Firefighting schedules

24/48, 48/96, 3-4 Kelly. If you have a loved in the fire service you know that there is a special challenge when planning events or celebration. It can at times be hard to track and remember what days or nights they work, one week they worked on a Wednesday and now they have Wednesday off but are working Friday instead. Or perhaps you are interested in joining the fire service and want to understand the schedule better before you get started. We will cover some of the most common schedules within the fire service and easy ways to keep track.

First we must understand the rotation. Generally there are three shifts, A,B,and C. So while one shift is on duty, the other two are off. This allows each shift to work the same number of days and have the same number of days off. This allows each crew to work weekends and have weekends off so no one is always stuck working Friday through Sunday every week. There are departments that have a D shift, and all that means is there is a 4th crew to add to the rotation. Now the shifts themselves are generally 24 hours long. This means from 7am to 7am, that crew is on duty and responsible to respond to emergencies. So don’t be upset with your loved one when they can’t make it to you 6pm dinner party. Just because you got to go home at 5pm from your job, doesn’t mean they get to. Now you will notice that these schedules often to not follow 7 day traditional schedule, that is because of the 24/7/365 nature of the fire service and special tax laws, fire departments often have 18 day pay cycles, and a full work week may consist of 53 hours.

24/48. This schedule means that a shift will 24 hours, so for example Monday at 7am they will start, and get off work Tuesday at 7am. Once that is complete, they will have 48 hours off. Meaning that crew will have Tuesday and Wednesday off, before returning to work Thursday at 7am. Then the cycle repeats itself over again. Here in the Phoenix valley the cities of Phoenix and Glendale are the only two that work this schedule. Some advantages to the 24/48 is that you only have to work for 24 hours at a time, and are not spending multiple nights in a row away from your family. Also, having a consistent rotation means that you can predict your schedule far in advance. However, some downsides are only having two days off at a time. Some friends of mine who work this schedule say they are always in a state of exhaustion. If you have a busy 24 hours, it takes you one whole day to recover, then when the next day off comes you have to get ready to go back again. This is a major reason many department no longer work this schedule. Now some departments do offer “Kelly” days, meaning it is a paid shift off, I am not sure how those work exactly, but do know they exist.

48/96. The granddaddy of fire schedules. This is arguably the most popular and most loved schedule there is. Much like the 24/48, the shift will show up at 7am on Monday, however they will be at the station until Wednesday at 7am. Then from there the shift won’t come back to work until Sunday at 7am, then the rotation starts back over. Almost every department in the West Valley of Phoenix runs this schedule. Now why is it so popular? Having 4 days off gives you the ability to take long weekend trips with loved ones. Plan out house projects and have enough time to work on them. Even for some like me it gives us the chance to pick up a part time job or 2 to help make extra money. Another reason it is loved so much is it given the firefighter the chance to work OT and still have time off to come home and recover. A benefit to the 48/96 is it gives firefighters the chance to always have some weekends off. Because the schedule rotates, every 4-6 weeks a crew will have Friday-Sunday off. However, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, it is hard enough spending one night in an unfamiliar bed, but two nights in a row can really get to people. Also, if the first 24 hours are busy, there is another 24 hours to get through before going home. Many departments that use to be on 24/48 schedules have opted to go to the 48/96 and to my knowledge not one of them have regretted it. It is said that only slower departments can run this schedule, however Sun City Fire Department is arguably one of the busiest, and station 133 is always in contention for the busiest in the state, run 48/96. Many of those firefighters say the schedule allows them to go home, unwind, and recover before the next rotation. Helping with burnout and physical/mental health.

3-4 Kelly. This schedule does a few things, it combines the best parts of the 24/48 and 48/96 schedules. This schedule can get very confusing so if you get lost use the picture to follow along. The crew will arrive Monday at 7 am and work until Tuesday at 7am. Then, they are off the rest of Tuesday and will return to work Wednesday at 7am. Thursday at 7am the crew will go home, and come back again at 7am Friday. Confused? Well just hold on, Now at 7am Saturday, that crew is off work for the next 96 hours, or 4 days. Meaning they won’t come back to the station until Wednesday at 7am for the rotation to reset. This schedule is used by the East Side of the Phoenix Valley, like with the other, also has pros and cons. Only having to work 24 hours at a time helps you have more time at home with family and having the 4 consecutive days off still provides time for recovery and fun. One perk this schedule offers is by taking 72 hours of vacation, so all 3 days of the rotation, you will have 13 days off in a row. This schedule does also allow for firefighters to have part time jobs as well, which can help a person’s financial situation. A major downside unlike having 48 hours between workdays, you only have 24. Now this does get off set with the 4 days off. Another setback is this schedule is so confusing, It isn’t easy to think ahead and say “Oh ya, I have next Saturday off.” It requires you to have a copy of the schedule around to look at and reference. A perk mentioned with the 48/96 does and doesn't come into play with the kelly is the weekend rotation. On the kelly schedule you will be on the same calendar days for several weeks. Meaning you will be working 3 Fridays in a row before having a Friday off. Talking to friends on this schedule it is difficult planning functions with friends and family that have a 9-5.

So if you are someone who is thinking about joining the fire service it is very important to know what schedule the department you are trying to get hired with works. You want to be able to prepare for that challenge of being away from home for a night or two, it is not something you want to just try and figure out when you start. If you have a loved one in the fire service it is important to remember that yes they will miss special occasion, holidays, birthday, and graduations. However, if you learn how to make the most of their days off you can create wonderful memories and experiences on a random Tuesday in July that you’ll remember forever. And when it comes to planning functions, you can alway ask for loved one what color day they are. If they tell you green, then schedule events and celebrations on red or blue days.