Firefighter

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.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Fire Engineer; Fire Equipment Operator; Fire Rescue Technician (Fire Rescue Tech); Fire Technician (Fire Tech); Fireman; Forest Fire Suppression Specialist; Forestry Fire Technician (Forestry Fire Tech); Hot Shot; Rescue Firefighter; Wildland Firefighter

Tasks

• Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
• Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support.
• Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
• Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
• Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
• Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
• Search to locate fire survivors.
• Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.
• 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.
• Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps.
• Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences.
• Select and attach hose nozzles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires.
• Collaborate with other firefighters as a member of a firefighting crew.
• Train new employees to control and suppress fires.
• Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures.

Knowledge

• Public Safety and Security
• Customer and Personal Service
• Medicine and Dentistry
• Transportation
• Mechanical
• Education and Training
• Communications and Media
• Building and Construction
• Telecommunications

Skills

• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Active Learning
• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension

Abilities

• Problem Sensitivity
• Static Strength
• Stamina
• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Control Precision
• Trunk Strength
• Deductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Manual Dexterity
• Multilimb Coordination
• Reaction Time
• Far Vision
• Inductive Reasoning
• Near Vision
• Flexibility of Closure
• Dynamic Strength
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Spatial Orientation
• Written Comprehension
• Extent Flexibility
• Gross Body Coordination
• Depth Perception
• Auditory Attention
• Category Flexibility
• Visualization
• Selective Attention
• Response Orientation
• Rate Control
• Explosive Strength
• Gross Body Equilibrium
• Written Expression
• Speed of Closure
• Perceptual Speed
• Time Sharing
• Finger Dexterity
• Visual Color Discrimination
• Hearing Sensitivity