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About Firefighting

Firefighting is a job like no other job in the world. It runs from one extreme to the other. On the one hand, it offers the pulse-racing excitement of responding to a fire, the tight bond of camaraderie that can develop among crew members, and the pride in knowing you provide a critical service to your community. On the other hand, there are long hours of "down" time between calls, the high risk of injury or even death.

Why would I want to be a firefighter?

Firefighting isn't for everyone. People who are seriously afraid of heights or confined spaces, who don't function well in a crisis, or who in general would rather not introduce elements of danger into their lives, are unlikely to be attracted to the job. Some people prefer a typical business schedule to working 24-hour or other overnight shifts. Other people may view the physical, manual-labor aspects of the job with distaste.

But for those who do not see these aspects of the job as deterrents, firefighting is an exciting, ever-changing, highly rewarding occupation. Most firefighters enjoy the warmth of camaraderie among the crew, the challenge of bringing physical skills and mental abilities to play in what for others is an emergency, and the opportunity to provide critical, life-saving services in a moment of need. Many also appreciate the 24-hour work schedule, the job security in times of downsizing, and -- in most fire departments -- good pay and benefits.

What does it take to be a good firefighter?

What are some of the attributes of a good firefighter?

Honest and dependable

Learns quickly; can remember and use what s/he's learned when the pressure is on

Physically fit: is committed to a healthy lifestyle and to maintaining fitness

Functions well as part of a team

Cares about and respects co-workers and members of the community

Communicates and listens well

Is dedicated to her/his work

Is emotionally stable and deals with stress appropriately

Has a sense of humor

Is open-minded and flexible, willing to try new things and listen to new ideas

No one person has all of these attributes. If all firefighters were the same, as a group their strengths would be redundant and their weaknesses would be magnified. But everyone is different. Each firefighter brings individual strengths to the team, and it is this variety of strengths that gives the team multiple options and balances out any individual weaknesses.

Choosing a Department You may already know what fire department you want to work for. Perhaps you already own a home and don't want to move, or you have friends on a particular department, or you simply have wanted to work for the XYZ Fire Department since you were little.

But choosing where you want to work as a firefighter may be a decision you'll live with for the next twenty or thirty years. It's worth making carefully. All fire departments and firefighting agencies are not the same, and they can differ in many ways. Some obvious factors include the number of firefighters on the department, the size and location of the town or city, and the type of area protected.

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