They say that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. If that’s true, how do you know when it’s time to stop?
In a recent poll, we asked FireRescue1 readers at what age they plan to retire from the fire service – if at all. Of those who responded, the most common planned retirement age is between 55-60 (28%), with the next most common between 41-55 (21%).
Plus, 17% of respondents say they don’t plan to retire from firefighting.
What firefighters are saying
“I’ll be 68 in July, diabetic, some other health issues. I’ll let somebody get on the truck ahead of me, but I can still make a contribution.”
“54, but I will be probably volunteer at a VFD department somewhere ‘til my brain dies.”
“After 30 years of being a volunteer, I am walking away this year at 46 due to work schedule and health.”
“At 49 I made the difficult decision to walk away from the volunteer department I’ve been with since I was 16. For me it’s health reasons.”
Additional resources
Check out these FireRescue1 resources for firefighters considering retirement:
- Passion doesn’t know retirement: It’s a learned and lived trait
- 8 fire service careers that don’t involve running into burning buildings
- 7 truths about fire service retirement
- 5 financial concerns to address when leaving the fire department
Read next:
Hanging up the helmet: What will be your purpose post-retirement
Factors to consider when deciding when “enough is enough” – and how to foster a smooth transition
