How to Be One of the Heroes of This Generation: Becoming a Firefighter

It is hard to deny the importance of firefighters, especially after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Over seven years later, firefighters are still fighting around the country to save lives. Although we may not hear about these everyday heroes on a daily basis, they live their lives by keeping ours safe. Read on to find out what these individuals are all about, what they do, and what their professional future looks like.

One of my former bosses is married to a firefighter. I remember the stories she would tell me — usually about his dedication to his job. I would always listen attentively to the heroic local stories she shared. Although the stories were not necessarily movie-scene worthy, they were heroic in their own right and really gave me insight into what firefighters were all about: protecting others.

According to the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, nine out of 10 firefighters are employed by local governments. City firefighters usually take a written, physical, and medical test or examination.

Firefighters’ median salary, according to the US Department of Labor, is a little over $41,000 at the local and federal government levels. Firefighters working for state governments usually make around $37,000 a year. Fire inspectors and supervisors can make salaries in the mid-$90,000s.

What Are the Duties of a Firefighter?

A firefighter’s duties include:

Responding urgently to fires and other emergencies
Connecting and handling hose lines and laying them in the appropriate areas
Making sure the public is kept safe from a fire; this could mean having to use tools such as axes to get through a burning building
Taking necessary classes in emergency training and making sure fire drills are done accordingly
Making sure buildings and areas are safe for patrons; fire hydrants should also be maintained
Cleaning and maintaining the fire station’s equipment when not dealing with fires

While the firefighter’s duties don’t conclude with the above, those are the major responsibilities. Firefighters usually have unusual and longer schedules. They spend a lot of their time at the fire station itself. Additionally, reports may need to be written by certain firefighters in specific positions.

How Can Someone Become a Firefighter?

Firefighters go through intense training and usually have at least a high school diploma. Many firefighters today are also obtaining associate’s and bachelor’s degrees as well as higher levels of education. Classroom instruction and training in specific areas are usually mandatory for future firefighters.

According to the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, “almost all departments require fire fighters to be certified as emergency medical technicians.” Departments sometimes allow EMT certification once an individual is in the fire academy.

The Firefighter’s Future

“Employment of workers in fire fighting occupations is expected to grow by 12% over the 2006-2016 decade,” according to the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. Competition will be fierce as volunteer firefighters are transitioning into full-time firefighters — a new trend in the industry.

Becoming a firefighter is growing more attractive because of the image and the challenging yet attainable requirements. It still remains to be seen what the future will hold specifically, but firefighters will always be needed to protect the public.

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How to Be One of the Heroes of This Generation: Becoming a Firefighter