Nature of the Work

Every year, fires and other emergencies take thousands of lives and destroy property worth billions of dollars. Members of the fire service help protect the public against these dangers by responding to fires and a variety of other emergencies. Although they confine, control, and extinguish fires, firefighters more frequently respond to other emergencies. They are often the first emergency personnel at the scene of a traffic accident or medical emergency and may be called upon to treat injuries or perform other vital functions.

During duty hours, firefighters must be prepared to respond immediately to a fire or other emergency. Fighting fires is complex and dangerous and requires organization and teamwork. At every emergency scene, firefighters perform specific duties assigned by a superior officer. At fires, they connect hose lines to hydrants and operate pumps to send water to high-pressure hoses. Some carry hoses, climb ladders, and enter burning buildings — using systematic and careful procedures — to put out fires. At times, they may need to use tools to make their way through doors, walls, and debris, sometimes with the aid of information about a building’s floor plan.

Some find and rescue occupants who are unable to leave the building safely without assistance. They may also provide emergency medical attention, ventilate smoke-filled areas, and attempt to salvage the contents of buildings. Firefighters’ duties may change several times while the company is in action. Sometimes they remain at the site of a disaster for days at a time rescuing trapped survivors and assisting with medical treatment.