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Every year, fires and other emergencies take thousands of lives and destroy property worth billions of dollars. Firefighters help protect the public against these dangers by responding to fires and a variety of other emergencies.
In addition to putting out fires, they are frequently the first emergency personnel at the scene of a traffic accident or medical emergency and may be called upon to treat injuries or perform other vital functions. During duty hours, firefighters must be prepared to respond immediately to a fire or others emergency.
Firefighters work in a variety of settings, including metropolitan areas, rural areas with grasslands and forests, airports, chemical plants and other industrial sites.
When they aren’t responding to fires and other emergencies, fire fighters have other duties:
- clean and maintain equipment
- study fire science and fire fighting techniques
- conduct practice drills
- conduct fire inspections
- prepare written reports
Most fire departments have a fire prevention division, usually headed by a fire marshal and staffed by fire inspectors. Workers in this division conduct inspections of structures to prevent fires by ensuring compliance with fire codes.
How long will it take?
Applicants for fire fighting jobs are usually required to have at least a high school diploma and training in fire science or fire protective services. At AC, you can complete a two-year program to earn a degree, or a shorter program to earn a certificate.
How much can you earn?
Median annual earnings of fire fighters were $41,190 in 2006.
Where can you work?
About 90% of firefighters are employed by local governments. Some large cities employ thousands of firefighters; small towns may only have a few. However, about 70% of fire companies are staffed entirely by volunteers.
AC can help you get there!
