What Does a Firefighter Do?

Firefighters are people who fight or attempt to stop the spread of fire, rescue people and animals from dangerous situations, provide emergency medical care, and prevent damage or loss of life and property by other means. They often work in teams and may be called upon to respond to a variety of emergencies, including structural and vehicle fires, hazardous materials incidents, medical emergencies, natural disasters, and public service events. They also perform duties related to fire prevention and education. Firefighters are generally paid employees of local, state, or federal government agencies, though volunteer departments exist as well.

Firefighting is a physically demanding job that requires excellent physical fitness and stamina, as well as mental agility to deal with the demands of the job, which can be emotionally taxing due to the potential for exposure to distressing situations and the witnessing of human suffering. The firefighting profession is a highly competitive one, and many candidates must undergo extensive training and physical evaluations before they can be hired.

In addition to their emergency response duties, firefighters also carry out routine tasks such as maintaining fire engines and equipment, performing minor vehicle and apparatus repairs, cleaning and organizing the fire station, preparing training materials and participating in community outreach activities. Firefighters are also required to participate in on-going training and professional development to remain proficient at their jobs, as fires, emergencies, and the environments in which they occur can be unpredictable.

When on duty, firefighters are typically stationed at the firehouse and are paged out to calls via radio by their fire chief or a senior officer. They then quickly put on their personal protective equipment and race to the scene of an incident, where they are responsible for assessing conditions and taking appropriate action. They must be able to think fast and act decisively in stressful situations, as the lives of those at risk can depend on their actions.

Firefighters often have a significant degree of autonomy on the job, but are held to stringent departmental standards with respect to performance, conduct, and professionalism. As part of their training, they are taught to use the Incident Command System, a standard approach for managing complex incidents in which multiple agencies are involved. They are also trained to communicate over the radio and exchange information with other firefighters in their area or from other locations through a mutual aid agreement.

Firefighters usually spend long hours on their shifts, and are often on call for after-hours emergencies. In addition to their responsibilities at the firehouse, they are required to perform inspections on local businesses, apartment buildings, and manufacturing facilities, and participate in community outreach activities such as conducting fire safety presentations. In between fire calls, firefighters might train or prepare for their next shift at the station, or spend time with family or friends. They are also expected to regularly update their skills through drills, simulations, and ongoing professional development. This is important to keep their skills sharp in order to continue to be effective in a rapidly evolving occupation.