned apparatus
unless directed otherwise.
Learn the proper procedure for answering the radio, but do not
answer unless speci昀椀cally instructed to do so by your of昀椀cer.
If the doorbell rings, answer it. Greet the public, take blood
pressure, answer questions if you can, and if you can’t, ask
someone else! You don’t know everything, so don’t pretend to.
When you have free time, ask questions, complete your
modules, and study, study, study.
Do not take a nap while you are on probation,
even if someone tells you it is okay. They
might be testing you.
Unless you are on a special diet, be prepared
to eat with the crew. Don’t ask what they are
cooking. If your diet is not medically prescribed,
it would be smart to pay for the meal whether you
eat it or not.
INTRODUCTIONS:
Identify yourself to the 昀椀rst uniform employee you
see, and if you don’t already know, ask which
apparatus you are assigned to and who your
of昀椀cer is.
Pay your kitty and don’t be a kitty hound. The kitty is
not there to provide you with three meals a day.
OVERTIME:
Introduce yourself to:
If you are working overtime,
immediately advise your OIC
that you are a probationary
昀椀re昀椀ghter. Do not pretend to be
Your of昀椀cer
Your crew
a seasoned veteran, as it could put
you and your crew in danger.
The of昀椀cer and crew of the other
apparatus in the station
Be prepared to pay 昀椀ve dollars
or bring a dessert. This is not a
written rule, just a courtesy to
your fellow 昀椀re昀椀ghters. You are
now making 1½ times the normal
pay rate for that shift and can well
afford 昀椀ve dollars or the going
rate. Lieutenants should pay $10,
All other uniform personnel in the
station, whether on-duty or not
Five minutes after you introduce
yourself, most of the people will
not remember your name. If you
don’t bother to introduce yourself, they’ll all
remember you!
Spring 2026 | JUMPLINE Magazine
