Photo: Airman 1st Class Christopher Campbell (Public domain)
Job description
On a call, firefighters operate high-pressure hoses, rescue people from burning buildings or accident sites, and coordinate with police on everything from accidents to arson investigations, all while wearing fire-resistant gear and breathing apparatus. Between emergencies, the job includes fire-prevention work, drills, and demonstrations to keep the crew sharp. Because mistakes can have serious consequences and the work happens outdoors in unpredictable conditions, the job demands quick, steady teamwork and a tolerance for noise, hazards, and whatever the weather's doing.
Pros
- Faster than average projected growth (3.4%) with over 27,100 positions nationwide
- High-impact, hands-on work directly saving lives and property in emergencies
- Accessible entry point, vocational training or an associate's degree, no four-year degree required
Cons
- Above-average hours, expect more than a standard 40-hour work week, often in shifts
- Regular exposure to hazardous conditions, heights, and dangerous equipment on the job
- Mistakes can have serious consequences in high-stakes, fast-developing emergency situations
A typical day
Shift change at 7 a.m. means rig check: every airpack gauge, saw, and medical bag on the engine verified before coffee. The first call is medical — most are — and the crew runs a chest-pain response with the practiced calm of people who do it daily. Late morning is training (today, forcible entry on a donated door prop) and station work: cooking, cleaning, equipment maintenance. The structure fire comes at 4: full gear in under two minutes, a coordinated attack line through the front door, heat pressing down from the ceiling while the crew knocks the fire back room by room. Back at the station the gear gets washed, the report gets written, and the crew sits down to a late dinner together — a family on a 24-hour clock.
Tasks at the job
- Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.
- Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.
- Collaborate with police to respond to accidents, disasters, and arson investigation calls.
- Participate in fire drills and demonstrations of fire fighting techniques.
- Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
- Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
Workplace & working conditions
Work happens primarily outdoors, exposed to whatever the weather is doing, and you work in close physical proximity to coworkers or the public for much of the shift. Noise levels can be distracting or uncomfortable. The role involves regular exposure to hazardous equipment or conditions and contaminants and working at heights, and specialized protective equipment is standard.
There's a regular, moderate amount of time pressure. Mistakes can have serious consequences, so accuracy matters a lot. You'll regularly deal with frustrated or upset people as part of the job, and almost all of the work is done as part of a team.
Education necessary or common
Vocational training, apprenticeship, or associate's degree
Licenses & certifications
- Firefighter I/II (academy)
- EMT-Basic (required by most departments; paramedic even better)
- CPAT physical ability test
- Hazmat Awareness/Operations
Career path
Related fields
Courses to take
- Anatomy & Physiology — most calls are medical, not fire
- Chemistry — fire behavior and hazmat response
- Physical Education/Weight Training — the job has a physical entrance exam and a physical every day after
- Health/First Aid — the foundation of EMS work
- Auto or general shop — firefighters maintain their own equipment
Clubs, activities & competitions
- Fire Explorer or cadet post — the single best pipeline into the service
- Get CPR certified and join HOSA if your school has it
- A team sport — fireground work is teamwork under stress
- Volunteer firefighting at 18 in many rural departments
First steps you can take now
- Join your local department's Explorer/cadet program this month
- Get CPR/BLS certified, then plan for EMT — most departments require it
- Start training for the CPAT physical test (stair climb, hose drag — look it up)
- Visit a station and ask firefighters about hiring: civil service exams, EMT, and persistence
