What does a Firefighter do?

A firefighter is a great profession, as it is both demanding and rewarding. Providing a service that impacts the community is the best part of the job. It is invaluable to be able to help others and have fun while on the job, working in a great station with a great crew cannot be beaten.

Becoming a firefighter can be very time-consuming. For some, it is worth pursuing, and for others, it may not be. Some significant factors you need to consider include:

Becoming a firefighter is no easy task. It requires hard work, long hours of training, dedication and a sincere desire to help others. It is a rewarding career with good benefits and good job security. The testing process for getting the job requires a written exam, physical agility and oral interview.

Check the below indeed career pages for the detailed pay ranges for the similar professions here:

• Firefighter/Emt
• Firefighter/Paramedic
• Wildland Firefighter
• Emergency Medical Technician
• Security Guard

Firefighting is a tough job. At the end of the day, firefighters want to go home to a safe and comfortable home. It is recommended to choose cities that are the best for you in terms of average salary, cost of living, and quality of life.

One of the most enticing aspects of working as a firefighter is the schedule. Working 12 or 24 hours on and four days off means one has a chunk of time away from work. Often having a second job during your off-time makes sense. It's an astute way to amp up a modest firefighter salary.

Firefighters are required to exhibit responsibility and reliability. They can be disqualified due to lack of physical fitness, drug abuse, extensive criminal history, repeated traffic violations, or dishonorable discharge from the military are not tolerated

Firefighters go through a polygraph/lie detector test. They are generally asked questions before and during the test. The test is usually done to gauge physiological factors such as blood pressure, perspiration, pulse, skin conductivity, and movement, while a person is asked and answers a series of questions.

There is always a lot of competition for any fire department job. The hiring process is exhausting and challenging. Most people give up the pursuit and move on. There may be many reasons for this, perhaps they did not know what they were getting into when they began the process, or they did not sufficiently prepare themselves.

As a firefighter, an individual has a sense of fulfillment, giving back to the community while enjoying good benefits and job security. People who enjoy working with a team may love working in the fire department. However, the cons could be constant training, putting your life at risk, and not being paid enough at times.

The duties of a firefighter may include driving firetrucks and emergency vehicles. They put out fires using water hoses, fire extinguishers, and water pumps. Finding and rescuing victims in burning buildings and sometimes treating them is also part of your duties.

Qualities that a good firefighter is expected to possess should include a commitment to diversity and integrity alongside great problem-solving skills. They must be open to change, have confidence and resilience. They should also be aware of how to communicate effectively and work in a team.

One of the key aspects to becoming a firefighter includes being physically fit. Firemen need to possess above-average agility and strength. Most of the duties cannot be carried out without maintaining a fit physique.

Fire departments expect their candidates to have the same high standards as a police officer. Criminal history, drug usage, credit history, employment record, encounters with the law and a candidate’s overall persona are checked during a background verification. It takes around 4-8 weeks for this check to be completed.

When firefighters are working a 24 hour shift that splits the day into various day and night shift schedules or working a night shift, they do get to sleep at their stations. However, they must be alert and ready to jump into action in case of any emergencies.