Firefighters - Courage and Caring

Many people are attracted to the field of firefighting because a high school education is often sufficient for entering this occupation, and earnings are above average. In this article, we'll examine the nature of the work, and review the preparation required, the job outlook, and the earnings of firefighters.

Job Duties

The work is intense, both physically and emotionally. Dressed in full firefighter gear, from hip boots to charcoal face mask, firefighters climb ladders, pull heavy hoses, and work inside burning buildings and on rooftops to carry out their first responsibility - life rescue.

According to Sheryl Hunt, a 35-year-old firefighter with almost 10 years experience, "The emotional stresses are the hardest. The body heals pretty rhythmically, but we see situations most people won't see in their lifetime - trauma, senseless random acts, where suddenly a life just hangs by a thread." Sheryl says the runs that affect her the most are those involving trauma to children. Her work can be so very intense - she can start the day holding an injured or dead child and still have 10 more runs to go that day. Her fire department provides valuable emotional support, and offers debriefing before workers go home after a particularly stressful incident. Clearly, both physical and emotional stamina are essential in this job.

Most fire departments provide emergency rescue for not only fires, but also for a wide variety of medical emergencies. Not uncommonly, firefighters are trained as paramedics as well. Because the work is inherently very dangerous and complex, workers coordinate in carefully prepared and well-organized teams.

On-duty, they must have lightning-fast reflexes. When a call comes in, day or night, they have 3 minutes to get ready and out the door. Between alarms, firefighters spend time at the station, often taking classes, cleaning and maintaining equipment, conducting practice drills, and working to maintain physical fitness.

Hazards of this work involve risk of death or injury from crumbling building structures, or exposure to flames and smoke. Firefighters may also come in contact with toxic, flammable or explosive gases and chemicals, or other hazardous materials that could have long-term health consequences. Modern gear does include protective suits and masks, which can be very heavy.

Work hours of firefighters are usually longer and more variable than in most job settings. In some cities, they work a continuous 24-hour shift, followed by 72 hours off. In other cities, they work a day shift of 10 hours for 3 days, a night shift of 14 hours for 3-4 days, then have 3-4 days off. They must learn to adjust their personal life activities and biorhythms to accommodate this demanding routine, and remain alert and ready to go immediately when a call comes in.

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