I work as a firefighter/paramedic in a small department in the northeast US. I took a full-time position back in March after working at the Department as a paramedic part time since the end of 2022. The position presented itself after I left a toxic workplace back in February, so toxic that I left the employer without notice and without having full time employment lined up. The fire department is what I thought was a great opportunity because municipal benefits are top notch and I’ve dreamed of being a firefighter for a long time. Fast forward to today I’m stressed more than I was at the previous employer because I worry about the stability of the department and external forces revolving around it. Since I started in March there has been extreme amounts of turnover. After being full-time for 7 months I’m in the top quarter of seniority. The department has no command structure, the departments chief was let go and he is now harrassing the membership. I Recently had been looking for a part time side job and came across a position at a larger department closeish to where I live for a job where I can concentrate on the medical side of my career at an well established career department. But I just happen to live 15 minutes too far for their residency requirement. I really wish I waited to leave the toxic place and not jumped into my current employer, in order to actually search for better career options.