When not fighting fires, firefighters spend all day responding to medical emergencies and other types of calls, checking equipment, vehicle maintenance, housework/cleaning, writing reports, training and education, physical fitness, public safety demos, and station tours.
To be a firefighter, you will need to have graduated from high school, be at least 18 years of age and completed your Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate. In addition, some fire departments want the candidate to have taken several college units prior to applying for the firefighter's exam.
Fire Gets HotA room fire can range from 100 degrees at floor level to 1,200 or more degrees at the ceiling. Skin can burn with permanent injuries at 160 degrees. The heat given off from a fire can kill. If super heated air is inhaled, it can scorch lungs.
Firefighters care for the sick and injured. They rescue pets, pull animals out of trees, and help the future generation stay warm. Firefighters also work to prevent future fires from happening. They install fire alarms, create fire regulations, and teach children fire safety.
There are several ways to accomplish this from the simple, passports with crew names, to the complex, radio transmitting personal alarm devices. All firefighters should use the Personal Alarm Device also known as a PASS. NFPA 1500 requires that each fire or rescue personnel be provided a PASS device.
One of the best ways to show kids that firefighters aren't scary is to introduce them to one. Many public schools have firefighter classroom visits where firefighters talk to the kids about their jobs and teach fire safety basics like stop, drop and roll.
A significant year in firefighter fatality data2020 ended with a total of 96 on-duty deaths per the United States Fire Administration.
13 Facts About Firefighting That Show a Different Side of This Job
- Women have worked on a par with men since the 1800s.
- A firefighter wears 5 to 30 kgs on their body.
- Nothing can be heard or seen in a burning building.
- No mustaches or piercings on the face.
- Their uniform can withstand up to 2200°F.
A firefighter needs 100 hours of training before legally being allowed to enter the interior of a burning building. How long do you think firefighters have to get dressed? Less than two minutes! This includes all of their gear, which can weigh from eighty to one hundred twenty pounds.
A firefighter wears bulky clothing called Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or Bunker Gear. It's a coat and pants made from several layers of special fabrics to guard against heat and flames. It is bulky and can make him look extra large.
Firefighters consider themselves humble public servants, but they are, in fact, heroes for their work to rescue citizens from burning buildings, pull them from wreckage, and place their own lives at risk in order to protect their brother and sister firefighters and the public at large.
A firefighter's gear can weigh up-to 75 pounds. The basic gear includes a helmet, hood, pants, coat, gloves, and oxygen tank. Depending on what the situation dictates, more equipment may be necessary.
Firefighters work closely with other emergency response agencies such as the police and emergency medical service.
Firefighter.
| Occupation |
|---|
| Activity sectors | Rescue, fire protection, civil service, public service, public safety |
Fire Service role has changed dramatically in the last few years. The fire service now responds to hazardous material incidents, advanced emergency medical situations, high angle rescue and confined space rescue incidents, trench and collapse operations, underwater rescue and more.
Firefighters need:
- To maintain top physical condition such as aerobic endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance and agility.
- Good judgement and quick decision-making based on knowledge and experience.
- Ability to give and take orders and function well in a close team environment.
Job DetailsFirefighting is not a typical Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, job. Calgary firefighters work four days in a row; two 10-hour day shifts and two 14-hour night shifts. They eat, sleep, clean, and exercise while on shift at a fire station.
A federal agency hires a federal firefighter, while a municipal firefighter works for a city, county, or state. Government-controlled positions have regulated salaries throughout the country while municipal wages vary depending on the demand, cost of living, and other locally related aspects.
Integrity and trust within the crew is essential. You must be able to trust your fellow firefighter; trust them to know their job, trust them to have your back, trust them to keep your secrets, trust them with your safety and even your life.
Duties
- Drive firetrucks and other emergency vehicles.
- Put out fires using water hoses, fire extinguishers, and water pumps.
- Find and rescue victims in burning buildings or in other emergency situations.
- Treat sick or injured people.
- Prepare written reports on emergency incidents.
- Clean and maintain equipment.
At the very minimum, you'll need to obtain a high school diploma or GED. Many firefighters earn a degree in fire science to advance their career. It's also wise to become an EMT. Having both a fire and EMS background will improve your odds of being hired.
A Typical Day in Academy
Now that you know more about the overall process of firefighting training, what it aims to teach, and what students learn during training, you can better understand a typical day in firefighting training. Their classes meet Monday through Thursday, so Friday students can sleep in.Firefighters try to catch some sleep (trucks coming and going from the station, dispatch radio squawking in the background, etc) but are always ready to jump and run at a seconds notice.
Firefighter EMTs are first responders to fires and medical emergencies that threaten people and/or property. The EMT part of this title refers to emergency medical technician, and most firefighters have a basic EMT certification. Firefighter EMT's need to be physically fit for this occupation.
Firefighting is an incredibly rewarding job that's truly worth it if you're willing to put in the time and effort. Though you will have to give up some much-valued time with your friends and family and put yourself at risk in dangerous situations, being a firefighter has plenty of benefits.
Top states for hiring firefighters
- Texas.
- California.
- Florida.
- Washington.
- Arizona.
The average annual number of on-duty firefighter deaths from 2014 to 2018 was 65. However, in 2019, there were 48 on-duty firefighter deaths in the United States, a sharp drop and the first year that the annual total was under 50 deaths.
The average odds of getting hired as a firefighter on any one test are about 1-in-100 or 1% chance. Even though those are still some tough odds, it is very doable. Those are the odds for one test, but most people apply quite a few times before they get hired.
Benefits firefighters can receive include health and dental insurance coverage and disability payments should they be injured on the job. Additionally, after they complete 25 years of service, firefighters can generally qualify to receive a retirement pension, according to the statistics bureau.
Shift CyclesThis schedule is followed by 12- to 14-hour night shifts for three to four days. Then, firefighters have three or four consecutive days off before the cycle begins again. Regardless of the type of shift worked, firefighters can expect to be scheduled on any of the year's 365 days.
