What Does it Take to Be a Firefighter?

Firefighters respond to emergency situations involving fires, hazardous materials incidents, medical emergencies and natural disasters. They work for fire departments, which may be part of municipal, county, state or federal government agencies.

The duties of a firefighter include extinguishing fires, conducting search and rescue operations, providing emergency medical treatment, and educating the public on fire safety and prevention. They also train for their profession through a combination of post-secondary schooling, on-the-job training and ongoing advancement opportunities, which can lead to a promotion into one of many ranks including engineer, lieutenant, captain, battalion chief or fire chief.

While the career can be challenging, firefighters find fulfillment in their heroic service to protect lives and property and help those in need. It is a physically demanding and dangerous occupation that requires strenuous activity, long hours and exposure to high temperatures, smoke and toxic substances. The stress of this highly demanding job can contribute to substance abuse and mental health issues, which is a serious concern for firefighters.

A firefighter’s workplace is a complex mix of office-based activities and emergency response operations. Depending on the needs of their fire department, these workers are often required to travel to callouts in the field and spend significant amounts of time outside working on fires, vehicle accidents, medical emergencies or other disasters. Firefighters also conduct maintenance and training activities at their fire stations, which provide living quarters, training facilities and administrative offices.

In addition to responding to calls for emergency assistance, firefighters routinely participate in fire drills to hone their skills and build camaraderie among department members. This is accomplished through both formally scheduled training exercises and informally by having company officers monitor and provide positive reinforcement. Training allows firefighters to perform better on duty by eliminating fumbling, mistakes and fear and improves the ability to handle emergencies by building confidence and self-reliance.

Frequently, firefighters participate in joint training with other departments. This provides the opportunity to develop friendships and build trust with colleagues from other departments, which can prove beneficial when called upon to operate jointly on an incident scene. This type of training also allows for the exchange of ideas and best practices in a safe environment that can be replicated on the actual scene of an emergency.

The most common cause of death for firefighters is a fatal heart attack or aneurysm while on duty. Fatalities attributed to other causes such as non-fireground activities, administration or station duties or responding to or returning from incident duties account for smaller shares of the total.

In order to become a firefighter, applicants must pass a written exam that assesses math, human relations, problem solving and writing skills as well as physical aptitude and agility. They must also complete a background investigation, drug screening and oral interview. Those who succeed in becoming a firefighter are expected to undergo extensive and continuing education, ranging from basic training courses to advanced medical, hazardous material and specialty rescue classes.