I can’t remember anyone mentioning it before. If so, what questions should a young man ask if considering it? What would the future hold if he were to stay with it? Any advice in general?

I've been a volunteer fire fighter for over thirty years. Some things in the fire service vary from region to region, such as the predominant types of calls a department answers. Of course, in a city it's going to be mostly motor vehicle accidents, medical calls, and structure fires. In a more rural area it will be mainly medical, accidents, and wildland fires. Pay will vary widely, too, from barely eking out a living to pretty decent pay with good benefits. Most fire fighters have side jobs to fill in the days off and make extra money.

Most departments work a 24 hour on/ 48 or 72 off schedule. Most modern fire departments will require paid firefighters to be cross-qualified for fire fighting and as paramedics. A firefighter will spend lots of time, even after being hired, training for various other qualifications such as vehicle extrication, confined space rescue, high-angle rescue, emergency response to terrorism, hazmat, etc. There will be many hours of classroom and hands-on training on fire science and fire fighting tactics. If you have back or leg problems this isn't the job you want. Humping hose packs up ladders and stairs while wearing 75 lbs. of protective equipment is a killer on knees, hips, and backs. Some people can't wear the air masks because of claustrophobia or can't take working off ladders because of fear of heights.

It can be rewarding at times, at other times heartbreaking. Cutting bodies out of wrecked cars for the first time is when some folks find out they can't take it. I've still got a few calls that wake me up at night, even after more than twenty years.

Like any job, it isn't all good, it isn't all bad. It can be a very hazardous job. You can't have a momentary mental lapse in the middle of a call. It could cost you or another dearly. Every firefighter puts his life in the hands of his comrades on a call, and their comrades trust you with their lives.

Not trying to discourage a young person from taking a job as a fire fighter, but they need to know the realities of it, not just the glamor that the TV programs show.

If a young person was really interested in firefighting as a career, then I would advise them to go to two or three local fire stations and talk to some of the firefighters there, especially the older guys.

Most fire departments around my area have information sessions once or twice a year where people who are intereted in applying can come and find out more information.

That’s what I was wanting to learn. My son wants to apply, but I’m afraid he’s concentrating on the positives too much. He’s young. He has done well meeting people at a couple of stations and met the director of the fire academy.
Is the training beyond the basics paid by the department? Honestly, I’d rather not use his college money in case he discovers this isn’t for him.
Is promotion a common thing or are higher positions hard to come by? I guess that’s probably pretty specific to an area, but I don’t know what expectations are.
He’s in great shape and works out pretty seriously. He’s been told he’d be fine in that area. Good point about heights and claustrophobia, not to mention the wreck victims. This is a suburban area, so I think car wrecks are a lot of the tough calls they get.
I’d be proud of him for doing it, I’m just stressed out about the whole thing.

Don't forget the "lift assists" that the paramedics will call for. That 500 pound woman that passed out at Walmart isn't going to put herself on that litter.

My neighbor is a fireman, and the way he tells it is that the obvious rings true - the larger the department, the more opportunities to advance.

At some point a four year degree is a requirement for advancement higher up the chain.

It needs to be stressed again that nearly every fireman works some sort of second job - usually of the handyman sort, painting, fixing siding, etc.

Not fire but rode fire rescue a lot during emt/para school and after starting in ER. As said, check pay/benefits. Much like police departments there can be massive differences, even in adjoining depts. Eg, around here one pays fire medics 55-60k, "next door" around 40k. Also check pay structure, if EMT isnt required it will usually mean a bit better better pay, paramedic being more still. The latter can also make getting a part time or PRN position in an ER, urgent care or private office an option if he wants extra shifts. There are also medic to RN bridge programs if he gets drawn towards the healthcare side.

And most importantly, echoing Vocatx, make sure he is mentally and emotionally able to deal with what he'll be exposed to. Having experienced thousands of last moments, I cannot stress that point enough.

edited for brevity puposes

Not too much at all. I appreciate all of the feedback. These are all talking points.

there's a lot that can be said about brevity

Well, looks like this is going forward. The local FD brought him in for a written test the other day and something similar to the CPAT today. Final interview next week, so it may be between him and someone else, I don’t know.
I’m both proud and worried sick. I’m not sure what the pay is, I hope it’s enough to afford what he thinks it will considering he won’t move up with some specialization for a while. This is a good area to work in, as there aren’t many fires, but there will be plenty of car wrecks to experience.