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Firefighters

It's a bright outlook for

This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Learn more about what they do.

Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.

Related: Fire Inspectors & Investigators Fire-Prevention & Protection Engineers First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting & Prevention Workers Forest Fire Inspectors & Prevention Specialists Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, & Other Recreational Protective Service Workers

Industries: Government

Summary
Details

Collaborate with other firefighters as a member of a firefighting crew.
Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences.
Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.
Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.
Take action to contain any hazardous chemicals that could catch fire, leak, or spill.
Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps.
Orient self in relation to fire, using compass and map, and collect supplies and equipment dropped by parachute.
Inform and educate the public on fire prevention.
Participate in physical training activities to maintain a high level of physical fitness.
Protect property from water and smoke, using waterproof salvage covers, smoke ejectors, and deodorants.
Salvage property by removing broken glass, pumping out water, and ventilating buildings to remove smoke.
Inspect fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is no further danger.
Inspect buildings for fire hazards and compliance with fire prevention ordinances, testing and checking smoke alarms and fire suppression equipment as necessary.
Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
Participate in fire drills and demonstrations of fire fighting techniques.
Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using axes, chisels, crowbars, electric saws, or core cutters.
Maintain contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies, or to detail any difficulties encountered.
Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences.
Clean and maintain fire stations and fire fighting equipment and apparatus.
Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.
Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
Select and attach hose nozzles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires.
Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures.
Patrol burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires.
Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
Patrol burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires.
Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
Inspect buildings for fire hazards and compliance with fire prevention ordinances, testing and checking smoke alarms and fire suppression equipment as necessary.
Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures.
Collaborate with police to respond to accidents, disasters, and arson investigation calls.
Prepare written reports that detail specifics of fire incidents.

Learning Strategies
- Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Monitoring
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Science
- Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Active Learning
- Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Technology Design
- Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Coordination
- Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Management of Personnel Resources
- Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Programming
- Writing computer programs.
Troubleshooting
- Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Repairing
- Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Quality Control Analysis
- Testing how well a product or service works.
Systems Evaluation
- Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Time Management
- Managing your time and the time of other people.
Persuasion
- Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Operations Analysis
- Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Complex Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Negotiation
- Bringing people together to solve differences.
Management of Material Resources
- Managing equipment and materials.
Social Perceptiveness
- Understanding people's reactions.
Operation and Control
- Using equipment or systems.
Judgment and Decision Making
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Writing
- Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Speaking
- Talking to others.
Mathematics
- Using math to solve problems.
Service Orientation
- Looking for ways to help people.
Installation
- Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Equipment Maintenance
- Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Systems Analysis
- Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Management of Financial Resources
- Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Instructing
- Teaching people how to do something.
Equipment Selection
- Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

Memorization
- Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Spatial Orientation
- Knowing where things are around you.
Deductive Reasoning
- Using rules to solve problems.
Mathematical Reasoning
- Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Information Ordering
- Ordering or arranging things.
Fluency of Ideas
- Coming up with lots of ideas.
Manual Dexterity
- Holding or moving items with your hands.
Visualization
- Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Trunk Strength
- Using your lower back and stomach.
Rate Control
- Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Peripheral Vision
- Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Response Orientation
- Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Explosive Strength
- Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Dynamic Flexibility
- Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Far Vision
- Seeing details that are far away.
Written Expression
- Communicating by writing.
Flexibility of Closure
- Seeing hidden patterns.
Finger Dexterity
- Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Speed of Limb Movement
- Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Hearing Sensitivity
- Telling the difference between sounds.
Control Precision
- Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Reaction Time
- Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Visual Color Discrimination
- Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Wrist-Finger Speed
- Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Stamina
- Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Night Vision
- Seeing at night or under low light.
Glare Sensitivity
- Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Sound Localization
- Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Inductive Reasoning
- Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Written Comprehension
- Reading and understanding what is written.
Originality
- Creating new and original ideas.
Problem Sensitivity
- Noticing when problems happen.
Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Speed of Closure
- Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Depth Perception
- Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Extent Flexibility
- Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Gross Body Equilibrium
- Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Auditory Attention
- Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Oral Expression
- Communicating by speaking.
Category Flexibility
- Grouping things in different ways.
Oral Comprehension
- Listening and understanding what people say.
Number Facility
- Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Speech Clarity
- Speaking clearly.
Time Sharing
- Doing two or more things at the same time.
Perceptual Speed
- Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Multilimb Coordination
- Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Static Strength
- Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Gross Body Coordination
- Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Dynamic Strength
- Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Near Vision
- Seeing details up close.
Speech Recognition
- Recognizing spoken words.
Selective Attention
- Paying attention to something without being distracted.

Design
- Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Mechanical
- Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Chemistry
- Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Sociology and Anthropology
- Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Therapy and Counseling
- Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
English Language
- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Foreign Language
- Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Philosophy and Theology
- Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Law and Government
- Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Telecommunications
- Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Transportation
- Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Administration and Management
- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Sales and Marketing
- Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Food Production
- Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Production and Processing
- Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mathematics
- Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Biology
- Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Public Safety and Security
- Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Communications and Media
- Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Economics and Accounting
- Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Customer and Personal Service
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administrative
- Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Computers and Electronics
- Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Personnel and Human Resources
- Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Engineering and Technology
- Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Building and Construction
- Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Physics
- Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Psychology
- Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Geography
- Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Medicine and Dentistry
- Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Education and Training
- Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Fine Arts
- Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
History and Archeology
- Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.

Education

Postsecondary certificate

Work Experience

No work experience

Training

More than 1 year on-the-job training

Education and Training Opportunities

Washington Annual Salary

93490/yr

Washington Hourly Wage

44.95/hr

Currently Employed

6,560

Yearly Projected Openings

590

Realistic: People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They do well at jobs that need:

Stress Tolerance
Dependability
Self Control
Attention to Detail
Integrity
Concern for Others

Acoustic sensors
Adjustable wrenches
Agricultural tractors
Air bags for loading
Air exhausters
Air samplers or collectors
All terrain vehicles tracked or wheeled
Anemometers
Armored recovery vehicle
Binoculars
Blocks or pulleys
Bolt cutters
Calibrated resistance measuring equipment
Chemical test strips or papers
Claw hammer
Cold chisels
Diagonal cut pliers
Digital camcorders or video cameras
Ear plugs
Electrocardiography EKG units
Electronic blood pressure units
Extremity restraints
Facial shields
Fans
Fire blankets
Fire escape equipment
Fire extinguishers
Fire fighting chemical truck
Fire fighting ladder truck
Fire fighting pump truck
Fire fighting watercraft
Fire hoses or nozzles
Fire pump sets
Fire retardant apparel
Fire retardant footwear
Fire suppression hand tools
Flares
Flatbed trailers
Forestry saws
Gas detectors
Gas generators
Geological compasses
Glass cutters
Global positioning system GPS receiver
Glucose monitors or meters
Goggles
Grounding hardware
Hacksaw
Hammers
Hand pumps
Hand trucks or accessories
Hard hats
Hazardous material protective apparel
Hazardous material protective footwear
Heat tracing equipment
Hold down clamps
Hydraulic pumps
Intermittent positive pressure breathing IPPB machines
Jacks
Ladders
Life rings
Life vests or preservers
Lighters
Liquid leak detectors
Locking pliers
Machetes
Manlift or personnel lift
Medical acoustic stethoscopes
Medical gas cylinders or related devices
Mercury blood pressure units
Metal cutters
Metal detectors
Mobile medical service intravenous IV kits
Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles
Mobile medical services basket stretchers
Mobile medical services cervical or extrication collars
Mobile medical services first aid kits
Mobile medical services litter
Mobile medical services spine boards
Mobile medical services suction antichoke devices
Mowers
Multi gas monitors
Needlenose pliers
Notebook computers
Nylon rope
Open end wrenches
Orthopedic splint systems
Parachutes
Personal computers
Picks
Pipe wrenches
Pneumatic hammer
Portable data input terminals
Power saws
Protective gloves
Protective hood
Pry bars
Psychrometers
Pulse oximeter units
Radiation detectors
Radio frequency identification devices
Rescue truck
Respiration air supplying self contained breathing apparatus or accessories
Respirators
Resuscitation masks
Safety glasses
Safety harnesses or belts
Safety helmets
Saws
Screwdrivers
Scuba regulators
Shovels
Sledge hammer
Slip or groove joint pliers
Sockets
Spanner wrenches
Specialty wrenches
Spill kits
Surface thermometers
Telescopes
Torso and belt restraints
Track bulldozers
Two way radios
Underwater cameras
Utility knives
Water analyzers
Water pumps
Weapon or explosives detectors and supplies
Weather stations
Wedges
Wetsuits
Wheel chocks
Wheel nut or lug wrench
Winches
Wire cutters
pH test strips or papers

Analytical or scientific software
Data base user interface and query software
Electronic mail software
Geographic information system
Internet browser software
Office suite software
Operating system software
Presentation software
Project management software
Spreadsheet software
Word processing software

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