Firefighters
Key Tasks
- Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
- Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
- Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.
- Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
- Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
- Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using axes, chisels, crowbars, electric saws, or core cutters.
- Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
- Inspect fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is no further danger.
- Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures.
- Select and attach hose nozzles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires.
- 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.
- Collaborate with other firefighters as a member of a firefighting crew.
- Patrol burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires.
- Collaborate with police to respond to accidents, disasters, and arson investigation calls.
- Participate in fire drills and demonstrations of fire fighting techniques.
- Prepare written reports that detail specifics of fire incidents.
- Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences.
- 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.
- Inform and educate the public on fire prevention.
- Salvage property by removing broken glass, pumping out water, and ventilating buildings to remove smoke.
- Orient self in relation to fire, using compass and map, and collect supplies and equipment dropped by parachute.
- Clean and maintain fire stations and fire fighting equipment and apparatus.
- Inspect buildings for fire hazards and compliance with fire prevention ordinances, testing and checking smoke alarms and fire suppression equipment as necessary.
- 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.
- Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support.
- Search to locate fire survivors.
- Train new employees to control and suppress fires.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
96%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
93%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
93%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
91%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
90%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
88%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
87%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
87%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
82%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
82%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
82%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
82%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
82%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
81%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
80%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
80%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
79%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
78%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
77%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
77%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
74%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
74%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
74%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
72%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
71%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
70%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
70%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
68%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
66%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
66%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
66%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
65%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
65%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
64%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
63%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
61%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
61%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
60%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
60%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
58%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
55%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
53%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
51%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
50%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
48%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
47%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
44%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
44%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
42%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
38%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
37%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
36%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
34%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
20%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
19%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
18%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
14%
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Post-secondary certificate
Some college, no degree
Interests
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Work Styles
Work Values
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